PEMBROKE — Two Richmond County leaders were recently honored with awards by the Lumber River Council of Governments.
Dobbins Heights Councilwoman Angeline David and Richmond Community College President Brent Barbee were among the LRCOG members to receive awards Sept. 17 as the organization “celebrated 54 years of regional excellence.”
David, who has been a LRCOG board member since 2016, was presented the Calvin C. Haggins Outstanding LRCOG Board Member of the Year Award.
The award is named for a former Fairmont councilman and is given to members who have “demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to the LRCOG during the past year.” David served as board chair from July 2024-June 2026.
While serving with the LRCOG, David has been a member of the executive committee, Housing Corporation Board of Directors and the Lumber River Development Corporation Board of Directors
According to a bio included with a press release, David “has been actively engaged in raising the profile of Region N and the Lumber River Council of Governments through the N.C. Association of Regional Councils annual legislative days. She is also actively engaged in sharing information about new programs and activities across jurisdictional lines.”
David has also served on the boards for several local nonprofits, including the Richmond County Partnership for Children, New Horizons Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agency, and the Martin Luther King Steering Committee.
She previously received the Haggins award in 2025, and the L.E. McLaughlin Jr. and Bob Gentry Regional Leadership Award in 2022.
Barbee was honored as the Dr. Stanley Richardson Workforce Development Board Member of the Year. That award is named for a longtime Bladen County educator.
According to the bio, Barbee is “committed to expanding workforce development programs, increasing access to higher education, and fostering innovation that supports the economic growth of the Lumber River region.”
Barbee has served on the Lumber River Workforce Development Board since 2024 — the same year was named president of RichmondCC — “where he advocates for the needs of workforce development within our region. He understands that the most effective manner of achieving results is through building partnerships through all of the participants in the workforce system.”
Former college president Dr. Dale McInnis received the same award in 2024.
