DERBY — Jim and Marcia Lambeth received an early Christmas surprise Sunday evening — the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
The state’s highest civilian honor, bestowed by the governor, was presented to the Lambeths by former recipients Gene McLaurin and Monty Crump at Triple L Farms following a performance of “A Christmas Memory,” by Marcia Lambeth’s sister, Sue Jarvis.
McLaurin said the Lambeths were “very deserving” of the award and “never seek the spotlight, never want to be in the limelight.”
“But they are the kind of people that make this community and this state such a great place to live,” McLaurin added.
Jim Lambeth officially retired from farming in 2023 after spending his entire life in agriculture.
Joined by his twin brother, Joe, and father, Mike, he formed Triple L Farms in 1977, with operations over the years in tobacco, peaches, pine straw and poultry, in addition to the produce sold at the stand.
Both Joe and Jim Lambeth attended N.C. State University at the same time as current state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, with Jim working a year in the forest industry before returning to the farm.
Triple L was named Richmond County’s Farm of the Year in 2019.
Jim Lambeth was first appointed as a poultry representative to the N.C. Board of Agriculture in 2016 and is currently serving his second term.
In addition to being a farmer, he was also a charter member of the Derby Fire Department in 1983, served on the Richmond County Planning Board and the Board of Directors for the Richmond County Farm Bureau.
This year, Jim Lambeth was selected as the grand marshal for the Ellerbe Farmers Day Parade.
Marcia Lambeth spent three decades in the classroom teaching fourth-12th grade, a majority of that time with ninth-graders.
She has been serving on the Pee Dee Electric Board of Directors since she was appointed in 2000.
With their grandson, Jack — who opened the presentation by reciting the state toast — having autism, Marcia Lambeth also previously led the local chapter of the Autism Society for several years and volunteers at Krystal Dawn Retreat. She also serves on the Farm Services Agency County Committee.
One of the recommendation letters to Gov. Josh Stein came from Donnie Spivey, CEO of Pee Dee Electric, who said, “Their long and distinguished service to their family, the Derby Community, their church, and the agricultural community make them excellent candidates for this prestigious award.”
They also received recommendations from Crump and Marty Goodman.
“As a couple and as individuals, they have taken the innate gifts they were given, the resources at hand, and their own desire to make life better for others to a very high level and deserve recognition for their continuing contributions,” Goodman wrote.
Crump said that the Lambeths “embody the values of service, leadership, and civic commitment that define recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.”
The Lambeths were surprised to receive their awards and humbly accepted them.
“Everything in our lives, to God be the glory,” Marcia Lambeth said.
Richmond County has seen its share of OLLP recipients over the past decade including (but not a complete list): former Rockingham mayorG.R. Kindley; former Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood; former Hamlet fire chief Calvin White and former police chief Scott Waters; former East Rockingham fire chief Bill Dennis; the late Dr. Fred McQueen; former Richmond County sheriff’s deputy Sam Jarrell; former Richmond County Commissioner Thad Ussery; former FirstHealth EMS director Tommy Cook; former Dobbins Heights leaders Gracie Jackson, Channie McManus and Robert Broady; David Pearson, former executive director of Samaritan Colony;Nellie Parsons, former co-owner and operator of Pate’s Cleaners and Village Laundry; former district attorney Reece Saunders; attorney Bill Webb; and Willa Spivey.
