ELLERBE — Willa Carter Spivey joined an elite list of Richmond County residents on Thursday when she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
The state’s highest civilian honor, bestowed by the governor, was presented to Spivey by state Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Moore, during a special ceremony at the Rankin Museum of American Heritage.
McInnis said he has known Spivey since 1960, when they were in the first grade together.
Spivey has been in the banking business for around 50 years, McInnis said.
“She has done a lot to enhance the ability of our community’s small businesses to operate by providing the availability and the ability to obtain capital,” McInnis said. “And without the ability to have capital, no business can prosper and make it. And she’s been able to do that in conjunction with Fidelity Bank.”
In addition to her banking work, Spivey has also served on several local boards, including that of the Rankin Museum and the county planning board.
Her nephew, Julian Carter, who serves as vice president of the Rankin Board, also spoke on behalf of the board and the family.
“It’s appropriate that we do this in the town of Ellerbe,” Carter said. “Willa’s one of our most distinguished community members and we certainly wanted to make sure we honored her here in town.
“There are so many of you who have served on boards with her, worked with her or been fortunate enough to have spent time with her,” Carter continued. “Many of you have built houses, started businesses or dealt with life’s trials and tribulations thanks to Willa’s work, support, guidance, and many times, wisdom.”
Carter said he texted Spivey the night she was made aware of the honor and she told him she didn’t feel worthy.
“My response to that was, ‘You are the reason this award was created,’” Carter said. “This recognition is for those who have lived a life of service and made their communities better. Willa, we are proud of you and we celebrate your success and the positive impact you’ve had on our families, our community, and we celebrate this wonderful recognition.”
Spivey thanked all those who came out to the ceremony, saying it was a “special day” for her.
“I’m very honored, very humbled by it,” Spivey said. “But mostly, I’m proud to have been a part of Richmond County … and I am so looking forward to the future, the growth of this county."
Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump, former district attorney Reece Saunders and local lawyer Bill Webb received the OLLP in December.
Richmond County has seen its share of OLLP recipients over the past decade including (but not a complete list): former Rockingham mayors G.R. Kindley and Gene McLaurin; 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; and Nellie Parsons, former co-owner and operator of Pate’s Cleaners and Village Laundry.
