I hope this message finds you and your family doing well. It’s been a full month here in Raleigh and throughout Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties — and I’m grateful for every opportunity to stay connected with folks across our district. From honoring our veterans to celebrating new investments in public safety, jobs, and education, there’s a lot of good happening in Eastern North Carolina.
The Greene County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $17,840 in grants to 13 organizations supporting the local community.
Before Hickory Grove Church was built in 1860, and decades before their congregation was established, Bucklesberry had no local church. The few options available were miles away and required long commutes. In his 1810 profile of the physical and social infrastructure of Lenoir County, former Kinston Commissioner John Washington (1767-1827) noted there were only a handful of organized churches at the time, which in his words included:
Mrs. Brenda Sugg McKeel, age 83, passed away peacefully on Friday evening, November 28, 2025, surrounded by her family on the farm where she was born, raised, and lived throughout her life. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 1st, at the Chapel of Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service, with Pastors Hank Jarman and Allen Ham officiating. Interment will follow immediately at Westview Cemetery in Kinston.
It was a great day at the Lenoir County Farmers Market in downtown Kinston on November 22. The market hosted numerous extra vendors and special guests the Howard Sisters, Vivian Howard and Leraine Howard Tolston went Nuts! Each Chef shared a favorite recipe using nuts.
Kinston, N.C. – Today, Representative Chris Humphrey announced his campaign for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives, seeking a fifth term serving the people of House District 12, which includes Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. Representative Humphrey, a lifelong resident of Eastern North Carolina, reaffirmed his commitment to the region:
The following businesses were registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State:
Ms. Janice Eason Sellers, age 87, passed away late Tuesday evening, November 25, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro. Funeral Services will be held privately by the graveside at the historic St. Barnabas Cemetery in Snow Hill where Janice will be laid to rest on the Eason Family lot.
Robbie Moore Harrison, 75, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, surrounded by the warmth and love of her family. The family will receive friends for visitation at Rouse Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a graveside service at 3:30 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery, La Grange.
UNC Health Lenoir is pleased to announce that Rachel Garris has been named the 2024 President’s Service Excellence Award (PSEA) of the year winner. Awarded annually, the PSEA of the year is presented to an employee selected by their peers who exemplifies superior performance, strong leadership, effective communication, and service excellence.
Years ago, I wrote a book as a project of PathChoice Ministry called "Let Him Find You." I used a platform called CreateSpace to write the book and design the cover. The cover is a scene of one of my favorite places to visit with visible ocean waves. After I wrote this book, Amazon acquired CreateSpace.
DEEP RUN – Deep Run is getting ready to “put it all together” for the holidays with its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 5 p.m.
As Thanksgiving arrives and the Christmas season begins, the Magic Mile Media, Neuse News and partner teams reflected on gratitude in their own words. Their responses show the range of personalities behind the work, from heartfelt to humorous.
If I had judged the year by how it began, I would have written it off before it even got started. January dragged me into 2025 while I was sick, exhausted, and quietly wondering if my body was about to fail me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Nothing felt steady. Nothing felt hopeful. I thought I was bracing for the worst year of my life.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Chamber named Representative Chris Humphrey (R – Lenoir, Greene, Jones) a ‘Jobs Champion’ in its 2025 How They Voted report. This annual report details state legislators’ voting records on bills identified as critical to preserving and enhancing North Carolina’s position as the #1 state in the U.S. for business. Representative Humphrey was recognized as a Jobs Champion for voting with the Chamber’s Jobs Agenda 90% of the time during the 2025 legislative session.
The City of Kinston has postponed its swearing-in ceremony for newly elected officials. The ceremony was originally scheduled for December 2 but has been moved to December 16, according to the city’s public information officer.
NEW BERN, N.C. — Today, North Carolina Senator Bob Brinson formally announced his campaign for re-election to the State Senate, pledging to continue championing strong communities, responsible governance, and the values of Beaufort, Craven, and Lenoir counties.
On November 21, UNC Health Lenoir hosted its annual “Feastival of Foods” food drive, continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting local families during the holiday season. Teammates from across the hospital united to collect more than 5000 pounds of food for Lenoir County residents facing food insecurity.
William “Billy” Dean Elmore, 52, of Deep Run, passed away on November 24, 2025, at ECU Vidant Medical Health Center in Greenville, NC.
