December 31 marked the last day for Dana King as Director of Lenoir County Board of Elections. The lifelong Kinston resident retired after 23 years with the Board of Elections and another five with the county in the school system.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with the state board, the county people, it’s just been a real pleasure,” King said.

She’s proud of the fact that her staff had no turn-over. For twenty-three years, the same women worked in her office until they retired.

“I will miss my girls in the office!” said King of Amy Morgan, the supervisor, Veronica Miller, and Courtney Garner, the newest edition to her office.

“In over a 70-year period there have only been three directors here,” King said. In her entire time with the Board of Elections, she had not gone over budget, with only one line-item missed once. She raised $561,000.00 over twelve years through state and federal grants for cameras, voting equipment, supply boxes, and folding voting booths for the precinct.

Born Dana Williams, her father’s mother raised four boys. Her father remained in Kinston after his brothers moved away. She is proud to carry the Williams name.

In July 1976, she was crowned as Miss Bicentennial Fourth of July and then in 1977 as Miss Kinston. For both competitions her talent was ventriloquism. From there she continued to volunteer her time with the Miss Kinston-Lenoir County Scholarship Pageant.

Moving forward she will spend her time with her duties on various boards, including Tanglewood Church of God, where she is a member of the Power House Sunday School Class, and on the board of the Ladies Ministries–Heart to Heart.

“I loved my position. I never once in 23 years, woke up and thought ‘oh gosh I have to go to work.’ I would love to help in elections as part-time help or a precinct official," King said.

“It has been an honor to serve the residents of Lenoir County.”