Mary Alphin reflects on her role as Lenoir County Clerk of Superior Court
Mary Alphin, the Lenoir County Clerk of Superior Court, has dedicated over 17 years to the Clerk's office, a career rooted in a strong sense of duty and passion for serving the public. Alphin assumed her current role after the retirement of former Clerk Dawn Stroud, who believed Alphin was the most qualified candidate to succeed her.
As Clerk of Superior Court, Alphin holds several key responsibilities that range from judicial to administrative duties. "As judge of probate, the Clerk holds exclusive jurisdiction over matters related to wills and the administration of estates," Alphin explained. Her role extends to overseeing adoptions, incompetency cases, guardianship proceedings, and various civil hearings, including the condemnation of private lands for public use and property foreclosures.
Beyond her judicial responsibilities, Alphin also manages the administrative side of the Clerk’s office. She is tasked with maintaining the integrity of all case files, which includes the filing, processing, and indexing of every document that enters the court system. "The Clerk of Court is responsible for the integrity of every case filed, including filing, processing, indexing, and maintaining every piece of paper," she said. Additionally, Alphin serves as the comptroller, managing millions of dollars that flow through the office each year.
Alphin emphasizes the importance of accuracy and efficiency in her work. "Everyone that works in this office knows that the papers and documents they deal with are people’s lives," she stated, noting that the office regularly audits reports to ensure precision.
Balancing her extensive responsibilities requires strong leadership, a role Alphin embraces with pride. She leads a team of 20 co-workers, including five assistant clerks, a bookkeeper, and 14 deputy clerks. "I am the leader in my office," Alphin remarked, adding that she prefers to call her team "co-workers" to foster a collaborative environment.
Looking ahead, Alphin is preparing her office for a significant transition. In April 2025, the Lenoir County Clerk’s office will implement Justice Enterprise, a new system that will transition the office to a paperless operation. "It will take a lot of dedicated work and there will be a lot of overtime, I am told. I will be here working alongside my co-workers," Alphin said, underscoring her commitment to the project and her team.
Throughout her career, Alphin has found great reward in serving the people of Lenoir County. As she continues in her role, she remains focused on maintaining a "happy office," which she believes is key to the success of the Clerk’s office.
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