Established in 2000, the Hall of Honor is designed to recognize individuals whose contribution to hospital care in Lenoir County makes them remarkable in some way.  Including this year’s class, 124 outstanding citizens have been inducted into the UNC Health Lenoir Hall of Honor, and 2023 marks the 117th year of hospital care for our community. Seven deserving individuals were inducted in the morning ceremony. 

A hospital board appointed selection committee considered many deserving candidates but chose those whose level of commitment and dedication:

-have contributed a significant number of years of service to healthcare in Lenoir County.

-have made contributions that exceed those of the vast majority.

-have been extraordinarily critical to the successful delivery of health care to the citizens in our community. 

-and through their commitment to healthcare have created a lasting impression.

Dr. Charles B. Beasley is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and Internal Medicine and has been in practice in Kinston since January of 1979 when Dr. Walter Sabiston recruited him to “Kinston Head and Neck”.  Dr. Beasley has been a vocal patient advocate, holding the sacredness of the physician/patient relationship at the forefront of his practice. Dr. Hosea, a partner in his practice, calls him a jack of all trades in the world of ENT and one who puts the patient above everything else. Dr. Beasley is still active medical staff after practicing 44 years and is valued for the range of ENT specialty care he has provided to our community. We are grateful for his dedication and continued service.

Dr. Laddie M. Crisp, Jr.  joined Dr. Joe Agsten to practice family medicine in Kinston in July of 1990.  Their practice eventually became Lenoir Family Medicine.  In addition to treating thousands of patients in our community over his 33 years, Dr. Crisp has been passionate about educating medical students as they rotate through his practice. He is the recipient of the “NC Academy of Family Practice Community Teaching Award” three separate times, and twice received the Brody School of Medicine’s “Best Community Preceptor Award”. He served as medical staff president from 2006-2008 and again in 2011.  He was reappointed to the hospital board from 2015-2011, serving on several committees including HR, Retirement, Facility, and the Affiliation Task Force.  He makes it clear he has no plans for retirement, and we look forward to his continued practice of medicine and admiring more of his talented photography.

Dr. Robert T. Gallaher began practicing as a pulmonologist at Kinston Medical Specialists in 1989. Dr. Gallaher credits Dr. Hubert Pierce as his mentor and role model. Dr, Gallaher worked for Dr. Pierce for 10 years before establishing his own practice in 2000 and is now the senior pulmonologist at UNC Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at Lenoir. He has served as division chief for the department of pulmonary medicine most of his time here. He is instrumental in establishing the Mc Daniel Sleep Center at the hospital, a nationally certified sleep medicine program. Dr. Gallaher is recognized for his remarkable expertise and efforts during the COVID epidemic. Featured with his son, an infectious disease physician in a 2021 WITN story, they were referred to as the “COVID dream team” in a critical period of the surging pandemic. 

Mrs. Elaine Queen Penuel, RN began her career of 41 years of nursing in a surprise turn of events in a job interview at Lenoir Memorial Hospital in 1975. As a result, her career path has had long-lasting impact on the practice of nursing in our community. As a dedicated leader, she advanced labor and delivery care and newborn nursing to the distinction of a Level 2 Nursery, and a whole birthing center of excellence. She implemented advanced training of physicians and nurses in this area through educational partnerships with Pitt Memorial Hospital. Her greatest passion was clinical education across the hospital organization and patient processes are in place today, championed by her work for patient safety, quality, and performance improvement. She also influenced nursing at the state and national levels through her working memberships on advisory councils and state-wide nursing organizations. She is identified as a true nurse’s nurse, the highest compliment of fellow nurses.

The Honorable Carol S. Sykes was Pink Hill’s loudest cheerleader. Prior to her death in 2021 at age 79, she served the town tirelessly for nearly 50 years as town clerk, on the town council, and as Mayor.  Her servant’s heart was evidenced by her involvement in countless civic groups and organizations including her time spent associated with our hospital.  She volunteered as a board member on the Lenoir Hospital Foundation for two consecutive terms from 2003-2009 and was the chair of both the grants and development committees. She was the recipient of the foundation’s Crystal Apple Award, given to board members for achieving fundraising beyond normal expectations. Carol volunteered a total of 2,413 hours with the hospital volunteer program. She served from 2009-2021 and worked her whole tenure as cheer corner sales associate. She also served on the Lights of Love committee for many years.  Carol brought infectious enthusiasm and zest to every interaction. 

Mrs. Lisa Wallace began her career as a medical technologist in 1986 at Lenoir Memorial Hospital and grew in the ranks to her last position in 2020 as the Director of Laboratory Services, Cancer Services, Patient Relations, and Staff Development at UNC Health Lenoir. As an influential leader, she fostered growth in others. She grew new leaders, and no mentor was more respected than Lisa Wallace. During her tenure she achieved biennial laboratory accreditations, national accreditation for the cancer program, implemented one of the most advanced linear accelerators in eastern NC at the time, and led the hospital to a 100% tobacco free campus in a statewide Duke Endowment initiative. After 34 years, Lisa left UNC Health Lenoir to become the CEO of Kinston Community Health Center.

Ms. Deborah Wood was hired in 1977 by Lenoir Memorial Hospital CEO, Dan Duval in one of the first hospital patient representative roles. During her 43 years at the hospital, Debbie focused her work on helping patients and families through solving grievances and requests to the satisfaction of both the patient and the hospital. She developed hospital-wide projects for advocacy programs and customer service.  She started a system of communication between the OR and Recovery Room for status updates for waiting family members. She developed employee recognition programs including the Quarter Century Club and the Presidents Service Excellence Awards, still given today. Debbie helped establish the first hospital patient advisory council and worked with the community members to provide regular and valuable feedback about perceptions of hospital services. Debbie led patient relations advocacy at the national level and was responsible for starting the Carolinas Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy in 1982. In 2002 this group initiated an award named for Debbie and she was the first recipient.