2024 Governor’s Award for Excellence

This article is submitted by Mrs. Hazel Smith, recognizing her nephew, Mr. Chavis Everett of Rockingham, NC. Mr. Everett is a faithful member of the Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion church located in Rockingham, NC, on the Rockingham District of the West Central North Carolina Conference.

The following is an excerpt from the program booklet.

ROCKINGHAM — Chavis Everett was one of seven state employees recognized earlier this year in the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Excellence. This is the highest honor a North Carolina state employee can receive for outstanding accomplishments outside their normal duties.

Chavis Everett was honored in October with the award for Public Safety by the Office of State Human Resources in October.

Everett joined the Department of Adult Correction in 2000 as a parole officer and works in Division 3 District 20, which includes Richmond, Anson, Stanly, and Union counties.

Since joining the Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) as a probation officer in December 2000, Chavis Everett has undoubtedly made a positive impact on his community through his role. Serving DAC's Division 3, District 20, Everett works to ensure that previously incarcerated individuals follow court and post-release recommendations to combat recidivism in Anson, Richmond, Stanley, and Union counties. Still, it is his contribution to his neighbors outside of work that has cemented Everett as a paragon of generosity and public service within his community.

Always willing to lend a hand, Everett is known by those around him for the many ways in which he gives his time to others. In addition to regularly volunteering at his church and local Community Center, Everett goes above and beyond to care for an often-neglected population within his community, the elderly. Everett is skilled with the chainsaw and puts his talents to use throughout the year, especially as temperatures drop during the winter. Everett voluntarily cuts and removes dead trees from neighbors' properties to prevent potential damage to homes and help them reduce costs. From there, he chops the wood and delivers it to elderly individuals in need to ensure they have firewood to heat their homes. Cutting fallen trees, removing them, and chopping wood can be backbreaking. Not to mention, most lacked the skill set and physical strength to tackle such demanding work. Yet, Everett does so without complaint and with no reward outside of the gratitude of his neighbors. By checking in on his elder neighbors throughout the frigid months, Everett is not just tending to their physical age; he provides them with valuable social connections during the time of year when they might otherwise feel isolated.

Chavis Everett's contributions to his community are commendable.  The work that he does for his neighbors is both time and labor-intensive. Nonetheless, Everett selflessly shows up for his community in a way that most people cannot. He fills a much-needed role in the lives of many, and the State of North Carolina is proud to call him a state employee.