Retiring DSS director recognized by county commissioners

The Duplin County Board of Commissioners held a brief meeting on Monday, Nov. 2, during which retired Department of Social Services Director Annie Murrell was honored with a plaque of appreciation and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Lance Davis, county health and human services director, presented the honors to Murrell, saying it was “an honor and a privilege.”

“Annie’s spent 30 years with the county,” he explained. “She retired as the director over social services. I’m gonna tell you I had a hard time thinking what I wanted to say because how do you explain somebody’s dedication? And the one thing that kept coming back was the word dedication.”

He went on to say that Murrell was dedicated not only to her job, but to her family, her sorority and her church.

“You’re a true definition of what everybody strives to be,” Davis told her, pointing out that she had worked in multiple areas of DSS, including child protective services, adult protective services, child support, and ultimately director. “You are something that our whole agency strives to become.”

Commission Chair Dexter Edwards stated that he wanted to reiterate everything Davis said. “We really hate to lose you, but we are so [grateful] for all the service you’ve given us.”

In other business at the Nov. 2 meeting, the commissioners approved the following naming of lanes:

A driveway off 1329 Old Chinquapin Road to The Property Lane;A road in the 2200 block of Hallsville Road to ARK Lane;A lane in the 400 block of Sandridge Road to Lake View Drive;Another lane in the same area to Cabin Creek Drive.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes touted the Lee Brice/Little Texas/Danielle Johnson concert that was held at the Duplin Events Center in late October, saying that the event was very well attended.

She also pointed out that about 1,400 people attended the Duplin County Library’s annual trunk or treat event at the Events Center on Oct. 27.

The Duplin County Board of Commissioners will next meet on Monday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., when re-elected Commissioners Dexter and Justin Edwards will be sworn in, as well as incoming Sheriff Eric Southerland.