By Erin Smith
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met on Monday night and recognized five employees for their years of service and one retiree.
The Commissioners began the evening by recognizing Clara Johnson who retired from the Bladen County Health Department on April 1 with 25 years of service to the county. She was presented a plaque recognizing her retirement.
“Clara Johnson has been a devoted employee and a friend to public health for the last 25 years,” said Bladen County Department of Health and Human Services Director Terri Duncan.
Johnson’s career has spanned from home health to coordinating the health department’s maternity clinic and finally as care coordinator for at-risk pregnant women.
“Clara held a genuine concern for the women she was caring for and strove to ensure they and their babies received the care and support that was needed to have healthy birth outcomes,” said Duncan.
Bladen County Commissioner Chairman Charles Ray Peterson thanked Johnson for her years fo service to the county and its citizens.
Johnson also took a moment to speak. She began by thanking the Commissioners for their recognition and she also thanked Duncan for her support.
“When I first started in nursing, she was one of my mentors in maternity at Bladen County Hospital,” said Johnson.
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The Commissioners also recognized five county employees who were in attendance for their years of service to the county. Recognized were Sonya Heustess with 25 years of service to Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, Doncee Ruffin with 20 years of service with Bladen County Register of Deeds, Marianne Valentiner for 10 years with the Bladen County Health Department, Monica Locklear with the five years with the Bladen County Health Department, and Kayla Brianne with five years with the Bladen County Health Department.
Also recognized but unable to attend the meeting were: John Patrick Kelly with five years of service at the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, Matt Chadwick with 20 years of service at the Bladen County Building Inspections Department, Sharon McKoy-Clark with 15 years of service at the Bladen County Department of Social Services, Dana Norris with five years of service at Bladen County EMS, and Shannon Pate with 25 years of service at the Bladen County Health Department.
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