By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Greenboro, NC — Against the historic backdrop of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro, Governor Josh Stein gathered with civic leaders, families, and advocates on Wednesday, October 14th, to induct a distinguished slate of North Carolinians into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Conferred by the governor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine stands as North Carolina’s most prestigious civilian honor, awarded to individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary record of sustained, exemplary service and dedication to the state and their communities.
Holding the ceremony within the hallowed civil rights landmark, home of the historic 1960 Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-ins, underscored the deep public service and pursuit of equity embodied by this year’s 15 honorees. “North Carolina is home to some truly incredible people,” Gov. Stein told the gathering, commending the cohort for dedicating their lives to education, public health, environmental justice, the judiciary, and public safety.
The presentations recognized several leaders who have spent decades dismantling barriers and expanding opportunity across the Piedmont and beyond:
Deena Hayes-Green: A Guilford County native and lifelong education advocate, Hayes-Green has served on the Guilford County Board of Education since 2002. Throughout more than two decades of board service, she has been a tireless champion for teacher compensation, student safety, and narrowing racial achievement and opportunity gaps. Beyond the classroom, she co-founded the Racial Equity Institute to advance racial justice nationally and established Black Wall Street LLC to expand access to capital in urban centers.
Dr. Laura Gerald: Honored for her pioneering career in public health, Dr. Gerald was lauded by Gov. Stein for her unwavering commitment to breaking down systemic health disparities, leading efforts through major health foundations and trust funds to expand healthcare access to underserved North Carolinians across the state.
Paula Rakestraw: Starting as a parent volunteer in the Rockingham County Schools, Rakestraw transformed her passion into lasting institutional support. After working as an early childhood educator and business owner, she founded and led the Rockingham County Partnership for Children, directing vital Smart Start investments, and continues her public leadership on the Rockingham County Board of Education.
Stephen Lee: Celebrating a milestone 30-year teaching career in Guilford County Schools, Lee was among the founding educators when Northern Guilford Middle School opened its doors two decades ago. As a career and technical education (CTE) instructor skilled in 3D printing and industrial design, Lee opened students’ eyes to engineering, technology, and aviation while anchoring the school community through his presence at athletic events and school concerts.
State and national governance were well-represented among the inductees, highlighted by transformational milestones in clean water and municipal leadership:
Michael S. Regan: A Goldsboro native and graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Regan was honored for his visionary environmental leadership. Prior to serving as the first Black administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden, Regan led the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality under Gov. Roy Cooper. In that role, he pioneered state clean energy standards, spearheaded the historic Duke Energy coal ash settlement, and launched urgent initiatives addressing PFAS "forever chemicals" in drinking water.
Mayor Allen Joines: Currently the longest-serving mayor in Winston-Salem’s history, Joines has led the city for a quarter-century. During his 25-year tenure, Joines recruited 70 new or expanding companies that brought more than 29,000 jobs to the city, successfully drove major reductions in homelessness—virtually eliminating it among local military veterans, and spearheaded comprehensive public health and workforce programs.
Gov. Stein also celebrated inductees who have fortified public institutions, fairness in the courts, and democratic access:
Judge Michael L. Robinson: A native of Winston-Salem and UNC School of Law graduate, Judge Robinson practiced complex business litigation for 25 years before his appointment to the North Carolina Business Court in 2016, eventually retiring earlier this year as Chief Business Court Judge. Known among colleagues for his early-morning work ethic, Robinson was commended for his fair administration of commercial law.
Tim Tsujii: As Forsyth County Director of Elections and formerly with Guilford County. Tsujii has spent his career safeguarding the right to vote. In 2016, Tsujii implemented the state's first real-time polling wait tracker with turn-by-turn navigation, an innovation that earned a 2026 Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and served as the direct model for statewide wait-time reductions across North Carolina DMV offices.
Kelly Moore: Serving as the Director of Forensic Services for the Greensboro Police Department, Moore rose from crime scene investigator to oversee a division twice awarded the global Project FORESIGHT Maximus Award (2023 and 2025), ranking among the top 15 forensic units in the world. Gov. Stein noted Moore’s critical role in helping the state eliminate the backlog of thousands of untested sexual assault evidence collection kits during his tenure as attorney general.
The ceremony reached an emotional peak as Gov. Stein honored Winston-Salem Police Officer Michael F. Smith and Sergeant Liam Whelan. The pair performed a daring, life-saving water rescue last year after two children were swept away in a fast-moving current in Salem Creek, finding them stranded on a rock in the river and bringing them safely ashore. “For any one of us, it would be a tremendous act of heroism, but for them, it was another day at the office,” Stein said, noting that two families were spared unimaginable tragedy thanks to their quick response.
The complete list of October 14th inductees into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine includes:
- Valencia Abbott
- Kevin Baker
- Bishop Larry Brown
- Julianna Earp
- Dr. Laura Gerald
- Deena Hayes-Green
- James Allen Joines
- Stephen Lee
- Kelly Moore
- Paula Rakestraw
- Michael S. Regan
- Michael L. Robinson
- Tim Tsujii
- Michael F. Smith
- Liam Whelan
Closing the convocation, Gov. Stein reiterated that the state’s progress is propelled not by decrees from Raleigh, but by the daily perseverance, integrity, and sacrifice of local community servants who commit their lives to lifting up their neighbors.
