FARMVILLE — It was a night of distinction and honor when the East Carolina Council for the Boy Scouts of America in Farmville presented awards for Distinguished Citizen, Volunteer of the Year and Business of the Year.
Realtor Connie Moore Corey was recognized as the Distinguished Citizen of the year. Pastor Jeffrey Fields was recognized as Distinguished Volunteer of the Year, and Piggly Wiggly was recognized as the Distinguished Business of the Year.
Fields is a youth pastor at Salvation and Praise Full Gospel Church and is the founder of Lamb of God Ministries, which serves inmates, guards and corrections officers. Fields also has organized the National Day of Prayer in Farmville for three years, initiated Annual Bicycle Safety Awareness Day in Farmville, and serves as the vice chair of the Farmville Democratic Party Precinct B.
A dedicated member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fields also has extended his service into the Farmville schools, particularly Farmville Central High School.
He has served as a basketball referee for high school and Division II and III collegiate levels. Fields also volunteers with the Farmville Food Task Force to ensure and has distributed more than 100 bicycles to youth and adults in the community.
“This is a very humbling experience. I don’t do what I do for people to pat me on the back or recognize me. I do it because I see that people need help and if even in some small way I can help them I feel obligated to,” Fields said, adding everything he does is for the Glory of God. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but it makes me feel very proud that someone saw something in me.”
Piggly Wiggly, owned by the Dunn/Jackson Group, was recognized for its participation, longevity, and good standing within the community. The group purchased Piggly Wiggly in 1999 and since then has kept the community in the forefront of their mind, event organizers said. Staff strive daily to provide customers with wonderful experiences as well as needed items. The store has donated to local charities and nonprofit organizations and local events and has allowed local organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to hold fundraisers on its premises.
“We are not seeking recognition. We are just trying to help folks in our community. It’s how we do business,” said store owner Allen Jackson. “If you keep God in what you do, you’ll stay on track … We have the best customers and employees. They are our greatest asset.”
Corey is a native of Farmville and values her time growing up in the community. She received her Realtor’s license in 1986. She is a multi-million dollar producer in the real estate industry and has served hundreds of customers and clients over the years.
She is active in the leadership, educational and legislative arena of real estate on the local state and national levels. She serves on the N.C. Home Inspectors Relationship Board and is the only woman to have ever held the position of chair. She has served on numerous committees, boards and commissions.
Moore has also been inducted into the National Association of Realtors Hall of Fame, North Carolina Realtors Hall of Fame, named N.C. Realtor of the Year, Greenville-Pitt Realtor of the Year and Coastal Plains Realtor of the Year.
She has also received North Carolina Realtors volunteer of the year and service award and is a recipient of the Order of the Longleaf Pine.
Corey is a breast cancer survivor and was instrumental in the building of the Summer Moore Easter Seals Children’s Center.
“When I think about the word distinguished and I look at those who received this award before me … I really don’t see me in that category … This is all very humbling,” Moore said. “I look at scouting and being in real estate as going hand in hand because it is all about the people.”
This event not only serves as an awards ceremony but serves as a fundraiser for Troop 25 helping to send scouts to camp.
“This is about the children. It’s about raising money for the children to have amazing experiences and for them to bring back those experiences and skills they learned to our community. They give what they learn back to the community,” organizer and committee member Lou Ann Wiley said.
Scouting has always been an important part of the Farmville community, according to Judge John “Jack” Baker Lewis Jr., 87, and former scout leader Chris Burtie, both of Farmville.
Lewis joined the scouts as soon as he could and was a member of the Wolf Patrol.
“Scouting is very important to me. It taught me a lot. If you listen to what you are taught and you follow it, it will make the world a better place,” Lewis said. “I have been contributing to the scouts for a long time. It feels really good to know it’s thriving and taken care of.”
Burtie added, “Scouting has been an important part of the community. Scouting, the whole principle is to develop leadership, and character skills in our youth and to do it without preaching but teaching them. It’s a great den that has had generations of great leadership.”
During the ceremony, Eagle Scout Murray Hughes spoke about the importance of scouting and its principles.
“The most important aspect of my scouting experience has not been on singular trip, knot, or merit badge — it has been the human capital that scouting has built. When you first join scouting … it’s an activity that you view as something that’s fun … But as you grow and advance through scouting, you begin to develop really important skills … The skills that I have gained in scouting have and continue to benefit me immensely.”
During his speech, former Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Dan Taylor added, “Scouting is not merely a recreational activity. It is a way of life, grounded in principles of integrity, services, and camaraderie. At its core lies a simple yet profound premise — a pledge to uphold the values of scouting and to dedicate ourselves to the betterment of our communities and the world at large,” Taylor said.
Knowing the community was coming together to help send them to camp meant a lot to Scouts like second class Landon Letchworth, 12, of Bell Arthur.
“It feels great because you can go on many trips and have more fun,” Letchworth said.
Tenderfoot Scout Yahir Wooten, 13, of Farmville added, “It has been nice getting to do all these things through scouts as we have ranked up. I have gotten to discover new places and do different things.”
First Class Scout Robert Blazer, 12, of Farmville added, “ I like doing campouts and working the fundraisers for them. It helps our social skills and also helps us with managing money. We can get to know the community better.”
Brothers Braeden and Tyler Cole, 12 and 16, also helped with the event Tuesday. Tyler is soon to earn his Eagle rank and has enjoyed watching his brother rise up in rank.
“It’s interesting. It’s good seeing him growing up. It will be weird to see him rank where I am at now,” Tyler said.
Braeden has enjoyed his time with scouts.
“I get to spend time with friends during camp offs. We get to do what we want to in the wilderness.”
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