Dot’s Day
Published 10:48 am Monday, October 26, 2015
Long-time Northampton County Finance Officer Dot Vick (second from left) was honored at a retirement party held in her honor after 42 years of employment. She is shown with County Commissioners, from left, Joe Barrett, Fannie Greene, Virginia Spruill, and Robert Carter.| Photos by Bill Blanchard
JACKSON – She was hired on a temporary basis.
She retired as one of Northampton County’s longest tenured employees.
Dorothy “Dot” Vick was honored recently with a retirement reception at the J.W. Faison Auditorium in Jackson after more than 42 years of service to Northampton County local government.
Among those paying tribute to Dot Vick at her retirement party was former Northampton County Commissioner Henry Moncure (left).
That tribute included remarks from current and past members of the county’s local governing body, to include present-day Northampton County Commissioner and Board Vice-Chairman Joe Barrett, former Commissioner and retired pastor, the Rev. James Hester, retired County Manager Wayne Jenkins, and an awards presentation given by Fannie Greene, current Chairwoman of the Northampton County Commissioners, who recognized Vick’s service and accomplishments during her tenure as Finance Officer.
Former County Manager Stewart Taylor offered remarks and congratulations to Vick via a Face Time live chat.
Upon retirement, Vick was presented with an award of appreciation from the Northampton County Board of Commissioners and with the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
Comments, anecdotes, and congratulations were offered by Vick’s family and friends, including many former and current Northampton County government employees. Among the many guests in attendance were Vick’s three daughters, Patsy Smith, Kathy Vick, and Tommie Anne Hall; two grandchildren, David Thomas Smith and Reagan Hall; and four sisters, Betty Self, Velma Eatmon, Frankie Brinkley, and Hazel Davis.
The retirement reception was planned and organized by Mary Bradley, Bill Blanchard, and Shannon Vinson of the Northampton County Finance Office.
Vick began work with Northampton County government on March 20, 1973 when hired by then County Manager Sidney Ellen to work in the County Manager’s Office as an accounting clerk on a temporary assignment. That initial assignment led to a permanent accounting clerical position in July 1973, which she held until 1988. Vick then became Finance Director in early 1989, and in mid 2000, she was officially appointed Finance Officer by the Northampton County Commissioners to serve under then County Manager Wayne Jenkins. Vick served as Finance Officer until her retirement on Aug. 31, 2015.
By her own recollection, Vick acknowledged working with six different county managers, six different Sheriffs, 20 different county commissioners, and countless Department Managers and employees over the years. However, she stated, “I worked for every citizen of Northampton County.”
Among those in attendance at Vick’s retirement reception were former Northampton County Commissioners Henry Moncure and James Hester, current County Commissioners Virginia Spruill and Robert Carter, and former Northampton County Sheriffs John Wood and Wardie Vincent, in addition to current Sheriff Jack Smith. Many former Department Heads, including Sue Gay, former Northampton County Health Director, and Ronald Storey, former Northampton County Emergency Management Director, also attended the reception.
During her retirement, Vick said she plans to spend more time with family and friends, and pursue other interests and opportunities.