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GARYSBURG – The longtime mayor of Garysburg, Roy L. Bell, has announced that he will not be seeking reelection this year.

“It is with mixed emotions that I inform you of my retirement in November 2025,” said Bell in a statement posted to the town’s website on April 2. “I can say that it has been an honor.”

Bell has been reelected multiple times as Garysburg’s mayor, totaling 32 years of service in that position.

“During those 32 years, I have had some highs and lows. The main objective of mine, which God placed on my heart, was to help my community to be a better place to live and raise children,” Bell said.

Looking back at over three decades of service, Bell reflected on the early days of his tenure. In the beginning, he sought to overcome his lack of experience with knowledge from a variety of sources, including the late Wendell Perry, the League of Municipalities, Institute of Government, and the Rural Center Leadership Program.

“It is my opinion that you cannot be an effective leader if you are not knowledgeable of the duties of a leader,” he explained. “There are federal, state, and local agencies available to assist you with that knowledge.”

Bell credited his parents with instilling in him a desire to serve others, and he also said his faith in God has helped him serve the town too. He thanked past and current council members, town employees, and citizens for their support over the years.

“I am not naïve to the point that I believe I accomplished this on my own. I was fortunate enough to have council members who caught the vision and supported me,” he continued.

Bell recalled some accomplishments over the years, such as going from sharing an office with the town’s only police officer to being able to construct a municipal complex that housed offices for town hall, police, and a meeting space. He credited USDA and Susan Christenson for helping with that process.

He also acknowledged the support from former US Senator Richard Burr, who sent a representative to help the town construct a new fire station as well.

Bell noted other accomplishments included purchasing the former Garysburg Elementary School building, which was turned into the Town Center. With renovations to the building over the years, it now hosts a variety of services for citizens, including a library, gym, a Health and Wellness Center, and a walking track.

Again, he thanked a number of people and organizations that helped over the years, including past town council members, former NC House representative Michael Wray, Lowe’s Distribution Center, Dominion Energy, USDA, NC Department of Commerce, and Upper Plains Council of Government.

Bell also recognized the town’s employees who work hard daily to serve the citizens of Garysburg.

As for what’s next, Bell said he’s reflecting on how God has blessed him over the years and he plans to enjoy the upcoming years with his wife, Lola Ausby, as they continue serving God and the community.

“In closing, I want the citizens of Garysburg to know that it has been an honor serving you as mayor. I pray that our next mayor will love and enjoy serving as much as I have,” he concluded.