Halifax County commissioners today honored the 2024 Governor's Volunteer Service Award winners.

They are Stephanie Credle, Pat Peele, and Ken Reynolds.

Deputy County Manager Christina Wells said the program was created by the governor’s office in 1979 to the state’s most dedicated volunteers. “Through the years, the award has been bestowed on thousands of North Carolinians who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by volunteering in their local community.”

Credle profile

Credle is CEO of  Chrysalis Enterprises and Transforming Lives and Restoring Hope. 

She is An author, mentor, trainer, and coach who returned to Halifax County after retiring from government service with her goal of making a difference in the county. 

Credle is currently a certified coach, speaker, and trainer with the John C. Maxwell Team and the recipient of the 2016 NAACP Roy C. Wilkins Renown Service Award. 

She is the author of seven books and is quoted as saying, "There are two things I've always been able to do — bring people together and inspire people to grow. For as long as I can remember, I've been a bridge builder, barrier breaker, enlightenment seeker and change agent."

Credle is determined to highlight the need for inclusivity and understanding throughout Halifax County in the hopes of altering the mindset of communities and citizens. 

Through her outreach, coaching, mentoring, and writing, Credle helps others overcome what may seem to be insurmountable odds. 

Her goal is that all citizens benefit from her work in unconscious bias, conflict resolution, workplace diversity, and leadership development to propel themselves to a better purpose and position in life and to cause a transformation throughout the county. 

She currently serves as the chair of the Halifax County Human Relations Committee and as a member of the Halifax County Semiquincentennial Commission.

“She does a lot of work for Halifax County,” board Chair Vernon Bryant said.

Peele profile

Peele has been an integral volunteer for the Halifax County 4-H Program for many years and continues to be an advocate and volunteer for 4-H youth development programs throughout the county. 

She has always encouraged others to take advantage of the numerous opportunities 4-H offers and has consistently gone out of her way to ensure all youth are fairly served. 

Pat has a unique ability to raise awareness on behalf of the youth, pushing back against community-wide perspectives of 4-H being only for well-informed farm families.

Several years ago, through collaborative leadership initiatives, Pat recruited the volunteers needed to charter a new 4-H club. She enlisted the aid of her son Jared Peele, a well decorated 4-H alumni and National 4-H Honor Club Member, to work with Halifax County Cooperative Extension to identify a historically underserved area to establish the club, secure a meeting location and recruit youth. 

Pat's vision was to establish a safe environment for youth — especially teenagers — to gather, have fun building connections and learn by engaging with 4-H programs that are often regarded as "the best kept secret of our county.”

Pat has provided leadership, care and support to the youth and their guardians from the club's beginning, through a global pandemic, and during a time of deepest sorrow when she unexpectedly lost her son, Jared. 

However, she continued to persevere, as she knew her son would want her to do so. 

Her resiliency has not gone unnoticed by youth in her Talented Teens 4-H Club, as the members consistently follow her example of strength and dedication to earn top placings in local, district, state and national competition areas. 

The club meetings coordinated by Pat tout dynamic local and regional industry professionals who teach the youth essential life skills.

Pat Peele is another Halifax hero and I think the greatest hero is her son, the late Jared Peele,” Bryant said. “Thank you for all you do for Halifax County.”

Reynolds profile

Ken Reynolds is an invaluable volunteer for Halifax County Cooperative Extension, serving as vice-chair of the Halifax Extension Advisory Leadership Council, where he readily provides the team with guidance and direction to ensure citizens' needs are being recognized and met. 

He is also an advocate for extension educational programs across the county and is often heard on the local radio station encouraging people to participate in the offerings.

As chair of the local beekeepers' association, Ken coordinates educational programs and beekeeping schools with the horticulture agent to promote proper beekeeping practices. 

He continually strives to educate the community on the role bees have in the food system and their importance to creating a sustainable environment.

Ken readily gives of his time to provide educational beekeeping activities to youth through 4-H programs, which is greatly appreciated in the county’s historically underserved areas. 

He gives a week of his time each year to participate in 4-H summer day camps to facilitate experiences youth may not otherwise have. 

He volunteers in area schools to share his passion for beekeeping and coordinates the Halifax-Northampton Beekeepers' Association to share beekeeping and environmental sustainability with more than 2,500 community members each year at the annual Halifax Harvest Days event.

“He’s a workaholic,” Bryant said. “He does a lot for 4-H. He thinks people don’t notice, but people notice what you do and thank you for all you do for the county.”