‘Miss Eva’ receives state honor

When Eva Sermons arrived for a volunteer appreciation dinner at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center, she didn’t expect to receive the state’s highest civilian honor.

More surprises awaited Sermons on Saturday evening as far-flung children and grandchildren showed up to congratulate the former city commissioner, who received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of her service to North Carolina.

“I felt really honored that my fellow citizens had seen fit to recommend me for it,” she said. “It was totally a shock, but it was something to cherish.”

Mayor Jimmy Sanders presented the award on behalf of Gov. Mike Easley. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is conferred by the governor’s Citizen and Community Services Office and is the highest honor available to civilians in the Tar Heel State.

Sermons was elected to the Havelock Board of Commissioners in 1977 and retained her seat until 2005, making her the longest-serving commissioner in city history.

She served as the president of Havelock Little League and has been continuously active in youth sports, including Babe Ruth baseball and basketball and cheerleading programs at the Havelock Recreation Complex.

“There’s not too much that went on that my husband and I weren’t a part of, because we had six children,” Sermons said. “To keep them involved, we were involved, too.”

Four of her six children, along with numerous grandchildren, congregated at the Tourist and Event Center to help Sermons celebrate the accomplishment. Some traveled from as far away as Atlanta, Ga. or Washington, D.C.

“It was kept a secret from me,” she said.

“I’m amazed that they were able to do that.”

Sermons volunteered with the Havelock Rescue Squad for 11 years and served on the city’s appearance commission, recreation advisory board and comprehensive land use and transportation plan committee.

She also served on a water conservation subcommittee of the N.C. League of Municipalities.

Graciously accepting the honor, Sermons said her service to the community was motivated by a genuine love of Havelock and its people.

“I’d do it again if I had enough years left to do it again,” she said Tuesday.

“People here are wonderful.”