Everlene Davis honored for seven decades teaching
Honored for 70 years teaching, Everlene Davis waved to the audience at South Columbus High School Tuesday. Joining in the applause, from left, were Associate Supt. Adam Thompson, state Rep. Brenden Jones, and Supt. Eddie Beck. (Deuce Niven, TLT photos)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Family and friends of Everlene Davis, honored Tuesday for 70 years of teaching in the Columbus County Schools, said they knew the education legend was surprised because she had no prepared remarks.
“They didn’t tell me nothing,” Davis said following the hour-long program, still seated in an elegant white high-backed chair near the center of the South Columbus High School auditorium stage.
“We had a secret faculty meeting yesterday, just to keep the surprise,” Principal Kelly Beck said, standing to one side.
Surprised or not, Davis said she was honored by the recognition, and has no plans to leave the classroom now.
“I’m starting my 71st year,” Davis said. “I’m going to keep teaching as long as I’m able.”
Paying tribute to Everlene Davis, seated, on 70 years in public education Tuesday were, from left, Columbus County Schools board attorney Bill Phipps; school board members Irvin Enzor, Chris Worley, Emily Grice, and Steve Long; Supt. Eddie Beck; Associate Supt. Adam Thompson; retired Supt. Dr. Deanne Meadows; Principal Kelly Beck; retired Supt. Alan Faulk; retired principal Ronald Ward; state Rep. Brenden Jones, and retired teacher Dianna Bellamy. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
Since 1956
Columbus County Schools Superintendent Eddie Beck said that while her documented career in education stretches back seven decades, her “passion for teaching began when she was only eight years old.
“Under a tobacco barn shelter, she would gather her younger siblings and cousins around her and conduct her own little school. Long before she became a professional educator, she was demonstrating the qualities that would define her life: a love of learning, a desire to teach others, and a commitment to helping young people grow.”
Eddie Beck was the first of seven other speakers following Kelly Beck, who led a procession to the stage before Davis was escorted to a standing audience to the stage by Associate Supt. Adam Thompson.
Both Eddie Beck and Thompson are former South Columbus principals. Other former school and school district audience leaders were in the audience, which also included the SCHS student body.
Eddie Beck said Davis’s “70 documented years of public-school teaching make her one of two teachers in the United States with at least 70 years of experience in public education.
“That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
Superintendent Eddie Beck presented a pearl necklace to Everlene Davis on the occasion of her 70 year anniversary of teaching.
That career began at Douglass High School during segregation, continued at Tabor City High School following integration. She transitioned to South Columbus when the school opened in 1992, consolidating high school students from Tabor City, Williams Township and Nakina high schools.
“Her career has therefore spanned some of the most significant changes in the history of American public education,” Eddie Beck said, “from segregation and integration to computers, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and an entirely transformed educational landscape.
“Yet through all of those changes, one thing has remained constant: Ms. Davis’s commitment to her students.”
Davis has continued learning while teaching, taking part in the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s Teacher Leadership Institute in 2014, earning regional teacher of the year honors twice, and leading as what used to be called Home Economics transformed to Career Technical Education.
“She has seen chalkboards become smartboards,” Eddie Beck said. “Typewriters become computers. Paper grade books become digital systems.
“And students who once sat in her classroom become parents, grandparents, community leaders, and educators themselves.”
Banners reflecting Career Technical Education and the role of Everlene Davis in it were shown Tuesday, with Davis seated at the center, flanked by program speakers to the right, and members of the Columbus County Board of Education to the left. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
CTE
Tina Little, Career and Technical Educator Director for the Columbus County Schools, said she has worked with Davis for two decades, and described her as “so much more than a coworkers. She has been a mentor, a listener, an advisor, a spiritual encourager, and most of all, a friend.”
Little described education, and Davis’s role in it, through the decades as SCHS staff members held placards noting the seven decades of Davis’s service.
From Home Economics in 1956, Davis showed dedication as what is now called CTE developed and grew, embracing “new priorities including career preparation, technology, life skills, family, and community,” Little said. “She continued to prepare students for success.
In this decade, Little said, Davis “has become much more than an experienced CTE teacher. She has become a source of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration for those around her. Her years of experience gave her a unique perspective on how much CTE has changed, but also on the things that had never changed; the importance of students, strong teaching, hands-on learning, relationships, and preparing young people for their futures.”
Davis career can be summed up in a word, Little said, “legacy.”
“Why would I want to retire?” – Ronald Carteret
‘In trouble now’
Ronald Carteret, the carpentry teacher at South Columbus for 19 years, said he had learned from his fellow CTE educator and was ready to talk about it.
“Ms. Davis, you’re in trouble now,” Carteret said before launching into a heartfelt, impromptu tribute.
Davis had been teaching for 51 years when Carteret left the roof contracting industry for education.
“I couldn’t wrap my hear around someone who had been teaching for 51 years, much less 19 years” Carteret said.
Over time, Carteret said he observed Davis and learned as she took notes during meetings, prepared food for special functions, “just being a big part of the school.”
When he noticed Davis limping one day, and she explained that her doctor did not see patients after school hours and she wasn’t taking time away from the classroom. Then, Carteret said, “I realized the work ethic she had.”
Davis was well past retirement age when Carteret started teaching, and he could call it a career soon, too.
“Why would I want to retire,” Carteret said. “I love what I do…
“Why did she want to retire when she was making such a difference in people’s lives.”
Davis “always gave her glory to God,” Carteret said. “She didn’t take credit for any of it. I thought, that’s a heck of a way to have a life.
“I look at her in awe, and I pray she makes it 30 more years, or 50 more years, and if God sees fit for me to be teaching at that time, “I’ll be glad to stand up and say some word.”
Family joined Everlene Davis on the South Columbus stage following Tuesday’s program.
Principal Beck, during an opening faculty meeting for this school year, made a statement that “changed the way I think about life” and seemed appropriate for the Davis tribute, Carteret said.
“She said ‘If you dread coming to work in the morning time, if you hate your job, if you don’t have a passion for what you do, maybe you should think about another career.’
“Ms. Davis has dedicated her life to that passion. I’ve watched it. I’ve seen it. “I’ve talked to her about it. And I respect that.
“So today, I’m proud to honor Ms. Davis. I understand why she’s where she’s at right now.
Ms. Davis, this is your day, so congratulations.
For more on this story see this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
