Judy Bass Selected as Recipient of 2025 James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award

A longtime Garner resident with over 30 years of service to the community has been named the 2025 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award.

Judy Bass was recognized for her tireless work preserving Garner’s history, honoring the area’s veterans and creating meaningful and engaging civic spaces.

“Judy Bass has made a lasting and multifaceted impact on the Garner community through decades of volunteer service—most notably, through her leadership in historic preservation by way of the Garner History Museum at the Depot, and her central role in the creation of the Garner Veterans Memorial,” the award nomination said.

“It is a great honor to receive the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award,” Ms. Bass said. “I never imagined that my name would be in the same group as some Garner legends and some of my heroes and friends. An award such as this can be attributed to friends and others who provided support and inspiration along the journey.”

Ms. Bass, who retired as Garner’s town clerk in 2015 after 18 years of stellar, mostly behind-the-scenes service with the Town, is well known in the community for the countless volunteer hours she has devoted toward making two transformational projects a reality.

Garner Veterans Memorial

“Her most visible and lasting contribution is her leadership on the Garner Veterans Memorial project,” the nomination submission said. “Beginning in 2006, Judy served on the steering committee that oversaw every stage of the memorial—from early vision to community fundraising, design and dedication.”

Ms. Bass played a role in helping to raise over $500,000 for the project, working with a brick sale campaign that continues today as part of the Walkway of Honor.

She also helped organize the dedication ceremony for the memorial in May 2013. The event brought together over 1,000 attendees, military flyovers, elected officials and families of veterans. The memorial, and the citizen-driven initiative to get it funded and built, would be a key success story that helped Garner earn All-America City recognition the month after the dedication.

Today, the memorial—with its numerous engraved panels that honor the fallen and offer historical background on America's armed conflicts—is the backdrop for the Garner Memorial Day observance and plays a significant role in the community's Veterans Day and Independence Day events as well.

The memorial, which also features red-clay earthcasts by world-renowned artist Thomas Sayre, has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects-North Carolina and is listed by veterans organizations as a model of respectful civic remembrance.

“Judy’s work to bring the Veterans Memorial to life has ensured that Garner’s heroes are remembered with the dignity they deserve—not just now but for generations,” the award nomination said.

Garner Area Historical Society

Ms. Bass also has been a longtime leader in the Garner Area Historical Society, having served as president and continuing as a board member of the non-profit.

Under her guidance, the organization was able to transform the historic train depot in Downtown Garner into the Garner History Museum. The depot building had been located on Garner Road and was in poor condition. It was moved to a location at the corner of Pearl and Main streets, underwent extensive renovations and opened in November 2021 as the new focal point of the community's history.

After the museum opened, Ms. Bass oversaw the collection and curation of photos, documents and artifacts "that connect generations of Garner residents to the town’s rich past," the award nomination said.

Ms. Bass is currently leading the campaign to restore the interior of the historic railroad caboose next to the museum. Contributions to that restoration effort can be made by visiting garner-area-historical-society.org.

Just recently, Ms. Bass was named to the Wake County Historic Preservation Commission, where she will bring a Garner perspective to a body that promotes the preservation of important aspects of local culture, history and architecture.

Ms. Bass' decades of volunteer service to Garner also has included work outside of honoring veterans and preserving our town's history. Through the years, she has been involved in causes such as the Caroline Ball Family Foundation and the Community of Hope Ministries' Garner of Hope.

“Judy’s accomplishments—the founding of the Garner History Museum, the effort to restore the historic Caboose and the creation of the Garner Veterans Memorial—are not simply projects. They are legacies," the award nomination said. "Each represents years of persistence, leadership and coordination, carried out with care and vision. These landmarks serve as daily reminders of Garner’s past and values, and they foster a sense of place and pride for residents and visitors alike."

The award nomination added: “The spirit of this award lies in honoring those whose service is foundational—who help shape the identity of Garner through sustained contributions that stand the test of time. Judy Bass is that kind of person. Her fingerprints are on some of the most cherished and enduring parts of Garner’s civic landscape. She has helped define what Garner values, remembers and celebrates. For all these reasons, Judy Bass represents the very heart of what the James R. Stevens Award was created to recognize.”

About the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award

The James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award was established by the Stevens family to recognize individuals who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to the Town of Garner over a period of many years. Preference is given to nominees with 20 or more years of service. Non-residents of Garner are eligible recipients if the award committee determines that they meet the criteria necessary to receive the honor. Individuals also can be recognized posthumously.

Via Town of Garner

Kathy Behringer and Jerry Jones Named Stevens Award Recipients

Town Council Member Kathy Behringer and local businessman Jerry Jones have been named co-recipients of the 2022 James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award—our community’s most prestigious recognition for public service rendered over an extended period of time.

Kathy Behringer

“Kathy Behringer is smart, sincere and hardworking. She knows the community because she has raised a wonderful family here and has been devoted to community life and the people of Garner for more than 25 years,” said former Garner Mayor Sam Bridges (as quoted in the nomination letter for Ms. Behringer).

A Garner resident for nearly three decades, Ms. Behringer is now serving her fifth term as a Town Council member. She has focused on community growth and development and on beautification efforts around Garner, especially around some of the town’s main gateways.

Ms. Behringer has held a special place in her heart for the revitalization of historic Downtown Garner and was named a North Carolina Main Street Champion in 2011 by the N.C. Department of Commerce. She currently serves on the Downtown Garner Association, which helps to lead development of historic Downtown Garner as a vibrant business, entertainment and cultural center through public-private partnerships.

During her tenure on the Council, Ms. Behringer also has been a strong advocate for improving parks and recreation opportunities, and she has advocated in particular for the Garner Senior Center.

Ms. Behringer has been passionate about ending domestic violence and has worked to ensure the Town as well as community groups regularly support InterAct of Wake County.

In addition, Ms. Behringer currently serves as The Garner Woman’s Club president and sits on the Board of Directors for the YMCA. She is active in her Community Watch program and is a member of the Garner Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Behringer has previously served as the past president of the Friends of Historic Garner and as a board member for Passage Home, a non-profit organization that works to break the cycle of poverty for individuals and families in Wake County by helping them to achieve housing and income security.

Ms. Behringer has been an independent business owner for 41 years. She is married to Jeff Behringer, also an independent business owner in Garner. Together they have six children and eight grandchildren.

Jerry Jones

Jerry Jones has served the Garner community for almost 50 years.

“Jerry’s family has deep roots in Garner, and he has never forgotten what Garner has done for him and his family,” the nomination letter for Mr. Jones states. “As Jerry’s business and community leadership approaches fifty years, he is still the positive teammate that everyone wants as a friend, neighbor and business confidant.”

Mr. Jones is a Gamer native and joined his father’s insurance business, Jones Insurance Agency, in 1974, soon after graduating from college. He married Brenda Stone, and they established themselves as respected and admired pillars of the Gamer community.

Soon after graduating from college, Mr. Jones joined the Garner Volunteer Fire Department as a volunteer and served in the department for seven years.

He succeeded his father, Purvis, at the helm of Jones Insurance. After serving on the Garner Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Mr. Jones was elected board chair by his peers for 1980-81. He continued to serve in leadership roles with the Chamber for a number of years.

Mr. Jones is a charter member of the morning Garner Rotary Club (chartered in 1978). He served as president of the club and later served as district treasurer. He earned the Mid-Day Rotary Club’s Ethics Award for his personal and professional character and demeanor.

For his support of Rotary, Mr. Jones has been named a Paul Harris Fellow. He also is a member of the Paul Harris Society and has been a generous supporter of local, district and Rotary International projects ranging from annual scholarships for Garner high school seniors to Rotary International’s goal of eradicating polio.

Mr. Jones has also been passionate about education. He served with the Communities in Schools program for seven years as a tutor and mentor, then seven years with the Schools and Communities Organized to Read (SCOR) program for seven years as a reading mentor with second-graders at Timber Drive Elementary.

The Joneses have continued to support local civic, business and service groups and initiatives, including the following:

1. Little League team sponsorships

2. Community of Hope Ministries

3. Garner Senior Center capital campaign

4. Garner Veterans Memorial capital campaign

5. Poole Family YMCA capital campaign

In addition, Mr. Jones has been a Business Advisory Board member of Wake Services and Advisory Board member at North State Bank.

Mr. Jones and Ms. Behringer will be recognized at the Aug. 16 Town Council meeting, held at 7 p.m. in the Ronnie S. Williams Council Chambers in Garner Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave.

ABOUT THE JAMES R. STEVENS SERVICE TO GARNER AWARD  

The James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award is intended to recognize people who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to Garner over a long period of time. Emphasis is on service rendered over an extended period of time with preference given to nominees with 20-plus years of service. This is in keeping with James R. Stevens’ tradition of service spanning decades. Non-residents of Garner are eligible if the award committee deems that they meet the criteria necessary to receive the honor. The award also can be bestowed posthumously.

The award program is administered by the Town of Garner, with a selection committee made up of the mayor, a representative of the Stevens family and other community members.

Nominations Being Accepted for Stevens Award Through July 17

Stevens Award Application

​Service to Garner Award Nomination Form

Eligibility & Introduction

Anyone who has made substantial, outstanding contributions to the Town of Garner over a period of years is eligible for the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award. Emphasis should be placed on service rendered over an extended period of time rather than what has been done in the preceding twelve months.

Preference will be given to nominees with 20 (+) years of service. This is in keeping with James Stevens’ tradition of service
spanning decades.

Non-residents of Garner are eligible if the award committee deems they meet the criteria necessary to receive this award. Additionally, the James R. Stevens Service Award can be awarded posthumously.

Nominations should describe or outline the nominee’s service to Garner. Please be sure to include civic, fraternal, religious organizations and affiliations, positions held, award or recognition's received, etc.

Nominations will be accepted through July 17, 2022

Questions: 919-773-4456.

Jackie Johns Honored Posthumously with Stevens Award

Former Town Council Member Jackie Johns has been named the 2021 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award, considered our community's most prestigious recognition for public service. 

Mr. Johns, who passed away in January 2019 at the age of 81, is being honored posthumously. The Town Council will recognize Mr. Johns at its Aug. 17 regular meeting starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Garner Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave. There will be a reception on the second floor of Town Hall preceding the Council meeting. 

Mr. Johns served as a Town alderman and, later, Town Council member for a total of nearly 36 years during three separate tenures. A native of the Auburn community, Mr. Johns was the first African American elected municipal official in town history and served as Garner’s only African American elected official during his entire time on the Board of Aldermen and Town Council. 

Former Mayor Ronnie Williams, who served as an alderman and Council member with Mr. Johns before becoming mayor, said Mr. Johns “was a true advocate for the people.” 

“He was the people’s politician,” Williams said. “He looked out for the interests of every citizen in town.”

Longtime Garner resident and community activist Helen Phillips had similar recollections of Mr. Johns. “He has always spoken for the community,” she said after Mr. Johns’ passing. “He was always trying to help people live better.” 

Mr. Johns was first elected as an alderman in 1973 and served four years. He then had a second stint as an alderman from 1979 to 1983. In 1991, he was voted into office again. This time, he would serve as an alderman and Council member until his death. 

Mr. Johns also was a member and deacon of Springfield Baptist Church in Garner. In addition, he served on the church’s Board of Trustees and as a Sunday school superintendent. He also was known to have regularly visited other churches all over Garner and to have made contributions to them. 

When asked about the accomplishment of which he was most proud as an elected official, Mr. Johns cited being part of the leadership that decided to purchase the land that became Lake Benson Park. Prior to its acquisition by the Town in the early 1980s, the tract had been farmland.   

Mr. Johns helped lead Garner as it grew and evolved in numerous ways. The Town’s population was approximately 7,000 when Mr. Johns won his first aldermen election in 1973. At the time of his passing, Garner had over 31,000 residents.  

Over the span of his service, White Oak Crossing shopping center was built; White Deer Park was developed and opened; Garner Performing Arts Center was renovated and rebranded; and the Town built a new Town Hall and police headquarters as a result of $35.7 million bond program approved by voters in 2013.  

Garner also was named an All-America City during Mr. Johns’ tenure, and he proudly served as a delegate with the citizen-led team that traveled to Denver to earn the prestigious national recognition in 2013. 

Following his passing, the community recognized Mr. Johns in a unique way. In response to a remarkable petition drive that collected over 1,000 signatures, the Town Council in August 2019 voted unanimously to change the name of Rand Mill Park to Jackie Johns Sr. Community Park.  

The park, managed by the Town of Garner’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, is located at 508 Rand Mill Road in the neighborhood where Mr. Johns and his wife, Lila, lived with their two sons. In the early 1980s, Mr. Johns was instrumental in persuading Town leaders to move the park from its location at the corner of Bagwell Street and Smith Drive to its current site, and to upgrade park amenities to include a ballfield, basketball court, playground equipment and picnic shelter.  

Just before the Council voted to rename the park, former Mayor Williams remarked, “I think it’s safe to say—and we have to believe—that Jackie is looking down tonight, and he’s pleased with what he sees.” 

ABOUT THE JAMES R. STEVENS SERVICE TO GARNER AWARD 

The James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award is intended to recognize people who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to Garner over a period of years. Emphasis is on service rendered over an extended period of time with preference given to nominees with 20-plus years of service. This is in keeping with James R. Stevens’ tradition of service spanning decades. Non-residents of Garner are eligible if the award committee deems they meet the criteria necessary to receive the honor. The award also can be bestowed posthumously, as in the case of Mr. Johns. 

Courtesy Town of Garner