PAST COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Distinguished Citizen of The Year
The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award winner for 2022 is Bill James, with Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist – Lexington Medical Center.
Bill is a seasoned health care professional who has guided Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center, as President, for the past nine years. As President, Bill leads all aspects of planning, critical operations and services at Lexington Medical Center that also includes the delivery of high quality, patient-and-family centered care, sound fiscal operation of the hospital and outpatient services, and compliance with regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies.
Bill’s leadership was never more evident than when he leveraged his vast skill-set as the driving force in securing funding for, and local community by-in, for the 31.5-million-dollar renovation and expansion of the hospital’s surgical services wing; taking the existing surgical suit and making it a state-of-the-art facility that the whole community will benefit from for decades to come.
Outside of Bill’s varied duties as President, he has always found time to provide leadership in the Lexington and Davidson County community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Davidson Medical Ministries Clinic and is a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club. Bill has also served on the Chamber Board of Directors.
The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award Committee (made up of past winners) is pleased to present this award to Bill for all his efforts to make Lexington and Davidson County a better place to live and work. Congratulations, Bill!
Outstanding Woman In The Community
The Outstanding Woman in the Community Award winner for 2022 is Rosalind Baker, currently serving as a District Court Judge in District 22B, which covers both Davidson and Davie Counties.
Rosalind was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to fill a vacant a vacant seat on the bench, and with that appointment, Rosalind became the first African American to serve as a judge in District 22B.
Rosalind is a graduate of NC A&T State University and received her Juris Doctorate from NC Central University Law School. After being admitted to the NC State Bar, she returned home to Lexington to open an office where she practiced for over 35 years.
While not practicing law or being a seated District Court Judge, Rosalinda has always given back to her community in many ways. Including, but not limited to, serving on the Board of Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist – Lexington Medical Center, Chairperson of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board, Salvation Army of Davidson County Board (Chairperson), Hospice of Davidson County, The Life Center of Davidson County, Home Solutions of Davidson County, Pastor’s Pantry, Cancer Services of Davidson County, Davidson County Community Action, Habitat for Humanity and First Hope Ministries of Davidson County. Rosalind is also a past member of the Lexington Rotary Club.
The Outstanding Woman in the Community Award Committee (made up of past winners) is pleased to present this award to Rosalinda Baker for a life-time of community-oriented efforts to help make Lexington and Davidson County a better place to live. Rosalind embodies the true spirit of what this award represents and we couldn’t be happier to make this presentation. Congratulations, Rosalind!
Distinguished Citizen of The Year
Wayne Alley, the 2023 Distinguished Citizen of the Year award winner, has been described as a man with utmost integrity, selflessness, genuine care for others, loyalty and honor, incredible strength and courage, a man who exemplifies honesty, diplomacy and reliability, authentic true leadership, compassion and philanthropy, bolstered by a brilliant mind and a moral compass.
He is from Lexington and graduated from Lexington Senior High School, and a well-known university in North Carolina. He is also a military veteran, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He is a true servant and a leader in his church and community. Known for his calming presence, his leadership style is marked by rational stability and informed decision-making.
He is a gifted and thoughtful leader, always dependable, always faithful, and never seeking the spotlight. He has advocated for racial justice and fair housing. He believes in helping the less fortunate. Wayne has been a duly elected City Councilor for 16 years, serving 11 of those as Mayor Pro-Tem.
During his tenure, he patiently worked with other Council members to guide our community through some very difficult times, including the recession following the loss of our furniture plants and textile mills, as well as the recent pandemic. As a City Councilor, Wayne played a role in developing and voting in the creation of Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., The Breeden Insurance Amphitheatre, Washington Park’s Splash Pad, The Lexington Aquatics Park, The Lexington Skate Park, the purchase of Brown Street’s Industrial park land, and the development of the soon-to-be-opened Lexington City Centre building.
Outstanding Woman In The Community
Elizabeth Frances “Beth” Bunce is the 2023 Outstanding Woman in the Community Award winner. While Beth was not born in Lexington, her family moved here in 1969 and then moved away before her 10th-grade year. Over the years, other members of the family made their way back to Lexington and helped their parents, who had also moved back, start the Bunce Buildings family business.
After graduating from Duke University and Emory Law School in 1985, Beth started her career as a trial lawyer in Savannah, Georgia. She specialized in employment discrimination cases, focusing on racial discrimination. While working as a trial lawyer, Beth had the honor of trying the first sexual harassment case in federal court in the Southern District of Georgia. Currently, she assists, by appointment from the NC State Bar in our judicial district, with the challenging and time-consuming task of closing an attorney’s office when they are no longer able to practice.
After meeting her husband Bill and starting her family, the demands of being a mother and a trial lawyer took a toll on Beth. She realized she needed to make a change. So, after discussing it with her family, they made the decision to return home in 1999.
Beth now works in the family business, and Lexington and Davidson County are thriving because of it! Thanks to Beth’s guidance, Bunce Buildings has experienced remarkable growth. She always prioritizes treating customers with kindness and generosity, following the “do unto others” philosophy. Beth also generously shares her expertise and supports various charitable causes. Over the years, she has been actively involved in numerous organizations and civic groups listed below:
After meeting her husband Bill and starting her family, the demands of being a mother and a trial lawyer took a toll on Beth. She realized she needed to make a change. So, after discussing it with her family, they made the decision to return home in 1999. Beth now works in the family business, and Lexington and Davidson County are thriving because of it! Thanks to Beth’s guidance, Bunce Buildings has experienced remarkable growth. She always prioritizes treating customers with kindness and generosity, following the “do unto others” philosophy. Beth also generously shares her expertise and supports various charitable causes. Over the years, she has been actively involved in numerous organizations and civic groups listed below:
There is no question that Lexington is a better place to live and work and raise our families because of Beth Bunce and her overwhelming generosity. Please join the Chamber and the past winners of this prestigious award in congratulating Beth on this great achievement.
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