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7 <br /> 104 Pebblestone Drive <br /> Durham,NC 27703 <br /> December 3, 2020 <br /> Mrs. Bonnie B. Hammersley <br /> Orange County Manager <br /> P.O. Box 8181 <br /> Hillsborough,NC 27278 <br /> Dear Mrs. Hammersley: <br /> It is my great pleasure to write this letter in support of an initiative to name the new Environment <br /> and Agricultural Building in honor of the late Extension Agent, Mrs. Bonnie B. Davis. Mrs. <br /> Davis is indeed worthy of this posthumous honor as a result of her overwhelming dedication and <br /> commitment to the families of Orange County. <br /> I had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Davis from 1982 until the time of her death in 2018. I <br /> initially met Mrs. Davis in the early years of my career with NC Cooperative Extension. She <br /> possessed a very warm and welcoming demeanor, and served as a mentor and a role model to <br /> many younger agents. What I admired most about Mrs. Davis was that she would consistently <br /> strive to stay on the cutting edge of new information and ideas in order to maintain fresh and <br /> innovative educational programs. To put it simply,Mrs. Davis was not complacent. Although <br /> she was closer to the end of her career, she continued to improve and to grow as a professional. <br /> In 1993, I transferred to Orange County to join the NC Cooperative Extension staff, where I <br /> filled the position that had been vacated by Mrs. Davis when she retired some years earlier. She <br /> remained in the community for several years during her retirement until she moved to Michigan <br /> to be cared for by her daughter. During the time when Mrs. Davis was still residing in the <br /> county, she provided a great deal of assistance and support to the Extension staff. Whenever we <br /> were attempting to implement major educational programs or events, she always provided hands- <br /> on support, advice, and wisdom. During the early years of my time working in Orange County, I <br /> vividly recall that many of the young African American department heads were mentored by <br /> Mrs. Davis. They looked upon her as a valued and trusted friend who they could rely on for <br /> sound advice and counsel. What I admired most about Mrs. Davis was that she was gifted in her <br /> ability to lead,but could also easily coexist in a supportive role. Although she was highly <br /> respected and even revered in the community, she had a very humble spirit and a servant's heart. <br /> I've met numerous highly accomplished adults in Orange County over the years who credit Mrs. <br /> Davis for providing them with a firm foundation on which their current successes firmly rest. <br /> She established strong relationships with many families in the community, and worked with <br /> youth and adults on methods of improving their diet and health,managing their finances, and <br /> managing their homes. During the early years of Mrs. Davis' tenure with Cooperative Extension <br /> families did not have access to the proliferation of information from a variety of sources that we <br />