By Catharin Shepard • Editor • Sharon Burney breathed life into the Partners for Education program, seeking out funding, recognizing teachers and students, planning the annual golf tournament and more – all while working a full-time career at Burlington Industries.
“Sharon worked tirelessly, tirelessly. She got gift cards, she went to Walmart, she got donations, she got sponsorships,” John Jordan said of Burney.
When it came time to deliver the monthly teacher awards to the schools, if none of the other members would go, “Sharon would do it.”
“I can’t even tell you how many hours, hundreds, thousands of hours (she volunteered) for Partners in Education,” Jordan said.
Now retired after a decades-long career and a lifetime of service to others – and still carrying on her own ministry – Burney was honored last week as the Raeford Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year.
The award presented each year by the Kiwanis Club for the past half-century, recognizes an outstanding citizen in Hoke County who has gone above and beyond in their leadership and service to others. The award presentation was part of the ceremonies at the Club’s 102nd anniversary night.
Jordan, a Kiwanian and a longtime friend and fellow Partners in Education volunteer, spoke about Burney’s many contributions through her work and community service.
Burney served as president of the nonprofit for many years – Jordan said likely around 30 years. She and the committee sponsored an annual golf tournament that sponsored Partners in Education. Each month they would present a $100 check to teachers of the month.
Burney’s long list of service includes many years on the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce; she is currently a member of the Chamber board of directors. She has also served on the Board of Adjustments.
“She is continuing to serve, and this award, Citizen of the Year, it’s all about leadership and it’s all about quiet leadership. We all know people who do stuff because they want recognition…Sharon does not do stuff to get recognized. That speaks to her character, utmost character. Serving others, that’s what this award is about. Serving others, serving our community with integrity, compassion, commitment,” Jordan said. “She has touched a lot of lives, and continues to touch a lot of lives.”
Additionally, Burney continues to volunteer her time through her church community. She began an annual fundraiser that consists of placing $1 a day in a jar for a year, with the proceeds going to support the building of the Lord’s kingdom. She visits and provides guidance to several churches to assist in implementing the fundraiser.
“Participating churches were able to complete special projects with the monies raised. She has a passion to serve the elderly, and frequently visits the nursing facilities,” Jordan said.
“Sharon Burney is truly a passionate servant who encourages others to strive to reach their goals, and to faithfully live out their destiny.”
“Thank you for all the lives you’ve touched, Sharon,” Jordan concluded in remarks. “Thank you for helping us become better leaders, better neighbors and better stewards of our community.”
Burney and her son were in the audience at the annual Kiwanis Club anniversary night when the Club surprised her with the Citizen of the Year award.
“I want to thank all of y’all. I did not see this coming,” she said when accepting the honor. “Everything that I do or that I did, I did it from my heart. I’ve been in Raeford all my life. I came up around a lot of people that were good to me.”
Just a few of the people she recalled were Kermit Wood, Edith Best and Ivery McNair and Bill Archie.
“I’m going to stop calling names but I had so many people helping me. They always stood by me and gave me a push, and I had parents. Most of all my dad pushed me, because I wanted to be a school teacher,” she said. “So much that I would pretend I was teaching school when I was growing up.” She would later get the chance to train, and go on to teach classes as part of her long career.
Burney said she “almost worked herself to death” with Partners in Education because of her love for children.
“I still love children. I want them to have everything that’s out there available to them. I would do anything for them,” she said.
She spoke about how taking the first step often means others will step up, too to help a good cause.
“If you make one step, somebody is going to make two, and somebody is going to make three, and it’s going to go on,” Burney said. “If you do it from your heart and speak from your heart, people will help you. But you’ve got to try, you’ve got to put one foot forward.”
The Raeford Kiwanis Club honored John Jordan for perfect meeting attendance.
Kiwanis Club president-elect Catharin Shepard received the Kiwanian of the Year award. In remarks, she thanked the Club for the honor.
“There are so many Kiwanians in this room who deserve that award, and I am the one who is blessed to get to be a part of something that is so much bigger than me,” Shepard said in remarks. “Thank you all, because you’re the ones who make this happen…I think we’ve got some exciting things coming this year. I’m looking forward to helping make Kiwanis stronger, better, hopefully bigger, and continuing to do the work that we’ve been doing for the past 102 years.”
The anniversary featured special music entertainment presented by the Hoke County High School Wind Ensemble and band director Jeremy Ross. The students are currently raising money to help pay for a trip to Washington, D.C. this coming April to participate in an exclusive band competition.
The Raeford Presbyterian Church hosted the anniversary night. Something’s Brewing provided a catered dinner. The Raeford Kiwanis Club’s anniversary night committee, secretary Lynda Olsen and vice president Tammar Sanders made the preparations. Kiwanian and Raeford Presbyterian Church Pastor Dr. Jay Clark gave the invocation and benediction.