Volunteers and community members who’ve made a lasting impact in Onslow County were honored and recognized during the annual Golden Rule Lightkeeper and Fabric of Our Community Awards Thursday at the Onslow County Government Center.
The annual event, hosted by the United Way of Onslow County in partnership with the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee, honors people who exemplify the spirit of service, compassion and leadership throughout Onslow County.
The Golden Rule Lightkeeper Awards recognize volunteers who go above and beyond to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others, while the Fabric of Our Community induction ceremony celebrates those whose lifelong contributions have helped shape and strengthen the community.
“These recognitions highlight the heart of Onslow County, our people,” said Raquel Painter, president of the United Way of Onslow County. “Through their dedication and selfless service, these honorees embody what it means to Live United and inspire others to give back.”
Golden Rule Lightkeeper Awards
Painter said Volunteer Onslow logged more than 186,000 hours of volunteer service in 2025, equating to more than $3.4 million in sweat equity.
The youth individual Golden Rule Lightkeeper awards for 2026 were presented to Maria MacDonald for her five years of service with the Children Healthy Eating on Weekends, CHEW, program, and Micah Larkin, for his work with Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary.
“It definitely makes my heart happy to see our youth giving back to our community at such an early age,” Painter said. “We can certainly learn a lot from them.”
The nominees for the adult individual awards included Lisa Meinhardt, with The Blessing Shed; Naomi Thompson, who contributes to a variety of organizations; and Tydrea Russell, with the United Way of Onslow County.
The runner-up for the award was M. Kenyatta Euring for his work as the president of the local NAACP, his advocacy for civil rights and social justice and his efforts to increase voter access.
The 2026 adult individual Golden Rule Lightkeeper Award winner is Sandy Middlebrooks for her work with the Salvation Army’s food pantry.
“Sandy’s impact is significant, helping ensure reliable access to nutritious food for our vulnerable community members while improving pantry operations and connecting clients to additional resources, ultimately strengthening overall community support systems,” Painter said.
In the adult group category, nominees included the MENAC Board of Directors, the Camp Lejeune Leadership Seminar, Operation Kindness, Molly Meetups, The Blessing Shed’s Wednesday Team and the Yarn Brigade.
The runner-up was Danny and Linda Raynor for their six years of service to the CHEW program, with the 2026 adult group Golden Rule Lightkeeper Award winner being the Salvation Army Bucket Brigade.
Fabric of Our Community induction
The Fabric of Our Community program was started 10 years ago by the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee, which was born after the Beirut bombing of 1983.
Brent Anderson, chairman of the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee, said inductees either have made an unquestioned contribution to improving the community through a single action with clear, enduring benefits or through a lifetime of work have demonstrated a pattern of actions that have collectively strengthened the community.
Alternatively, the award may apply to those who have lived a life of significant service to others and exemplify that service as a citizen model for others to follow.
Two men were inducted posthumously Thursday, Alfred L. Keyes and Greg Johnston. Keyes’ wife and one of his sons accepted the award in his place.
Keyes served in the U.S. Army for 22 years and followed that career as an industrial engineer with General Motors. He served on at least seven local boards, commissions and committees, including the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee and the Sturgeon City Board of Directors.
He was also part of the founding group that started the Jacksonville-Onslow Crime Stoppers program and was on a committee that reviewed assisted living facilities.
Additionally, he had two master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Kenneth Keyes, one of Alfred’s sons, said his dad was not only a military hero, a leader, a man of faith, husband and father but he also possessed a servant’s heart.
“What made my father’s service so remarkable was not just what he did but how he did it, with humility, kindness and genuine love for people,” Kenneth said.
Johnston’s wife, Sheila, and family were in attendance during Thursday’s ceremony to accept his award. Johnston died in 2011 after a five-year battle with cancer.
He is remembered as an exceptional father, dedicated husband and passionate business operator. He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before being drafted into the U.S. Army.
After retiring, Johnston was encouraged to engage in local governance, initially being appointed to the Jacksonville Planning Board, where he served as chairman during the significant construction boom of the 1980s.
He was then elected to the Jacksonville City Council and was notable for his dedication to acquiring the 300-acre site that is now the Jacksonville Commons.
“We want to just recognize that Greg would just, if he was here today, he would be talking,” Johnston’s wife, Sheila, said. “He would be humbled, overwhelmed and just so thankful for all the support he received over the years.”
The other two Fabric of Our Community inductees were in attendance Thursday, including Leon Ward Sylvester III and Earl Taylor.
Taylor’s impact on local youth spans 35 years of dedicated service in Onslow County Schools. He served as the band director at White Oak High School, where the Earl Taylor Performing Arts Center now bears his name and was a district administrator for arts education and community affairs.
Even in retirement, Taylor continues to mentor students as an adjunct percussion instructor at Coastal Carolina Community College. He also previously served as an Onslow County school board member.
Taylor’s work led to his involvement with the N.C. School Boards Association, where he gained insights into strategies to improve education.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with many great people who impacted my life as a teacher, district administrator and school board member,” Taylor said. “We all shared a common goal and that was to make a difference in the lives of my students.”
Sylvester, the owner of the Richlands Piggly Wiggly and other stores, was recognized for exemplifying the benevolence of his parents by supporting community needs. His family and Piggly Wiggly have sponsored an annual golf tournament for a scholarship at Coastal Carolina Community College for more than 30 years.
As a grocer, Sylvester has supported the community’s well-being by providing food and donating supplies to hurricane-affected families, as well as supporting Onslow Christmas Cheer, which provides Christmas gifts and meals to people in need.
He is a lifelong member of Richlands Methodist Church and coordinated the donation of his family’s 1860s homeplace to serve as the church parsonage, providing a home for the pastor and family.
“When I got the call from Lisa about getting the award, I was of course shocked and honored,” Sylvester said. “My dad got it, I don’t know, seven or eight years ago, so that made it even more special to me.
“Thank you, again, and we look forward to serving this community along with all of y’all in the future.”