For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Contact: Nazneen Ahmed (919) 716-0060

Note: Photos of all 2021 Dogwood Award recipients are available here. Video of the awards ceremony is available here.

(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today awarded four eastern North Carolina leaders with the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award. The attorney general distributes these awards annually to honor North Carolinians who work to keep people safe, healthy, and happy in their communities.

The eastern North Carolina recipients are:

Secretary Eddie Buffaloe

“Secretary Buffaloe has dedicated his career in law enforcement to building trust with North Carolinians and protecting our communities,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “He has worked to improve the work of law enforcement officers across our state and maintain peace in moments of unrest in Elizabeth City. I look forward to working with him as he leads the Department of Public Safety.”

Eddie Buffaloe is the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and former chief of police for Elizabeth City.

Dr. Kerianne Crockett 

“For years, North Carolina was in a minority of states that allowed pregnant women in jails and prisons to be shackled, putting women and their unborn children in grave danger,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Because of Dr. Crockett’s leadership and advocacy, as well as the recommendations from groups including our Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, that is no longer the case. Now, women who are incarcerated will get the reproductive health care they need with dignity, which is their right. Dr. Crockett spoke up for these women, and in doing so, helped protect their and their children’s lives.” 

Dr. Kerianne Crockett is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who advocates on behalf of the North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and works at the ECU Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Sue Lee, Rod Lee, and Karen Prince

“HeartWorks is a shining example of North Carolinians looking out for their fellow North Carolinians,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Sue and Rod Lee, Karen Prince, and their team have created an organization to help improve children’s mental and physical well-being and ensure they have the greatest possible chance at building happy, stable futures. I’m so grateful for their dedication to our young people.”

Sue and Rod Lee are the founders of HeartWorks, a nonprofit organization based in Pamlico County that provides education and counseling to address the underserved physical and mental health needs of local youth. Karen Prince is the executive director at HeartWorks Childrens’ Medical Home Mission.

The 2021 Dogwood Award recipients are:

1. Dr. Rasheeda Monroe, The Sister Circle, Cary
2. Dr. Netasha McLawhorn, The Sister Circle, Raleigh
3. Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson, The Sister Circle, Raleigh
4. Dr. Tiffany Lowe-Payne, The Sister Circle, Wendell
5. Dr. Jacqueline Hicks, The Sister Circle, Zebulon
6. Dr. Nerissa M. Price, The Sister Circle, Raleigh
7. Lowe’s Home Improvement, Mooresville
8. President Deborah Dicks Maxwell, North Carolina NAACP, Wilmington
9. Dr. Kerianne Crockett, North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, ECU Brody School of Medicine, and Vidant Medical Center, Greenville
10. Kristie Puckett Williams, American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, Charlotte
11. Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Raleigh
12. Sheriff Quentin Miller, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Asheville
13. Officer Stephanie Collins, Fayetteville Police Department, Fayetteville
14. Ingram Bell, Gate City Coalition, Greensboro
15. Linda Combs, sexual assault Survivor and advocate, Fayetteville
16. Sue and Rod Lee, HeartWorks, Bayboro
17. Karen Prince, HeartWorks, Bayboro
18. Chief Chris Blue, Chapel Hill Police Department, Chapel Hill
19. District Attorney Matt Scott, Robeson County, Lumberton
20. Sen. Jim Burgin, District 12 (Harnett, Johnson, and Lee counties), Angier
21. Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear River Watch, Wilmington
22. Margaret D. Bordeaux, North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, Wilmington
23. Major Elijah Bazemore, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Durham
24. Kevin Leonard, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Apex
25. Sara LaVere, Brunswick County Board of Elections, Brunswick County
26. Rep. Dean Arp, District 69 (Union County), Monroe
27. Rep. Jason Saine, District 97 (Lincoln County), Lincolnton
28. Rep. Donny C. Lambeth, District 75 (Forsyth County), Winston-Salem
29. Rep. Jake Johnson, District 113 (Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties), Mill Springs
30. Michelle Ellis, Hunter Huss High School, Gastonia
31. Octavia Hamilton, Isaac Dickson Elementary School, Asheville
32. Dean Bagnoni, John F. Kennedy High School, Winston-Salem
33. Christopher Lane, Chapel Hill Police Department, Chapel Hill
34. Marcus Morris, Scotland Neck Police Department, Scotland Neck
35. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Asheville
36. Piedmont Land Conservancy, Greensboro

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