Sarah Bradshaw was lauded by the Sampson County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Monday for her recent recognition as the state’s Department of Social Services Director of the Year.

The award was bestowed by her peers and presented last month at the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services’ (NCACDSS) annual meeting in Charlotte. Sampson chairman Billy Lockamy again presented the plaque to Bradshaw at the board’s gathering to a round of applause for Sampson’s DSS leader for the past 17 years.

“We appreciate you,” said Lockamy. “Thank you very much.”

Each of the commissioners echoed that praise, congratulating her for a job well done.

To be eligible for the state honor, a DSS director must be in good standing with at least five years of service in that capacity. Bradshaw been a DSS director and active member of the association for 17 years, serving as president, co-chair of various committees, mentor to new directors and in many other capacities. She has worked with DSS for 26 years total.

Assistant county manager Susan Holder, at the request of Lockamy, read a large portion of the NCACDSS press release that announced Bradshaw as DSS Director of the Year.

“Bradshaw truly embodies NCACDSS’ motto of being a future-oriented source of leadership,” the agency stated.

Bradshaw acknowledged her family in the audience at Monday’s meeting. She gave credit to her hard-working staff, with whom she said it is an honor to work every day.

“It is a night and day job,” she attested, noting one of her community involvements, the Rotary Club, which meets every Monday. At those meetings, Rotarians recite the motto of “service above self.”

“That’s what I think about when it comes to every Sampson County employee,” she said to the commissioners. “This is about the DSS employees too because I couldn’t have done it without them. I appreciate it and I appreciate your leadership. Thank you very much.”

Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.

By Chris Berendt

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Sampson Department of Social Services director Sarah Bradshaw accepts the DSS Director of the Year plaque from Sampson Board of Commissioners chairman Billy Lockamy Monday. She received the recognition last month.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Bradshaw.jpgSampson Department of Social Services director Sarah Bradshaw accepts the DSS Director of the Year plaque from Sampson Board of Commissioners chairman Billy Lockamy Monday. She received the recognition last month.