Rev. Bill Godair

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Linda Kaye Stoner

Emma Archie Hunter

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

The Salisbury Civic Center was filled Thursday night with people gathered to celebrate a pastor, a nurse and an educator.

It was a night of celebrations for recipients of the 2010 Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Humanitarian Award and to honor Koontz's legacy.

This year's recipients are the Rev. Bill Godair, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church; Emma Archie Hunter, a longtime nurse who recently retired from Rowan Regional Medical Center; and Linda Kaye Stoner, who retired from the Rowan-Salisbury School System after more than 33 years.

Jeysson Sanchez, a student at Koontz Elementary School, received a standing ovation after speaking about why everyone was gathered.

"I am proud to attend the school that was named in honor of such a remarkable woman. As a student at Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Elementary School, I feel that I owe it to Mrs. Koontz to demonstrate the same characteristics and be the best student I can be each and every day," he said.

Dr. James Lyons, a University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor of education leadership, spoke about Koontz, her legacy and what she would expect of the community today.

"She spent her life championing for the rights of others," Lyons quoted from Koontz's obituary in the New York Times.

He said there were probably many in the room who could name a teacher who influenced them, just as Koontz had no doubt influenced others.

"She was tough enough to push on and press on. Her life was one of service. She was a humanitarian," Lyons said.

Lyons said there are students who are on the right track and yet there are students who are struggling.

He said if by third grade students haven't successfully mastered learning they are likely to repeat a grade, which could eventually lead them to drop out of school.

Lyons encouraged people to mentor or tutor a child.

Godair said after the banquet he was humbled by the honor. "I feel very undeserving," he said.

Godair has been lead pastor of Cornerstone Church for more than 23 years. It's a church that began with a handful of members and now has more than 600 members. The congregation, which consists of 40 percent caucasian, 40 percent African-American and 20 percent Hispanic and other, is representative of the ideals Libby Koontz lived each day: equality and diversity.

"I would like to give honor to my wife, Tina, who is co-pastor. Also to the 600-plus people who attend church on a weekly basis. These people are the ones who have bought into the vision and because I could not do what I do without their support," he said.

Hunter said when her name was called and her biography was being read, she just felt so blessed.

"I thank God for all his blessings," she said.

During her career, Hunter said she's tried her best to bridge the gap between the black and white community.

"I've also tried to help children because they are our future," she said.

Hunter is a regular participant in Rowan Regional Medical Center's capital campaign, volunteers at Rowan Helping Ministries and assists in her church's tutoring program. She spearheaded a back-to-school supply giveaway in 2005 through her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, and continues to give of her time and money to this cause.

Stoner always knew she would be an educator, even as a little girl, she said after the banquet.

"I was humbled because I was being honored for something I love to do," she said.

If she didn't love education, Stoner said she wouldn't have stayed in the field for more than 30 years.

Stoner has been selected twice as Teacher of the Year. She worked for a number of years as a curriculum coach, focusing on teaching teachers how to become better at what they do.

She donates money for scholarships that go to local students to help pay for college. Stoner has chaired committees at her church, Jerusalem Baptist, and done other works through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.