By Brandon Shanesy
brandon.shanesy@tryondailybulletin.com

With more than 75 of her family, friends, and colleagues in attendance, Rachel Ramsey was bestowed the Order of The Long Leaf Pine, not only for her works at Steps to HOPE but for her impact on domestic violence awareness statewide. The ceremony, a luncheon to celebrate her career, took place at Tryon Estates on Wednesday, June 3.

Since it’s creation in 1963, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine has been given to an extremely select group of North Carolina’s citizens. Recipients must have a proven record of life-long service to the state and community.

Ramsey joins icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Andy Griffith, Billy Graham and Maya Angelou who have been presented with this honor. Recipients are given the title “Ambassador Extraordinaire,” a certificate from the current state governor, and other rights and privileges.

In most cases the award is given when the recipient retires, and Ramsey is no exception. By July 1, Ramsey’s chosen successor, Lee Lindsay, will serve as the new executive director for Steps to HOPE, located in Columbus next to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Paul Sutherland, president of the Steps to Hope Board of Directors, also informed Ramsey of the newly created Rachel Ramsey Hope Fund, which currently holds over $6,000. Ramsey will have the honor of determining the parameters of the fund.

“She saw a problem and made sure everybody realized it was real problem, thus is the birth of Steps to HOPE,” explained Sutherland in his opening remarks.

At 50 years old, Ramsey left the banking world to tackle a domestic violence problem that she became aware of in her time as magistrate for Polk County.

“After my first encounter with a victim of domestic violence I knew where I was supposed to be,” said Ramsey on her career change, “I realized that all my life experiences and world travels were preparing me for this.”

Ramsey is accredited with developing Steps to HOPE from an organization still in its infancy in 1986 to one of the most successful and respected non-profit institutions in North Carolina.

In 2002 and 2003, she spearheaded a $2.3 million dollar campaign to provide the program with a new office building and shelter, as well as pay off the mortgage for the Steps to HOPE Thrift Store.

“We are fortunate to have no debt,” exclaimed Sutherland, “Steps to HOPE is well positioned thanks to her.”

She is responsible for implementing many of Step to HOPE’s major features such as the 24-hour crisis line, parenting education programs, and the Christmas Adopt-a-Family program.

Ramsey attributed her success at Steps to HOPE to the overwhelming support from the community (which provided 68 percent of the 2002 capital campaign’s funds), the board of directors and staff.

“I am not in this alone. We operate as a team. We don’t have our positions on our name tags because the client coming in our doors doesn’t care who you are or what position you hold. They just want somebody to listen to them. That’s why our work has been so successful. Regardless of what our job title is, we listen to them.” – Rachel Ramsey