Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson spoke about Memorial Day being one of the most sacred observances of the American life and one carved out for honor, gratitude and reflection for those who never made it home.

“Every generation of Americans has been called upon to defend liberty, from the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, from the forests of Europe to the deserts of the Middle East — brave Americans answered that call with extraordinary courage,” Roberson said.

“Many of them were young, many had their whole lives ahead of them, yet they understood something timeless: That freedom is precious and preserving it is worth the sacrifice,” Roberson said.

“As Americans, we sometimes move so quickly through our daily lives that we forget how extraordinary our freedoms truly are: The freedom to speak openly, the freedom to worship freely, the freedom to vote, to dream, to disagree, to pursue opportunity,” he said.

And he said that, “These freedoms did not happen by accident. They were defended by generations willing to stand in harm’s way for people that they would never meet.”

Roberson said he believes that is the true spirit of Memorial Day.

Roberson also said that he believes at a time when the nation often feels divided, Memorial Day is a reminder of something greater than politics and greater than differences.

“We are Americans,” he said. “The men and women we honor today did not give their lives for a red America or a blue America. They gave their lives to the United States of America and because of them, our flag still waves. Because of them, democracy still endures. Because of them, hope still rises.”

The local Memorial Day ceremony is organized by the Joint Veterans Committee of Nash and Edgecombe counties, which is composed of veterans organizations locally.

Former Vietnam War nurse speaks at Memorial Day gathering

A woman who served as a U.S. Army nurse in the Vietnam War was the featured speaker Monday at the local Memorial Day ceremony in Rocky Mount.

William F. West Staff WriterRockyMount Telegram

Those fortunate enough to have attended both National Day of Prayer events in Rocky Mount were treated to two very different functions.

The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast featured the often fiery oration of long-time preachers and their messages of faith and inspiration. The Nation Day of Prayer event held at noon was more about the thoughts and faith of community leaders, philanthropists, first responders, the military, nonprofit directors and church leaders.

Common to both events was uplifting Christian music, older well-known classics that were familiar to those who sang along with the events’ gifted vocalists and the welcoming remarks of Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, who a read a proclamation at both events in support of the city’s participation in the National Day of Prayer.

“A National Day of Prayer has been part of our national heritage since it was declared by the First Continental Congress in 1775 and the United States Congress in 1952 approved as a Joint Resolution, ‘That the President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals,” stated Roberson.

Roberson spoke of own faith amid the city’s ongoing financial troubles at the Prayer Breakfast.

“I’m a believer. I believe in God. I believe he’ll fix the city of Rocky Mount, fix our country and fix our state,” Roberson said. “It looks like revival. It looks like God is working in us. And sometimes he has to break us. It looks like we’re in the middle of a season of that.”

Day of prayer events well attended

Those fortunate enough to have attended both National Day of Prayer events in Rocky Mount were treated to two very different functions.

Dave Cruz Staff WriterRockyMount Telegram

A Rocky Mount woman who lived the early part of her life in an orphanage and who after her husband’s untimely death in 1963 led what became a flourishing jewelry business currently operated by family members is dead at the age of 100.

Ann Bailey, also known as “Mama Ann,” died Monday. In brief but lively remarks in a video posted online of her accepting the honor, Bailey said on camera that, after her husband’s death, the rest of the jewelers in Rocky Mount, who were men, predicted that she would be out of business in a couple of years.

“Boy, were they so wrong,” she said, to cheers from the gathering.

She also emphasized to the audience to never underestimate the power of a woman.

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, when reached by phone Wednesday, said that his heart and prayers are with the Bailey family amid their loss.

“It’s just tough,” Roberson said. “She had a wonderful life. She has a wonderful legacy. And the continuance of that story is still with us.”

Roberson said that her life and legacy were successes “in every measure.”

Matriarch of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry dies at 100

A Rocky Mount woman who lived the early part of her life in an orphanage and who after her husband’s untimely death in 1963 led what became a flourishing jewelry

William F. West Staff WriterReflector

A place for culinary education officially opened on Wednesday afternoon in an upgraded pre-Civil War structure at the Rocky Mount Mills.

The Seed, which is in the two-story Battle House off Falls Road, is another extension of the efforts of Ripe for Revival, which deploys mobile markets to help remedy food insecurity locally and regionally.

“The fact that y’all are standing here is very humbling,” Ripe for Revival founder Will Kornegay told a gathering of officials, leaders and residents in attendance to celebrate the location of the cooking program.

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson told the gathering Wednesday that, “This space is more than a building. It will become a culinary and community hub.”

Roberson emphasized that the story of Ripe Revival began with a simple yet powerful idea: “Good food should not be wasted — and no one in our community should go without access to it.”

And he spoke of the subsequent development of Ripe for Revival, which operates a fleet of buses and trucks with trailers and which currently serves an area extending from Butner to New Bern.

“It ensures that families in need are served with dignity while also giving others the opportunity to help their neighbors,” Roberson said. “It turns food into a bridge between people and not a barrier.”

Roberson also noted that Ripe for Revival added a mobile kitchen to provide culinary education on the road and to open doors to learning skills and opportunity.

The Seed opens at Rocky Mount Mills

A place for culinary education officially opened on Wednesday afternoon in an upgraded pre-Civil War structure at the Rocky Mount Mills.

William F. West Staff WriterRockyMount Telegram

The franchise owner of the local Chick-fil-A was honored as the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the pro-business organization’s 122nd annual meeting, which was held Tuesday evening.

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, himself a past recipient of the Chamber distinguished citizen award, said over the phone earlier this month that Tuesday’s recognition was certainly a well-deserved honor for Lehnes.

“Bill is a fine individual — and I think the world of him,” Roberson said. “And I’m happy for him in getting this distinct honor.”

Lehnes is Rocky Mount Area Chamber’s 2025 top citizen

The franchise owner of the local Chick-fil-A was honored as the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the pro-business organization’s 122nd annual meeting, which

William F. West Staff WriterRockyMount Telegram

Thanks to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains, North Carolina has earned a reputation for a strong outdoor adventure scene and stunning High Country views. The state has everything from deep gorges and craggy peaks to stunning waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway. But the countryside isn't the only attraction in North Carolina, as even the cities and towns of North Carolina have rich histories and their own unique cultures. One such town in the northern half of the state is Rocky Mount, approximately an hour (70 miles) via US-64 from Raleigh, the lush "city in a park" and capital of North Carolina.

Rocky Mount began as an agrarian railroad town in the mid-1800s, and tobacco and cotton were its primary exports. The town is centered on the Tar River, which became an integral part of Rocky Mount's character. Even the name Rocky Mount was likely derived from "rocky mound," the main descriptor of the uneven boulders surrounding the Tar River. While Rocky Mount has since grown from a small settlement around a post office into a town of over 54,000 people, it still has the close-knit feel and local artistic presence.

Downtown Rocky Mount is the cultural hub of the town. It features a mix of modern businesses and restaurants, surrounded by mixed-use historic sites like Rocky Mount Mills. It even has a designated social district specifically designed to be walkable and pedestrian-friendly. As a result, downtown Rocky Mount becomes the go-to destination for locals during the weekends, with large crowds making their way here to enjoy a day out. "We're seeing 8,000, 10,000 people consistently Thursday, Friday, Saturday into Sunday — and that's impactful," Mayor Sandy Roberson told ABC11.

Read More: https://www.islands.com/2069075/rocky-mount-north-carolina-near-raleigh-charming-town-walkable-downtown-parks-tasty-eats/

North Carolina’s Charming Town An Hour Outside Raleigh Offers A Walkable Downtown And Artsy Vibes - Islands

Rocky Mount, near Raleigh, North Carolina, is gaining praise for preserving history while opening new food and drink options in and around a walkable downtown.

Kirtana MenonIslands