Barbara A. Mallett - Mayor of East Spencer, North Carolina
Barbara A. Mallett is a native of Morganton, NC. Where she went to Olive Hill High School. She had a big family. Her dad, Robert H. Avery, who was the second of 10 children, served in World War 11 and came home to work at SGI Carbon. Her mother, Annie Mae Kanipes Avery, was the oldest of 11 children and a nursing assistant at Broughton Hospital in Morganton.
They were the proud parents of eight and Mallett is the second eldest Mallett has lived in East Spencer since 1976. But prior to that, she, and her husband Garry -they have been married 56 years and spent 15 years in Brooklyn, New York.
Mallett is currently attending Livingstone College to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion. She holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Shaw University.
Her work experience includes serving as the Town Clerk and Finance office for East Spencer from 1980-2000. Barbara served on the East Spencer Board of Aldermen from 2005-2009. She was Elected Mayor in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 at the end of this term she will hold the title of the longest-serving mayor in East Spencer’s history at 12 years.
Barbara is a faithful, servant leader at Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church in East Spencer, where she serves in many capacities including class leader, deaconess, previous president of The Lay Council, Chairman of the Trustee Board, a Life Member of the WH & OM Society, co-chairman of the kitchen committee and local secretary of the WH & OM Supply department. Barbara attends weekly Sunday school and Power Hour sessions when in session.
In the Salisbury-Rowan Community, Barbara is a member of the following:
- Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Board of Directors
- Rowan County Nursing Home Advisory Board
- Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Patient Advisory Council
- Chairman of the Salisbury Transportation Advisory Board
- Smart Start of Rowan Board Member
- Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency Council Board Member
- State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board Member
The five best words to describe East Spencer is Tenacious, Resourceful, Open to Partners, Diverse, and Focused. I am proud of what our administration and Board of Alderman have accomplished: the purchase of new police and fire equipment of $500 thousand paid in full, the sale and repurposing of land in the town to spur redevelopment of homes and businesses, redevelopment of Royal Giants Park, $850 thousand with the help of State Grants and community support, preparation of the I-85 Corridor Development Plan at Exit 79 for economic development, water and sewer improvements with the help of a State Grant of $23Million dollars, especially the loop line on Choate Rd. which was birthed out of the necessity for water during the Dunbar School fire. Also, improvements in housing and town facilities.
Likewise, some of the challenges the town has ahead of it bringing investments and consumer services into town, getting a new I-85 interchange at Correll Street and McCanless Road, securing the town’s future through voluntary annexation and development of ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) area and building our tax base.
Despite her busy schedule and civic involvement, Barbara still manages to be a loving wife to Gary, her husband of 56 years; mother to her daughters; Crystal Mallett and Tarsha Mallett, as well as grandmother to Amber Carter and Cameron Mallett, and great-granddaughter Zanylah.
Daily meditation is an essential part of Barbara’s life. She is confident that reading the bible and prayer every morning helps her stay focused.
Andrew I. D. Harris and Linda S. Harris
Mr. Andrew I. D. Harris graduated from Dunbar High School in 1966. His lovely wife, Mrs. Linda S. Harris also graduated from Dunbar High School in 1967. They have been married for 52 years. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the proud owners of Define Design Hair Salon, built in 1995, and 2 The Tee Barbershop built in 2010. The barbershop is presently rented out as a retail space. Both locations are located North of East Spencer, NC. Prior to the opening of Define Design, Mrs. Harris worked as a hairstylist in a small salon for a few years in East Spencer. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been in business for over 30 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris have two beautiful daughters, Tara H. White of Salisbury, NC, and Aleashia H. Brandon of Spencer, NC, who is married to Brent Brandon. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are blessed with one granddaughter, Tianca Diane White, and one grandson, Damian Andrew Brandon. They have one great-granddaughter, Chyna S. White.
In past years, Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been recognized by the Rowan-Iredell Area Credit Union for making a positive impact in the community of East Spencer, NC, through their business ventures. Throughout the years, Define Design Hair Salon has been able to impact the local community and Rowan County in a myriad of ways including but not limited to:
- Providing hairstyle services for various local funeral homes.
- Ability to give away school supplies for “back to school” for the youth.
- Provided “back to school” hairstyles for youth free of charge.
- Ability to provide gift bags to those in need.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris have also been devoted members of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for over 40 years, serving in different leadership capacities.
The Harris’s are dedicated to community service. They would like to leave you all with this quote:
“Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you, too, will keep encountering challenges. It is a blessing to be able to survive them, to be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other – to be in a position to make the climb up life’s mountain, knowing that the summit still lies ahead. And every experience is a valuable teacher.”
- Oprah Winfrey
Tony Jerome Hillian - Dunbar School Alumni Association, Inc.
Born on July 14, 1974, in Rowan County, he was the son of Samuel Hillian, Jr. and Jacqueline Foxx Hillian.
Educated in the public schools of Rowan County, he was a graduate of Salisbury High School, Class of 1993. Tony continued his education, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Shaw University and a master’s degree from Strayer University, both in Business Administration. He was last employed with the City of Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department as a counselor, Director of Support, and videographer for Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc. He also served as Alderman in the Town of East Spencer (The “28039”). He was also a volunteer for the East Spencer Fire Department.
A member of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church, Tony served as Chairman of the Trustee Board, Director of Operations, a member of the IC Choir, Technology Director, Lay Member, and an Honorary Member of the W.H.O.M. Society.
Tony was truly an advocate and mentor to the youth of Rowan County. He worked with the East Spencer Drill Team, coached the Salisbury Kings, North Rowan High School girls’ basketball team, and the Championship Jr. Hornets basketball team, served as an instructor for the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department NBA Babies basketball team, and was involved in the International Sports Training Academy. He also was involved with Swagga Youth Apprenticeship, Inc. which helps develop a work ethic for teenagers, and young adults who are working at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. From 1985-1995, Tony was a part of the East Spencer Anti-Drug Step Team and received the BET Award for Top 10 Teens Around America in 1993.
His community involvement was outstanding. Tony was celebrated for those contributions. In both 1992 and 1993, then Mayor Margaret Kluttz presented him with the Mayor’s Medal. In 1996, The Salisbury Civitans awarded him the Good Samaritan Award. Also in that year, he received the Martin Luther King, jr. Humanitarian Award, and an award for outstanding leadership in the community from the Rotary Club. He served on the board of Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School was the chairman of the policy council for the Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency.
Diane Rucker Phifer - Dunbar School Alumni Association, Inc.
Diane Rucker Phifer is a graduate of the class of 1968. A 1971 graduate of Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Winston-Salem, NC,
Diane worked in several hospitals as a Unit Preceptor, Lead/Charge Nurse and Supervisor on the medical post-op surgical units, ER, Prison Triage/Infirmary and Geriatrics and Extended Care Units. In 1980, Diane was the first African American female Registered Nurse hired at the Piedmont Correctional Center, Salisbury, NC. In 2013, Diane retired from Salisbury, NC Veteran Administration Medical Center after 23 years of service. She is a retired Registered Nurse with 41 years of service.
Diane is the daughter of the late Robert Maceo and Essie Simpson Rucker. She has been married for 48 years and has 1 daughter and 2 granddaughters.
Dr. Jerry Wiley - Pediatric Physician
