CAROLYN ENNIS AWARD PRESENTATION
by Susan Lassiter
The Frances Finch Hobart
Award for Volunteer Community Service is a fund of the Johnston
County Community Foundation. The award seeks to
recognize an individual who possesses the ability to
help others solve social problems through time, talent,
and energy by mobilizing volunteers and displaying a
willingness for ongoing involvement. The recipient
demonstrates vision, vitality, determination,
selflessness, generosity, and a caring heart. This is
the 13th year a Johnston County resident is
recognized and this year, the award is worth $1200 and
will go to a local nonprofit organization.
You remember the very popular movie, “The Sound
of Music,” when the nuns tried to find words to describe
Maria? They were so frustrated! They finally ended their
song with, “How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
When I began writing the application to nominate
Dr. Carolyn Grantham Ennis and saw that I had to
condense my narrative to 2 pages, with margins, and a
12-point font size, I thought, “That’s impossible!” I
felt the same frustration of the “Sound of Music nuns.”
Where do you even start? Well, let’s start at the very
beginning, a very good place to start.
When Carolyn Ennis graduated from Shaw University
with a BA in English, she said she never wanted to
return to Johnston County. I believe that’s what Vivian
Howard said, too, when she left Kinston for New York
City. However, Vivian Howard did come back and found her
fame in establishing her successful Kinston restaurant,
“Chef and the Farmer,” and her poplar PBS-TV show, “A
Chef’s Life.”
Carolyn Ennis did return to her roots as a high
school English teacher and what good fortune for
Smithfield and Johnston County that she came back home.
For decades, she’s been the “go-to-person” for
leadership and guidance. She’s been a very strong
advocate for the African-American community and a highly
respected bridge to the white community.
Mrs. Ennis has advanced degrees from New York
University and from Duke University. In Year 2000, Shaw
University awarded her a Doctorate of Humane Letters in
recognition of her distinguished career, support of
Shaw, and extensive community involvement. But, let’s
back up.
In 1956, she joined the faculty of Richard B.
Harrison High in Selma and then Johnston Central High in
Smithfield three years later. Her husband, Reginald, a
noted coach and educator, came with her. The talent and
leadership of the Ennises were soon recognized by a very
astute superintendent of schools who was facing the
challenges of integrating Johnston County schools in the
1960s. This was an era of change and tension. In 1967,
Carolyn Ennis was tapped by the superintendent as one of
the strong black teachers to move from Johnston Central
High to the white school, Smithfield High. Her role was
to help with the transition of integrating schools
before it became mandatory. Talented black teachers and
top black students were recruited to the white schools
to break the ice and smooth the fears. When the new
Smithfield-Selma High opened in 1969, she helped with
its successful opening.
In 1970, Mrs. Ennis was named Supervisor of
Instruction 2 for Johnston County Schools and held that
position for 35 years. Not only did she supervise
English and social studies teachers, she also guided
music and art teachers and was responsible for public
information that included publishing a countywide
newspaper for educators and staff. She was Community
Schools Coordinator and Director of Special Events for
the next 10 years.
Her work with music and art teachers expanded her
interest in community arts programs. Carolyn was
involved in the annual visit of the North Carolina
Symphony to Johnston County to perform for all fifth
grade students. She became an active participant in the
Johnston County Arts Council, serving on the board and
then as president. Mrs. Ennis continues to serve as an
advisor, participating in the Arts Council’s “Grassroots
Program” funded by the N. C. Arts Council and the
“Artists-in-the-Schools” program.
With funds from the “Grassroots Program,” Carolyn
is able to bring the Shaw University Chorus to
Smithfield every February for an evening performance in
celebration of “Black History Month.” Her church, First
Missionary Baptist, provides the location for this
community-wide event. And every year, she writes and
directs a dramatic dialogue for the program that teaches
a moral lesson and insight into black history and
culture. In addition, Mrs. Ennis generously supports
this with her personal money.
She is a trustee of her church and the church is
a lucky recipient of her longtime volunteer work. She
considers it a ministry to reach out to persons around
the county—who otherwise may never be honored—and bring
them to her church for an annual recognition. Some of
these persons have been ushers, kitchen workers,
custodians, and caregivers. She pays for the awards.
Mrs. Ennis is editor of the church newsletter and has
published two books on the church’s history.
In 2016, she was in charge of the church’s 150th
Anniversary. She later admitted that this project was
the most demanding project she’s ever done—and the most
“fabulous.” The celebration included a large banquet for
which she wrote a dialogue called “Glory” for the
banquet program. For 26 years, Mrs. Ennis has organized
“African-American Senior Superlatives and
Valedictorians” from Johnston County high schools. The
service of recognition is held at her church and last
year, over 250 students were invited.
In 2003, Johnston County Schools honored Mrs.
Ennis for her 50 years of service to public education.
She retired in 2013 but didn’t really leave the school
system. She became Special Assistant to the
Superintendent and has been working ever since for free!
“What I receive in return for my service is more
valuable than money,” she said.
Carolyn was asked to join the board of trustees
of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield
in the early 1980s. She continues to serve. Longevity
seems to be natural to her because she’s also a life
member of the Salvation Army board—for more than 30
years. She financially sponsors camperships and supports
“Sally’s Kitchen.” She’s a long-standing member of the
Johnston County Heritage Commission and coordinates
“Black History Month” programs. In 2015, she wrote
dramatic readings for a community production, “Unity,”
that was well-attended. That same year, she was given a
life membership in the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of
Commerce for her continuous involvement with its
Education Committee since the 1970s. The Chamber named
her “Citizen of the Year” in 1981 and gave her its
“Athena Award” in Year 2000.
Since the 1970s, Mrs. Ennis has maintained a keen
interest in mental health programs. She served on the
county’s Area Mental Health Board, was president of the
Mental Health Association, and was even appointed to a
State Mental Health Advisory Committee. She was named
“Volunteer of the Year” of the local association in
1981. She’s written several pamphlets promoting good
mental health and distributed them widely.
Carolyn serves on the Johnston Community College
Foundation Board. A study room in the college’s new
Learning Resource Center is named for her. She’s also
been chairman of the college’s Paul A. Johnston
Auditorium Board of Directors—a group that plans
performing arts series in the auditorium.
Many organizations and institutions have
recognized Carolyn Ennis for her “passion for
education.” Among these is her beloved Shaw University
where she’s been a trustee for the past six years and is
a Life Member of the Alumni Association. She
established an annual scholarship for students needing
financial assistance who demonstrate “value,
versatility, vision, and vivacity.” In 2015, she was
inducted into the Raleigh-Wake Alumni Chapter (RWAC)
“Hall of Fame” for her “distinguished professional
accomplishments, community service, and commitment to
Shaw.” Mrs. Ennis has been coordinator and fundraiser
for her class reunions. She’s helped raise substantial
money for Shaw and because of this, a room in historical
Estey Hall is named for her. She continues to sponsor a
“Creative Expressions Award” for Shaw’s undergraduates.
While husband Reginald Ennis
was a revered high school basketball coach, Carolyn has
been a coach, too, to youth and young adults. She’s
spent her life encouraging young people, especially
African-American, to reach their potential, be courteous
to others, and build character and self-esteem. Her
mentoring has continued for decades listening to and
guiding persons in their struggle to make wise
decisions. As a former student who is now on the
Smithfield Town Council told her, “You taught me
English, manners, and faith.” This is Carolyn’s legacy
and the reason why she is the recipient of the 2018 Frances Finch
Hobart Award for Volunteer Community Service. She
plans to designate the monetary award to be given to the
Johnston Central High School Gym Renovation Project that
was recently named the “Coach Reginald Ennis Pavilion.”