The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for service from the governor’s office, was given to Kim Sheeks, who is known in the community as the “Hat Lady.”
Dr. William Robertson put forward Sheeks for the award because of her work as an elementary school teacher and through her involvement with many community groups. People from North Carolina who have worked hard for years to help their towns and fellow citizens are given the award.
“She had been an elementary school teacher for 30 years and was known as “Miss Kim” by everyone.” People still talk about how creative her classroom was, how inspiring the decorations were, and how welcoming the atmosphere was.
Robertson wrote in the nomination letter, “Many of her former students still greet or contact “Miss Kim” to say how much she changed their lives.”
Robertson also mentioned other groups and projects that Sheeks has worked with to assist the community. These include Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Society for Women Educators, and the local and regional Civitan Club.
Robertson wrote several lines about Sheeks’ work at Immanuel, the church where her husband Bruce Sheeks is the pastor and also has an Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
“She does what she does for other people because she wants them to enjoy life.” Bruce Sheeks said, “She wants to help people keep making their lives better.”
She was the lead soprano in the church choir, directed weddings, helped with funeral preparations, led summer Bible school, and planned events for youth groups and senior citizens. Bruce said that they have been at the church since June 1981.
Kim has been to all of her church members’ graduations, shows, and sports games, as well as Christmas carol singing and visits to nursing homes.
She is famous for the fancy holiday and theme decorations she makes for events like family parties and the Golden Age banquet. Kim also led the “Angel Tree” project, in which churchgoers give toys and clothes to poor families in the area, Robertson wrote.
For her show, Sheeks is known as the Hat Lady because she wears hundreds of hats that make her look like different people and gives them to kids.
She has worn a fish-themed hat to tell the “Rainbow Fish” story, a story about how sharing can make people happy, and a camel mask to tell the story of the time at the Lazy 5 Ranch when a camel snatched one of her students’ heads. After many years, she gave the student a leather camel at their high school graduation.
She has done shows all over North Carolina and other states, such as in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland.
His writing also talked about her work with a “local couple who own a Chinese restaurant.” Sheeks helped them become U.S. citizens by getting them ready for the citizenship test. She also helped their kids with schoolwork by giving them free coaching.
The award was given to Sheeks on Sunday during a service at Immanuel Lutheran Church held in her honor. Bruce Sheeks led the service, and Sacy Frick from Alpha Delta Kappa, Chris Cranford from Rockwell Civitan, Shanna Matlock from Granite Knitwear, Gloria Stiller from The Red Hat Society, and Fran Pepper from Immanuel Lutheran were among the special guests.
Robertson, who used to teach and is now retired, put together special music for the service. The award was given to Sheeks by Gary Faircloth, who used to be the CEO of the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.
Sheeks said after getting the award that her parents’ love of hard work, education, and kids makes her creative in the classroom and in every group she joins.
I will definitely show up if I say I will, especially for the kids. We have 24 hours a day, and 2.4 of them should be spent serving God. Not a single reason,” she said.
For Sheeks’s nomination, Robertson put forward a letter of support from Faircloth, Rhonda Stirewalt Roseman, Director and Founder of Happy’s Farm, and Woody Weddington, a former Civitan Club District Governor.