Dr. Johnnie Sexton was recently honored as a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, the highest civilian honor given in the state of North Carolina. Courtesy Photo Sexton receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine Garland native Dr.

Johnnie Sexton has been awarded the highest civilian honor that can be given in North Carolina — the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. A press release from The CARE Project stated that the award is given to “recognize lifetime achievements of community service,” and that Sexton was given the award based on his service to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists between the late 1980s and early 1990s, his work on special committees for the board and his creation of The CARE Project. “I feel like Johnnie is very deserving of this award,” Lara Pike, the director of The CARE Project, said when asked about Sexton receiving this award.

“Working with him at The CARE Project and the passion and care that he has for families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing, and truly all families, is just like nothing I’ve ever seen before. “When [Sexton] is passionate about something, he just makes things happen,” Pike added. “And he just cares so much about families being connected and children having adequate services.

So, I just think he is so deserving of this award.” Sexton said it was humbling to be honored in this way. “It’s overwhelming,” Sexton added.

“I’ve spent a lif.