Foundation Members

Lucy Coats, Chairperson

Lucy Coats is Director of Anesthesia at Johnston Medical Centers in Smithfield and Clayton, and a long time member of the Johnston Health Foundation serving as Treasurer for six years and elected as Chair in 2011.  A native of Nelson, Virginia, Ms. Coats has lived in the Smithfield area since 1973.  Ms. Coats earned her degrees in nursing and anesthesiology from Watts Hospital School of Nursing and Watts School of Anesthesia affiliated with Duke University Health System.

David Mills, Vice Chairperson

David Mills is Vice Chair of the Johnston Health Foundation.  He received undergraduate and law degrees from Campbell University and began practicing law in 1991 in Smithfield.  Mr. Mills has served on the boards of the Johnston County Tourism Authority, the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce, which he chaired in 2007.  He also chairs the Trustees Committee of Centenary United Methodist Church and is Vice-Chair of its Finance Committee.

Lorine Davis, Secretary

Lorine Davis serves as Secretary of the Johnston Health Foundation.  She is Executive Director of the Johnston County Education Foundation.  Mrs. Davis received her Master's degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University.  She is an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Cliff Painter, Treasurer

Cliff Painter is Treasurer of the Johnston Health Foundation.  He is a Johnston County native and resides in the Town of Archer Lodge.  Mr. Painter is Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Credit Officer of Four Oaks Bank & Trust.  He is a graduate of North Carolina State University.  He serves as a director of the Archer Lodge Volunteer Fire Department and has formerly served as a director for the Ava Gardner Museum.  Mr. Painter is a member of Clyde's Chapel Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon and Director.

William Joseph Austin, Jr.

Joe Austin, a Smithfield native, is an attorney with the law firm of Ward and Smith, in Raleigh.  He and his wife have two daughters and are active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Smithfield where Mr. Austin serves on the vestry.

Woodrow Batten, MD

Dr. Woodrow Batten, a Micro native, has practiced internal medicine in Smithfield since 1949 and served on the original medical committee when Johnston Memorial Hospital was opened in 1951.  Dr. Batten is a graduate of Wake Forest College and the Bowman Gray School of Medicine matriculating as a member of the medical school's first freshman class in 1941.  Dr. Batten and his wife live in Smithfield and are life-long members of First Baptist Church.

Charles W. Elliott, Jr.

Chuck Elliott began his career as a hospital executive after obtaining his Master's in Health Administration from Georgia State University in 1976.  At that time, he entered the U. S. Army's Medical Service Corps.  While on active duty he worked in two military facilities and also obtained a Master's in Business Administration with a major in Finance.  After leaving active duty in 1980, he worked as a CEO and senior executive in several rural and large community hospitals.  During his early career, he remained in the army reserve retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Mr. Elliott also served as a Group Vice President for Quorum Health Resources, a hospital management company.  Prior to joining Johnston Health as President and Chief Executive Officer, he was the CEO of Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.  Mr. Elliott is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Della Gullatt

Della Gullatt is a retired federal employee serving as a HUD Certified Housing and Mortgage Counselor with Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action.  Mrs. Gullatt is a graduate of North Carolina State University, a member of the Association of Housing Counselors, the Johnston County Citizens Association, and First Missionary Baptist Church, Clayton where she serves as Director of Drama Ministries.

Patti Hooper

Patti Hooper is employed with the State Employees Credit Union for 27 years, serving in various capacities and is a Trust Representative for SECU.  Mrs. Hooper is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She serves on the Finance Committee of the Johnston Health Foundation Board and was a member of the Marketing Committee for the SECU Hospice House.

Nell Howell

Nell Howell is a long time resident of Johnston County and active in the community through service on various boards and her support of projects in and around the County.

Christopher Ingram

Christopher Ingram is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Elizabeth City, formerly serving as pastor of Sharon Baptist Church in Smithfield.  He and his wife have three sons.  Rev. Ingram holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Duke University, and also serves on the Board of the Baptist House of Studies at Duke University Divinity School.

Jim Jenkins

Jim Jenkins is retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Brogden Mills of Smithfield.  He is a current member of the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners.  Mr. Jenkins has chaired the Johnston Health Foundation and the committee to build the SECU Hospice House.  He is also a member of both the Greater Smithfield-Selma Chamber and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Jenkins has served on the Johnston County Planning Board for 12 years and Chairman for 10 years, is a member and President of the Clayton Rotary Club, and board member of the Johnston County Partnership for Children.

Lillian Lawrence

Lillian Lawrence resides in Smithfield with her husband.  She and her husband have three children.  They are members of Centenary United Methodist Church.  Mrs. Lawrence serves as a volunteer at SECU Hospice House of Johnston Health.  She is a graduate of Converse College.

Kyle McDermott

Kyle McDermott is Senior Administrative Director Support Services at Johnston Health.  He is a graduate of Appalachian State University and received his MBA from Campbell University.  Mr. McDermott is a member of the Johnston County United Way Board and Johnston County Local Emergency Planning Board.

Stewart McLeod

Stewart McLeod is Advertising Director of the Clayton News-Star, Smithfield Herald, and Eastern Wake News, and former publisher and owner of the Clayton News-Star.  He and his wife reside in Clayton and have two daughters.  Mr. McLeod is a graduate of UNC Wilmington.  He is active in Clayton First Baptist Church and serves on its Board of Deacons.  Mr. McLeod is President-Elect of the Clayton Rotary Club, Chairs the Johnston County YMCA, member of the Johnston County Community Foundation, board member and former president of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, and is a founding member and former President of the Johnston United Soccer Association.

Julia Narron

Julia Walsh Narron is a Richmond, Virginia native and educated at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She received a Master's degree in Education from UNC at Chapel Hill.  She and her husband reside in Smithfield.  Most of her working career was with Nation's Bank, a predecessor of Bank of America, as an Area Manager and Vice President.  Mrs. Narron is on the Boards of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and the Historic Properties Commission.

Elaine Todd

Elaine Todd is Senior Vice President and Manager of Retail Banking for First Citizens Bank & Trust.  She is a graduate of North Carolina State University.  She serves on the Benson Area Medical Center Board of Directors, Benson Planning Board as Chair, and Benson Kiwanis Club as Secretary.  Ms. Todd previously served on the United Way of Johnston County Board of Directors, Benson Middle School Advisory Board as Chair, Benson Area Chamber of Commerce as President, and United Way of Harnett County as President.

Helen Wallace

Helen Wallace worked at Johnston Memorial Hospital for 12 years, the last 10 years providing Hospice Care.  She volunteers at the Rex Cancer Center.  Mrs. Wallace is a graduate of St. Mary's Junior College.

Barry Woodard

Barry Woodard is a lifelong Johnston County resident and is Co-owner and Managing Partner of Hometowne Realty Group.  He is a graduate of Elon University.  Mr. Woodard has served on the Johnston Health Advisory Board, Clayton Chamber of Commerce as President, Clayton Downtown Development Corporation as Chair, and Triangle Housing.

Mabel Yelvington

Mabel Yelvington served Johnston Health for 35 years, in the capacities of Nurse Executive and as Senior Vice President during her final 12 years of employment.  She is a board member of the Day-by-Day Treatment Center and the Johnston Community College Health Advisory Board.  Mrs. Yelvington is a graduate of UNC at Chapel Hill.  She has served as a Johnston County Library Trustee, a member of the UNC School of Nursing Alumni Board, North Carolina Nursing Administrators Executive Board, and Triangle Nursing Administrators.  Mrs. Yelvington has been honored as a Paul Harris Fellow and Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina.