Davidson County Board of Elections director dies unexpectedly leaving behind legacy of equality and fairness
The woman who was considered an institution at the Davidson County Board of Elections for decades has left a huge void in the county after she died unexpectedly on Friday.
Ruth Huneycutt, 82, died suddenly at her home on November 5.
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She began her career at the Davidson County Board of Elections in 1973 and was named director of the department in 1983. Although there had been rumors of her retirement for several years, Huneycutt was still working at the Board of Elections the day before she passed.
“Our hearts go out to the Huneycutt family, as we are deeply saddened by their loss. For almost forty years Ruth Huneycutt presided over the official election process within Davidson County. She was a long-time member of the Davidson County “family of employees” and her experience and knowledge will be truly missed,” said Davidson County Manager Casey Smith.
Andrew Richards, assistant director of the Davidson County Board of Elections, said employees were shocked and saddened by the news her unexpected passing.
“It was definitely a shock,” said Richards. “She is going to be missed.”
A statement from the Davidson County Board of Elections on Tuesday stated Richards has been named as interim Board of Elections Director, subject to approval by the State Board of Elections and pursuant to the North Carolina General Statutes.
Huneycutt was a graduate of North Davidson Senior High School and received her degree in business administration and management from Davidson County Community College. She also served on the Lexington City Schools Board of Education for a number of years.
She is survived by her son, Ed Huneycutt, and daughters Betty Barr and Bobbie McCarn and had four grandchildren.
Her children said their mother was a private person who adopted a very professional demeanor at work, but in her personal life she was very loving and caring person.
“She loved children and was 100 percent in support of education. She wanted to give every child the opportunity to learn and be treated fairly...She had a very strong sense of right and wrong and believed in people’s rights as citizens. She was also a wonderful cook and we gathered as a family at her home frequently...She loved flowers and could grow everything. But the one thing more than anything, she loved her grandchildren and if she wasn’t in the office, she was involved in whatever they were doing,” said Bobbie McCarn.
Judge Jon Myers said he knew Huneycutt even before he served on the Davidson County Board of Elections for 14 years. Myers resigned from the board in May when he was named a district court judge in Judicial District 22B, which serves Davidson and Davie counties.
“She knew more about elections than most people in the state,” said Myers. “She had such a depth of knowledge and love for the electoral process...She was always professional and treated everyone the same. From an administrative side, it was important to her that everything should be fair and impartial.”
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He said Huneycutt was a fixture at the Board of Elections who will be missed not only for her leadership, but for the dedication she had for the job.
“There are many who wander to find their place in life, she found hers in the election world early on. She loved it with a passion, which is why she stayed in it so long. Many people work because they have to, some work because they love what they do; she was one of those people,” said Myers.
General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Davidson County Board of Elections director dies leaving legacy of fairness
