2018 North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award

Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro, North Carolina

April 10, 2018

The Heritage Award recognizes individuals who represent exemplary giving and service to organizations associated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Their love for and commitment to Christ and His church, their involvement in ministry in Jesus’ name, and their devotion to each other, define Ray and Girtrue Talley.  Both have served on the Baptist Foundation Board of Directors, Girtrue three terms totaling twelve years and Ray for four years. As board members they made significant contributions to the Foundation’s mission of “Fostering Generosity and Facilitating Kingdom Growth.”

Girtrue, a native of Haywood County, had a long and distinguished career in banking from which she retired after 32 years. While she was excelling in her banking career, she and her late husband, Cecil Young, owned and operated The Community Superette in their hometown of Etowah. Still she had time to be active in her church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving as WMU Director, among many other responsibilities. On the Foundation Board, she served in practically every capacity, including Vice President. The computer lab at Fruitland Baptist Bible College was donated by Girtrue and Ray in memory of her late husband Cecil.

Ray has distinguished himself as a pastor in Georgia and North and South Carolina churches. He has served on the Board of Directors of both the NC and SC conventions.  He is a proud Clemson Tiger and a graduate of New Orleans Seminary. For 14 years, Ray was the pianist for the Kingsmen Quartet, and for years, he and Girtrue have shared their musical talents in ministry. Ray has participated in 23 mission trips to Romania and is always in great demand as an interim pastor.  After both lost spouses, the Lord brought this power team together on New Year’s Eve, 1997.

We are honored to recognize as our Heritage Award recipients for 2018,

Ray and Girtrue Talley. 

Shown are the eleven honorees of the 2018 North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award and their presenters.

The 18th Annual North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award luncheon was held on April 10, 2018, at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. Eleven state Baptist Institutions and Agencies honored and presented awards to individuals and couples who have made major contributions of time, service and/or resources to the life of the institution. We had the privilege of having Richard Brunson, Executive Director of North Carolina Baptist Men, as the keynote speaker. A special thank you to all who participated to make this a wonderful event.

The eleven organizations and their honorees are as follows: