CARRBORO, NC – A prominent civil rights activist and long-standing community leader, Braxton Foushee will receive honor of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. 

An award ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St. in Carrboro. 

This high honor is reserved for those North Carolinians who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Since his teenage years, Mr. Foushee has devoted himself to serving others. 

“This honor is a recognition of his trailblazing, his work to make his community better and to make North Carolina a fair, equitable place for everyone,” said NC Representative Allen Buansi (District 56), who will preside over the awards ceremony. 

About Braxton Foushee

Braxton Foushee has dedicated over 55 years of his life to continuous service as an elected official, a member of a town advisory board and a community leader. He became the first Black member of the Carrboro Town Council in 1969, serving until 1981.

Even as a young man, Braxton Foushee worked to advocate for Black residents. Around the age of 15, he worked alongside Ms. Rebecca Clark, helping escort and protect older Black citizens to register to vote, breaking a national pattern of voter disenfranchisement. In 1961, he began to work with the local labor movement, advocating for equal pay and fair treatment for Black residents.

He has championed many issues that have directly impacted the Black community in Carrboro, including ensuring equitable access to paved roads, sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure. He worked tirelessly to fight injustices against Black residents by law enforcement, resulting in state agencies investigating and diversifying the Carrboro Police Department in the 1970s.

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