Wallace street renamed for late Council Member David Jordan

By Abby Cavenaugh

Duplin Journal

A Wallace street has been renamed in honor of longtime Wallace Council Member and educator David Edward Jordan. With 36 years on the town council, more than 30 years in education at Charity Middle School and Wallace-Rose Hill High School, and a heart for his community, many say they couldn’t think of a better person to be honored with a street in his name.

A street renaming ceremony was held on the corner of Graham and Powell (now Jordan) streets on Friday afternoon, with local officials, family members and friends of Jordan in attendance.

“I knew Mr. Jordan at a couple of key moments in my life,” said Wallace Mayor Jason Wells. “Once, when I was a middle school student at Charity Middle School in seventh grade. Mr. Jordan was, at that time, a larger than life figure. I remember him being on the playground, and bringing the kids that were having an argument, or like I call it a heated discussion, he would get those kids together and 20 minutes later, they’d be playing together and would be just fine.

I also knew him at a second time in my life, when I first came onto the town board almost nine years ago now. Just like the playground days, he was helping bring people together, helping make tough decisions and always doing it in a respectful way.”

Wells added that recognition of Jordan, who passed away in 2021, was “long overdue.”

Former Mayor Charley Farrior, who served on the council many years with Jordan, stated, “I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing this afternoon than standing on this corner, remembering David Jordan, our time together, and naming this street after him.”

Jordan was the longest-serving member of the town council, Farrior said. “He came to every meeting — and I’m not exaggerating at all — he came prepared, he had read the agenda and he came ready to make decisions,” Farrior recalled. “He truly was a strong advocate for all of the citizens of Wallace. He made it his goal to ensure that every citizen of Wallace was treated in a fair and equitable manner.”

Duplin County Commissioner Wayne Branch also shared a few memories of his “buddy,” David Jordan, who he said encouraged him to run for office. “David Jordan was truly a great guy,” he said. “He was a father figure. We shared a lot of time together.”

Jordan’s nieces and nephews also spoke about their uncle as a pillar of the community and a loving family member.

“I’ll tell you two things about my Uncle David that were quite obvious,” said James Patterson. “First, was that infectious smile he carried upon himself. And the next thing must’ve come straight from God. My Uncle David was the most humble human I’ve ever met in my life.”

His niece, Eva Patterson Heath, stated that her Bible study that day was, fittingly enough, about eternal legacy. “I thought it was so fitting that we would have an opportunity to come here today and witness Uncle David’s eternal legacy with a street naming in his honor,” she said.

In addition to his service to the town of Wallace, to education in the public school system, and to his family, Jordan served on the board of trustees at James Sprint Community College for almost 28 years.

Anita Powers, chair of that board, was also present at the ceremony. “I remember when I became a member of the board, he just took me right up under his wing,” Powers said. “When he knew I really didn’t understand what was going on, he was right there to fill me in on everything I needed to know. Whenever I became chairman of the board, he was right there supporting me.”

Though she didn’t speak during the ceremony, Jordan’s wife Nancy was on the front row next to the sign that now bears her husband’s name. “It’s really an honor,” she told the Duplin Journal.