Twenty-five years after joining Community Electric Cooperative, Senior Member Service Representative Debbie Joyner feels the need to focus on what matters most to her – family. Joyner has made it known that August 31st will be her final day with CEC, a change that she describes as “bittersweet” but necessary.
Physical ailments are taking a toll, and Joyner is determined not to let those issues deprive her of moments with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
“I have a 10-year-old grandson and a two-and-a-half-year-old grandson. I want to be sure I spend as much quality time with them as possible,” she says. “We’re not promised tomorrow, and I want to make as many memories with them as I can.”
Joyner joined CEC in December 2001 as a member service representative, and the self-described “people person” says she will miss the interactions with member-owners, old and new alike. True to the rural nature of the cooperative’s service territory, she makes it a point to note that she’ll miss the region’s farmers as well.
“I grew up around here my whole life. Leaving CEC will take some getting used to, but it’s a part of life.”
Joyner has taken to heart the advice given by her longtime CEC colleague and friend, the late Brenda Mansfield, who retired from CEC after 43 years of service in the summer of 2023, only to succumb to cancer six months later.
“I’ll never forget it,” Joyner says. “She told me that whenever I can get out, to get out; money isn’t everything. She wished she would have spent more time with her family and grandchildren. Bless her soul, and now she is gone. Those words have stuck with me ever since she told me.”
For Joyner’s supervisor, Manager of Administrative Services Lucy Whitley, Debbie’s departure is accompanied by both gratitude and admiration.
“Debbie has dedicated 25 years of her life to serving our members with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others,” said Whitley. “Her knowledge, experience, and genuine care for the people in our communities have made a lasting impact on both our members and our team. While we will miss her tremendously, I am thankful for the years we have shared and excited for the memories she will create with her family in this next chapter.”
Joyner identifies travel opportunities with her husband, time spent with her circle of female friends, and the family’s frequent getaways to Lake Gaston as the activities that will fill the void of leaving CEC and the interactions she has cherished over the past 25 years.
“I knew a lot of people when I joined Community Electric, and I knew that once you got a job at CEC, you never leave it until you retire. I think the members know that we try to treat them as well as possible and help them as much as we can. Beyond Member Services, any other department is willing to help a member by all means.”
Community Electric Cooperative President and CEO Steven A. Harmon reflected on Joyner’s remarkable career and lasting legacy.
“Twenty-five years of service is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to Debbie’s dedication to our members and the cooperative,” said Harmon. “Throughout her career, she has represented the very best of Community Electric through her professionalism, servant’s heart, and commitment to helping others. We are immensely grateful for her contributions, and while she will certainly be missed, we wholeheartedly support her decision to spend more time with the people she loves most.”
For Manager of Communications Jessica Parr, Joyner’s impact extended far beyond her daily responsibilities.
“When I joined the Community Electric team in 2017, Debbie was one of the first people to welcome me and make me feel at home,” said Parr. “Over the years, I have watched her build meaningful relationships with our members and coworkers alike. Debbie has been a vital part of the cooperative’s culture, and her deep connections, warm personality, and jovial interactions with members will be greatly missed. I am incredibly thankful for the friendship and support she has shown me and so many others throughout her career.”
As Joyner prepares for her final weeks at Community Electric, she leaves behind a legacy built on service, relationships, and a genuine love for the people she served. While her daily presence in the office will be missed, the impact she has made on members, coworkers, and the cooperative will continue long after her final day.
