BELMONT — The Montcross Chamber of Commerce honored Regina Moody, the retired president of Holy Angels in Belmont, with the Harley B. Gaston Jr. Public Service Award at its annual awards celebration March 30 for her four decades of service and leadership.
The award is named for the late Harley B. Gaston Jr., a long time judge and community leader in Belmont. This award is not given annually, but the chamber board felt it was important this year to present the award to Moody following her 40 years of service at Holy Angels.
“We are honored to present the Harley B. Gaston Jr. Public Service Award to Regina Moody for her more than four decades of service, not only for the differently abled, but to scores of other initiatives and leadership contributions in Belmont and throughout Gaston County, as well as North Carolina,” said Marc Jordan, Montcross Chamber of Commerce’s president and CEO. “Regina’s legacy at Holy Angels is reflected in the joyful faces of the residents and the staff who turned to her for support and vision.”
Moody retired at the end of 2022 yet remains committed to the mission of Holy Angels, serving as president emeritus.
“It’s an honor for me to receive this award in honor of Harley B. Gaston Jr., who is a man I knew and respected so much,” Moody said. “Harley was a friend and supporter of Holy Angels, and we had the pleasure and privilege of serving his son Bo in some of our day activities. The impact Harley made in the Gaston community, especially in Belmont, was enormous.”
Gaston served on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners and was past president of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce. He received numerous awards for his public service, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is given to North Carolinians with a proven record of extraordinary service to the state.
This is the second year in a row that Holy Angels received the Harley B. Gaston Jr. award. In 2022, the public service award was presented to all local health care workers who fought on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients included Holy Angels, CaroMont Health, Atrium Health and Kintegra Health.
Holy Angels was founded in 1955 by the Sisters of Mercy. The private, nonprofit corporation located in Belmont provides residential services and innovative programs for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities with delicate medical conditions. To learn more about Holy Angels, join Holy Angels caring team or volunteer, please call 704-825-4161 or visit Holy Angels’ website at www.holyangelsc.org.
— Shawn Flynn