Our story…

Our story began well before we ever meet. Ironically, Duane and I grew up only about 35 miles apart but did not know each other. He was from Elizabeth City, NC, in Pasquotank County, and I was from Sunbury, NC, in Gates County. We both graduated high school the same year, and he went on to attend Elizabeth City State University, and I attended Chowan University and North Carolina Central University. I made Durham, NC, my home while working and attending college there, and he went on to join the NC State Highway Patrol in 1983. Ironically, his first duty station was in Gates County, NC, where my family lived.

On August 15, 1984, all the stars aligned, and we happened to be in the same place at the same time, and we were finally introduced. Believe it or not, that chance encounter was “love at first sight” for both of us and led to a whirlwind romance. Five months after meeting on January 26, 1985, we were married…when you know, you know!

We made our first home in Gates County and lived there for ten years. Both of our children, Ava and Ehron, were born there, and to this day, we have numerous family members and friends in the area.

In October 1995, Duane was promoted, and we moved to Goldsboro, NC, and established our second home. Moving to Goldsboro was a big adjustment for our family. Our kids had grown up in a small town, and going to Goldsboro was almost a culture shock. They had conveniences and opportunities different from what they were used to, but like kids do, they soon adjusted and grew to love the area. We got involved in our neighborhood, church, and community and made many life-long friends there.

Duane’s career continued to advance, and he was promoted two more times. Our family stayed in Goldsboro, and Duane moved around and traveled for work. By Duane’s second promotion, our kids were college-age and ready to leave home, and we became empty nesters. They both continued their education after high school. Ava graduated from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, and Ehron from Johnson & Wales University In Charlotte, NC, where they live.

We both worked for the State of North Carolina for many years, and in August 2011, Duane retired from the NC State Highway Patrol. Four years later, in March 2015, I retired from the Wayne County Clerk of Court’s Office, both of us having worked 30 years. One year after my (Belinda) retirement in March 2016, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. That year was probably one of the most challenging times we experienced in our marriage. After eight chemo treatments, a bilateral mastectomy, 33 radiation treatments, and several months of follow-ups, I was released by my oncologist to go and live my life cancer-free!

Finally, in June 2023, we made another move and established our third home. We moved into our 2023 Grand Design Momentum 376ths that we call Theo. Our lives have been filled with love, laughter, heartbreak, adventure, disappointments and so many, many blessings. There have been no regrets for us and the fact that we get to share and experience this amazing life together is exactly what we hoped for.