A familiar face at the Beaufort County Courthouse has retired.

Assistant Clerk of Superior Court Laura Gardner Williams was honored Friday by a large gathering of friends, colleagues and court personnel, there to celebrate her many years of service and dedication.

Williams began working at the courthouse in 1988 and worked her way up to assistant clerk under former Clerk of Court Tom Payne. She worked in the cashier’s office, in addition to having various other duties in the courthouse. At her retirement gathering, Payne spoke about how her recruited Williams many years ago and told stories about her exceptional compassion and work ethic, according to current Clerk of Court Marty Paramore.

In addition, Williams was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor given by the state.

“Each and every day of her career she has greeted citizens that came into the cashiers’ office with dignity and respect. … The compassion she has for people was always evident and often mutual. Mrs. Laura was in tune with those that were going through the roughest of times and even though she would never talk about it, she bought many Christmas gifts for the children of such families,” reads an excerpt from Paramore’s Long Leaf Pine application to Gov. Roy Cooper. “She has done much to make this a better place for everyone.”

Friday, Paramore told the assembled crowd, “There is no way to replace her, and I will always be grateful for having the opportunity to work with Mrs. Laura.”