Suzanne Griffin took the oath of office as a member of the Columbia Board of Aldermen on July 2.

Griffin, a registered nurse with in-depth background in medical and surgical practices, works part-time as nurse diabetes educator at Columbia Medical Center

During the board’s July 1 session, Alderman Hal Fleming moved that Griffin be appointed to succeed Seth Gibbs, who resigned when he moved outside the town limits. Fleming’s motion passed unanimously.

Griffin’s term expires December 1, 2021.

Four other town residents were contacted earlier. One declined because she is a member of the county board of elections, and the other three showed no interest, Mayor James Cahoon said.

Griffin, 68, is president of the Friends of Tyrrell County Public Library, Volunteer Dinner coordinator for Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft auction, former president of the Tyrrellinean Club, former senior warden at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church Vestry, and former president of Tyrrell Safe Neighborhoods.

The Michigan native was married to the late Michael Griffin, Columbia’s mayor from 2007 to 2017. She attended nearly every town board meeting during that period, observing the aldermen wrestle with budgets, audits, grant application and administration processes, complaints about water and sewer services, potholes, barking dogs, and the other problems that arise in a small town.

“Although a Yankee, I was welcomed and am continually accepted by the loving people of Columbia and Tyrrell County,” Griffin said before her appointment.

The town’s governing board meets regularly at 7 p.m. on first Mondays in the Municipal Building. Other board members are Mayor James Cahoon and Aldermen Lloyd Armstrong, Hal Fleming, Sandra Owens (mayor pro tem), and Bryan Owens.