Mary Jo Adams: Laurinburg's Lifetime Advocate

Mary Jo Adams seems to scarcely have a moment in the day that isn’t dedicated to the betterment of the City of Laurinburg. There is, of course, the duties and responsibilities of public office, which she has held since 2011. But that role is simply the natural progression of a life spent focused on her hometown. The many local organizations, the volunteer opportunities, her career decisions – everything points to the furtherance of the community.

It’s a devotion that started early in a household committed to giving back. Adams remembers working next to her father, handing out surplus food on Saturdays. With her mother, Lucile Bridgeman, a longtime health director and the first ever female county commissioner for Scotland County, Adams would volunteer alongside at the local health care clinic. When the time came to chart the course of her own life, she stayed publicminded and chose to major in social work and corrections at East Carolina University, then worked close to a decade as a juvenile court counselor. From there, she moved to education to continue working with Laurinburg’s youth population first as a guidance counselor for Scotland County Schools, eventually moving her way up to assistant principal, principal and finally Dean of Students.

And that’s just her career. At home, Adams was raising two sons—both Eagle Scouts—alongside her husband David, a substance abuse counselor focused on mental health. On top of it all, she served on the teen pregnancy prevention council, helped found Scots for Youth, a non-profit organization focused on at-risk youth in the community, and took part in countless other volunteer activities.

“I never thought of it as too much,” Adams said. “It’s just who I was and how I was raised. I grew up in a household where it was the natural progression to do things in your community, to give back, and to try to make your community a better place for everybody.”

At no point did Adams sit on the sideline as Laurinburg developed, nor was there any point where she considered reducing her involvement. In fact, even as Adams’ career responsibilities began to lessen, her interest in shaping the future of Laurinburg only grew. Shortly after her retirement, there happened to be an open seat on the Laurinburg City Council. Adams didn’t hesitate. She ran, and she won.

“I joined public office, but my focus did not change,” said Adams. “My responsibilities were different, but my goals were the same.” Mary Jo Adams insists that to know Laurinburg is to know her, and everyone in Laurinburg seems to know her.

On a walk through downtown, with Adams hosting Southern City for a tour, each small business owner was ready to meet her with a hello and a genuine desire to know how she’s doing. There’s the frame store, the tuxedo shop, the clothing boutique. At the antique store, the owner—a new resident of Laurinburg, recently moved from Ohio—was quick to share just how welcome she felt as a newcomer.

“It’s not like this in other places,” said Laurie Tocash, owner of Antiques, Arts and Oddities. “Council Member Adams and the whole council, they come by and ask how I’m doing, ask how they can help, and they really mean it. When they can help, they do. It’s an incredible feeling of support here.”

The tour through downtown is a tour through Adam’s foremost success—a blossoming, alive city center. Laurinburg respects its history, evident through both the preserved brick facades and the community relationships, clearly built and maintained over many years. Laurinburg’s past had an unwavering sense of home. It also had, as Adams sensed, a fading vibrancy—a pulse that had lessened since her upbringing. For years, this downtown run of stores and shops was quiet, and many of the born-and-bred residents had moved away.

"My vision for Laurinburg is of a town that my children, and others’ children, return to and want to live in,” said Adams.

Laurinburg’s present is far removed from that state of affairs. Adam’s work is certainly to credit. Not only did each storefront either have a lively business or the prospect of one, but each member of our tour was a living example of her success. Mayor Jim Willis, City Manager Charles Nichols, Community Development Director Walker McCoy, and Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris English, along with Adams herself, are all native residents of Laurinburg. Both of Adams children now make Laurinburg their home as well.

Laurinburg’s future promises to be a bright continuation of its present success. In recent years, the city has brought in almost $106 million in investment to the business corridor on the outer edge of the city, which aims to capture travelers on Highway 74 between Charlotte and Wilmington. Large, national chains have tuned into the opportunity of Laurinburg and have located franchises there. There are also the massive economic development investments happening at the Laurinburg-Maxton airport, overseen by the Southeast Regional Airport Authority, of which Adams is a longtime board member.

“Everything Mary Jo involves herself in, she succeeds, and the airport is a perfect example,” said Mayor Willis. “She is an incredible asset for this community.”

Even alongside the growth and successes around the city and county, Laurinburg’s downtown revitalization remains most representative of Adams and the council’s strategic successes. Put simply: they do not miss an opportunity.

For example, in several places throughout the city center, large, bright murals accent the historic brick buildings, with depictions of historic local figures and artistic takes on the city name and motto, “Deeply Rooted.” Several of these were painted by famed artist Max Dowdle, who had embarked on a project to paint murals across the counties of North Carolina. Laurinburg didn’t wait to see if they’d be selected — they went out, acquired grant funds, and ensured they’d be involved. They had the first mural of Dowdle’s tour.

“I love Laurinburg, it’s like my second home now,” Dowdle told the Laurinburg Exchange in 2024.

There is also the local holiday jubilee, ‘Tis the Season, which is more of a city takeover than a singular event. Run by a local nonprofit group, ‘Tis the Season turns Downtown Laurinburg into a holiday wonderland each winter, complete with festivals, markets, and thousands of lights lining the street. Upon its creation, Laurinburg didn’t simply let it run and hope for the best — they supported it with full city buy-in. As a result, it has grown into a flagship community event and an economic development windfall for the town each year.

“I’m not sure we’ve ever had a city council this aligned and this effective,” said Nichols. “Council Member Adams is a large part of that. She is prepared, she does her homework, and when an opportunity arises to better the town, she’s ready to jump on it.”

Adams has been elected by her community four times now, in both contested and uncontested races, and her level of involvement in nonprofits, committees and boards — including the NC League of Municipalities board of directors and the Lumber River Council of Government — seemingly grows each year. Each effort supports her community, her city and her region. To do so, as much as she can whenever she can, is simply her nature. And the results of her efforts are apparent.

“My goals are simply to make this a community people want to live in,” said Adams. “I think we’re making that happen.”