Gaston County board honors retiring deputy and proclaims June Juneteenth events

The Gaston County Board of Commissioners used part of its May 26 meeting to honor retiring Deputy Tracy Lyles and to adopt a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as Juneteenth in Gaston County.

Commissioner Alan Fraley recounted Deputy Lyles' military service and years of county service and read a resolution directing the Sheriff's Office to declare the deputy's badge and service sidearm surplus and offer them to him for $1 under cited North Carolina statute and a 1983 board resolution. "Deputy Lyles retired from Gaston County Sheriff's Office on 05/01/2026 with 13 years of credible service," Fraley read. Deputy Lyles thanked the board and family, saying, "I wanna thank first our lord Jesus Christ and savior and the sheriffs who've allowed me to come back and work... I hope I serve y'all well." Commissioner Bob Hovis and other commissioners offered personal thanks.

Later the board proclaimed June 2026 as Juneteenth in Gaston County and highlighted the eighth annual Gaston EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival and related events, including a parade and fireworks scheduled June 19 at the Rotary Pavilion. Dr. Dorothy Guthrie, founder and executive director of the African American Museum of History and Culture, accepted the proclamation, saying it was "a powerful recognition of shared history, resilience, and a journey that we have been on." The proclamation references local events organized by Help Carolina Inc. in partnership with the museum and a June 13 kickoff, teen summit and additional community activities.

No formal votes or appropriations were attached to the proclamations; the board adopted the retirement resolution and the Juneteenth proclamation as part of the meeting's proclamations and recognitions agenda.