WHERE SMALL TOWN PRIDE IS BIG!
Administration
Mayor
Chad E. Braxton was elected to a four-year term as Mayor of Vanceboro in 2007. He was first elected to the Vanceboro Board of Aldermen in 2003. His vision is to always strive to make Vanceboro a better place to live, work, and play.
Mayor Braxton grew up in Vanceboro and always had aspirations of becoming Mayor one day, of the town that he so loved. He graduated from West Craven High School in 1994 and went into the family business, Kite’s Supermarket on Main Street in Vanceboro. He is very active in the community, serving on the Fire Department Board of Directors, a Past Master of Vanceboro Masonic Lodge, and a past board member of the Vanceboro Christian Help Center. He also serves on the Community Resource Council at Craven Correctional Institution, and a member of Down East Rural Planning Organization, Craven County Recreation Advisory Board, the Vanceboro Medical Center Board. He also coaches youth basketball, baseball and football and is a member of the Scottish Rite and the Sudan Shrine. Mayor Braxton is a member of The Vanceboro Christian Church.
Mayor Braxton is married to Jo-Lynne Crawford Braxton and they have two children. In his “Free Time” he enjoys relaxing with his family at the beach and watching Carolina basketball games!
Alderman
Russell Ipock was born on December 21, 1959 in New Bern, North Carolina. He attended West Craven High School and graduated from the School of Business at East Carolina University. Russell worked in private industry for the past 39 years, with his last 3 assignments as Operations Manager and Plant Manager for 3 different Corporations. Currently Russell owns and operates JRS Realty, LLC, serving Craven and surrounding counties with their real estate needs.
Russell married Julia Whitford Ipock in 1980 and they have one daughter, Meg. Russell has been an active resident of the Vanceboro community since 1984. Currently he serves as a board member for The Vanceboro Carolina East Internal Medical Centner, The Vanceboro Rotary Club and past chairperson of the Vanceboro Planning and Zoning board.
Russell is an active member of the Vanceboro United Methodist Church. In his free time, Russell enjoys spending time with family and friends, serving his church and community and always making time for a round of golf.
Alderman
Todd McMillen was born on July 29, 1966 in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1984, Todd’s family moved to Chocowinity, NC where he attended and graduated from Chocowinity High School in 1984. After completing a year of college in Nashville, TN, Todd moved to Virginia and worked for Tidewater Rental Corporation.
In 1987, Todd married Beverly Furman of Chocowinity . After attending East Carolina University, Todd began his teaching career at West Craven High School in 1992. Todd and Beverly moved to the Town of Vanceboro in 1993. Their desire was to raise a family in a small town and to be involved in the community.
During his 24 year career at West Craven High School, Todd served as a teacher, a coach and as the athletic director until his retirement in 2016. Todd has always had a passion for community and throughout the years he has been involved in both church and community in a variety of leadership opportunities.
Todd and Beverly have two children, Serge and Kelsey, and 2 grandchildren. Todd continues to work in retirement for Jordan Driving School of the Carolinas and he is the pastor at Campbell’s Creek UMC in Aurora, NC.
Todd is a former member of the Vanceboro Planning and Zoning Board.
During his free time, Todd enjoys hanging out in the neighborhood and, of course, the occasional round of golf.
Alderman
Donald Keith Cannon is a native of Vanceboro and he and his wife Julie have lived here since 1994. Keith and Julie are both retired educators. Their daughter Chelley Godwin lives in Raleigh and son Chip lives in Cary.
Keith attended West Craven High School and East Carolina University. He worked 30 years as a Health and Physical Education Teacher, most recently serving Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary and West Craven High School as a teacher, Tennis Coach, and Medical First Responder for the football team. Keith is a member of the Vanceboro Rescue Squad and Vanceboro United Methodist Church. He has served as the Director of the Vanceboro Strawberry Festival for several years. Currently he works part time for Homeland Security.
Alderman
Stephen M. Belrose born in 1964 and attended school and worked in New Bern throughout his youth. In 1984, Stephen married Pamela Seamster and they moved to Vanceboro in 1985. Stephen and Pamela have two daughters, Brittany Belrose Puryear and Laura Belrose, and 1 grandchild. Stephen has owned and operated The Appliance Shop since 2001 located in Vanceboro town limits. Stephen is a former member of the Vanceboro Planning and Zoning Board. Stephen is member of the Vanceboro Masonic Lodge and attends Vanceboro Christian Church and charitable organizations are Salvation Army.
In his spare time he enjoys boating and fishing.Alderman Belrose quoted: “Vanceboro has always been a safe, friendly and family oriented town for us, and I intend on keeping it that way”.
Alderman
Thad Jones was born on December 9, 1955 to the parents of Thad Sr. and Penny Jones. He grew up in the Craven County area and attended New Bern High School where he graduated in 1974.
In 1972, Thad met the love of his life, Nellie Tripp from Vanceboro and later they were married. They shared a son, Thad III (TJ), and had a second son who preceded them in death at birth. In May of 2018, Thad’s loving wife of 44 years also preceded him in death.
After graduation from high school, Thad worked with James Cayton Plumbing Company. In 1983, Thad accepted a position with the Craven County School Maintenance Department as a plumber and worked there until 1997, at which time he went to work with Craven Correctional Institution and continued to work as a plumber until he retired in 2017.
During his free time, Thad enjoys spending time with his family and especially his grandson Hunter.
Town Clerk
Beverly Drake was born in 1971 and has been a resident of Vanceboro all of her life. Beverly is the daughter of Betty Lilly Ipock and the late Jesse Ray Wilson. Beverly grew up in the Vanceboro area; and graduated from West Craven High School in 1989. After graduation, Beverly continued her education to Craven Community College where she graduated in 1992 with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, and in 2008 with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting.
In December of 1993, she married Billy Martin Drake of Cove City. They have two children: Bradley and Brandi. Beverly was a Girl Scout Leader for nine years until she decided to be more involved in her service to the church. She is a member of the Overflow Worship Center; where she enjoys cooking on Thursday night for the Celebrate Recovery program and teaching lessons periodically. Beverly became the Church Treasurer six years ago and enjoys this position greatly.
Beverly enjoys spending time with Christ and helping others in need, which is her passion in life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and precious grandsons Braylin & Sebastian. She is looking forward to her new grandson's arrival in late April 2024.
Assistant Town Clerk
Brittany Mumford was born on April 13, 1993, and has lived in Vanceboro her whole life. After completing High School at West Craven in 2011, she continued on her journey to Craven Community College. She received her Associates in Business Administration and later transferred to East Carolina University. She graduated in June 2016 with a Bachelor in Business Management.
While attending school she managed at McDonald’s, and later went on to work at Dermatology Associates in the Clerical Department. After 3 years of employment she decided it was time to move on to a more challenging position. In 2018, Brittany became employed by the Town of Vanceboro as Assistant Town Clerk.
During her free time, Brittany likes to spend time with her husband, her precious son Bryson, and family. She enjoys the laughter that they bring.