Family
A native of Raeford, North Carolina, Harry Southerland was the product of a hard working and devoted single mother, the late Elvenia Southerland. Southerland is married to Juliet Southerland and he is the proud father of Te’Era, LaShena, Aliya, N’Diyah, and Laila.
Education
Southerland graduated with honors from Hoke County High School in 1985. After graduating from high school, Southerland studied at North Carolina State University where he received a B.A. Degree in Business Management in 1989. Southerland also received a. B. A. Degree in Economics the following year in 1990.
Fascinated by our legal system and the desire to help the “least of these,” Southerland attended North Carolina Central University School of Law. While at North Carolina Central School of Law, he was elected class president for two consecutive years by his peers and he was a dedicated and exceptional member of the Moot Court Trial Advocacy Team.
In 1994, Southerland graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree. Later that same year, he was admitted to practice law in the state of North Carolina and United States District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Political Career
In 2000, Harry Southerland became a rising star in North Carolina politics as well as a successful businessman. In November 2000, Southerland was elected by the people of Hoke County, to the Hoke County Board of Education. He was a zealous advocate for the underserved and underfunded school district and continues to fight for the funding owed to the Hoke County School District and the surrounding school districts.
Additionally, Southerland was elected as a Hoke County Commissioner in November 2014 and is currently serving his 3rd term. Harry Southerland is an awarding-winning County Commissioner who oversees the county’s nearly $100 million budget, 680 employees and 64,000 Hoke County residents. Southerland served for 10 years on the Sandhills Mental Health Board of Directors where he and the Board managed a $700 million budget and thousands of North Carolinians who suffered from mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and physical disabilities. Southerland served as Vice-Chairman for 3 years and he served as Chairman for 2 years prior to Sandhills merger with Eastpointe and Trillium MCOs.
He is a retired attorney who concentrated in the areas of criminal, business, sports, and entertainment law. One of his greatest achievements while practicing law, was that he won a highly publicized Murder Trial for an indigent young man free of charge in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1999.
He is also a former NBA and NFL Sports Agent. Southerland’s most notable moment was representing Chris Wilcox in the 2002 NBA draft in which Wilcox was 1st round, number 8th lottery pick to the L. A. Clippers.
Southerland is affectionally known as your “favorite country lawyer” as a co-host on Sheryl Underwood Radio. One of the highlights in his life is serving as co-host of Sheryl Underwood Radio and reaching and empowering thousands of listeners. Southerland also worked and traveled with Sheryl Underwood and her company Pack Rat Production for many years as Sheryl Underwood performed comedy across the country.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Since being elected as a Hoke County Commissioner in 1994, Harry Southerland has received multiple accolades, including receiving:
The Order of the Longleaf Pine Award in 2016 for his outstanding community service.
In 2021, Southerland was awarded the County Commissioner of the year by the Lumbee River Council of Government.
Award of Appreciation from the Hoke County Sheriff’s Department
Award of Appreciation from the Emergency Management Department
Award for outstanding service to the community by Maggie’s Outreach Community Development Center.
Additionally in 2021, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appointed Southerland to serve on the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Optometry.
ACHIEVEMENTS AS A HOKE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Mr. Southerland’s recent achievements include:
Completed construction of a $43.5 million dollar Hoke County Justice Center.
Completed the construction of a $78 million dollar Hoke County High School addition.
Raised the minimum wage for full-time county employees to $15.00 per hour while the State of North Carolina minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour.
Started the Hoke County Housing Authority. Approved and completed construction on Hoke County’s First Affordable Housing Development.
Completed construction of a $4.5 million agricultural building
Completed the construction of a $27 million aquatic and recreation center.
Completed construction of a $2.2 million Hoke Area Transit Building
Completed construction of DMV Building
Completed construction of Tylertown Community Center
Completed Construction of Cameron Village Community Center
2021 Gave Hoke County Sheriff Deputies the largest raise in Hoke County History
Approved and started the construction of Fire Training Facility
Approved and started the construction on The Hoke County Domestic Violence Shelter
Approved and started the construction on The Hoke County Commercial Kitchen.
Increase the supplements for teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodial staff,
BOARDS AND ORGANIZATIONS
North Carolina Board of Examiners for Optometry (appointed by the Governor)
HPIP of AEAONMS
North Carolina Association of Black County Commissioners,
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners,
Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO)
Lumber River Transportation Advisory Council,
Regional Land Use Advisory Council (RULAC)
Hoke County Library Board
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Center Grove Masonic Lodge
Rockfish Grove Freewill Baptist Church
Editorial Note: We Are Hoke provides community information and profiles of local public officials for educational and informational purposes. Publication of this profile does not constitute a political endorsement, campaign endorsement, religious endorsement, or affiliation with any political party, candidate, campaign, or religious organization.
About The Author
