By Randy Capps
If you’ve spent more than a couple of years in Johnston County, chances are you’ve come in contact with Craig Olive.
As Johnston County’s Register of Deeds, his office is where you go to record legal documents, get a marriage license or maybe even a passport. Since 2002, he’s served as not only the face of that office, but as an ambassador for the county in which he was raised.
That’s what makes him an ideal choice for the 2025 Johnston Now Honors Spirit of the County Award.
“I have a love for the area,” he said. “I grew up as a young boy out by the airport. My father worked. We had a small farm and I just love Johnson County. I love the people. My parents instilled in me to treat people like you like to be treated.
“My father was an insurance agent, and back then, you’d have to go to people’s houses to collect their money, right? And he’s like me. He never met a stranger. He always talked. And sometimes when we had to ride along with him, we had to blow the horn in the vehicle for him to hurry up and come on, because he would sit and talk — and have coffee and smoke a cigarette.”
The youngest of 15 children, Olive credits his parents for teaching him the importance of helping people.
“I just noticed how much my father and my mother love helping people, and I guess it’s just in my blood,” he said. “But I think we have a great county. We have great citizens that live here. And I’m just glad I am a part of their daily walk, helping them either get a marriage license or obtain death certificates for a loved one, or someone buying a new home, recording their documents, or being there for people that have to record a power of attorney because their loved one is sick or in the hospital.”
Olive was working as a driver’s license examiner when he was approached about running for the Register of Deeds office. He lost the 1998 election by 213 votes, won it four years later and has been in that role ever since.
It’s a job that has changed a bit in the last couple of decades.
“Well, when I went in they were still booking manually,” he said. “Now, you can electronically record your documents. We were one of the first counties in North Carolina to accept electronic documents. And I’m very proud to say that we were the very first ones in the nation to accept survey maps electronically. I went that route when I first got in because I knew it would make the lives of people much easier to conduct business, (letting them) get into homes faster.”
As his office has changed, so has the county it serves.
“A part of me wishes it wouldn’t change,” he said. “I know, as time goes on, things change. But I think we still have that quality, that charm. The local citizens have that charm that we give off to others and newcomers see how down to earth we are.
“I have seen Johnston County change a lot, but I think we still have some good hearted citizens that care about others and wouldn’t mind lending a hand to help their neighbor.”
Recently, the Register of Deeds office announced efforts to preserve thousands of Veterans’ Certificates of Discharge, commonly known as DD-214s. These forms provide critical details about a veteran’s military service, including dates of service, rank, last duty assignment, military specialty, battles and campaigns, wounds received and medals or awards.
It was a project that held special meaning for Olive, thanks to his brother.
“Veterans are very special to me,” he said. “My brother is a Vietnam veteran. I remember when he came home. Not only is he my veteran hero, but he gave me a blood transfusion when I was born.
“A lot of veterans are overlooked. And they need to have (more) resources available to them. … Many times when people serve four or eight years in service, they don’t have a military ID. The only thing they have to show is their DD-214 to show that they’ve been in the military.
“So we encourage them to come and record their documents and DD-214, and we give them an ID card. And we have over 100 merchants that give discounts(for holders of that ID).”
When he’s not serving the people of Johnston County, he’s spending time with his dogs, Buddy, Griffin, Bella, Barden and Duke. He’s also involved with Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Clayton, where he fills several roles, including pastor, and also serves as pastor of Clement Primitive Baptist Church, near Four Oaks.
“I believe that the Lord already planned for me,” he said. “He already knew I was going to be a public servant. And he had given me that desire to look after the citizens of this county the best I can, and I have enjoyed it so far.”
