On Sunday, those individuals and organizations were honored. The 2026 recipients of the Humanitarian Service Awards were Rev. Timothy L. Bates, Cynthia Moore-Stanfield, Nick Means, Reginald Vincent, Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc., Youth for Christ Friends and Family Mass Choir and Race and Justice Ministry Team of First Presbyterian Church.
In introducing Means, Kaisha Brown took a quote from James Baldwin, “I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.”
“Those words came to mind as I prepared to introduce Nick Means today. They speak to a truth we all recognize. Character is proven in action. “Service, compassion and justice are not just things we are talking about. They are things we have to practice. I can say one thing with confidence, you can believe what Nick says because you can see what he does.”
Means shared a story from his childhood. “I think about this one moment 30-some odd years ago,” Means said. “I’m outside with my grandfather raking leaves. My grandmother, sister and three little cousins were in the house. He looked at me and said, ‘Regardless of how good or bad at life you are doing, someone will want to be just like you.’
“He was a pastor, so he had to throw the word in there, ‘If you go to heaven, you are going to take somebody with someone with you. If you go to hell, you are going to take someone with you.’
“I stopped raking and looked at the door and realized there were four kids in that house watching me. If they were going to be successful in life, it was going to be because their big brother or big cousin showed them the way.
“Today, Papa, I hope you are looking down and are happy and satisfied with the work I am doing.”
You can read the complete story at: https://www.salisburypost.com/2026/01/22/walking-in-his-footsteps-mt-zion-missionary-baptist-honors-mlk-humanitarian-award-recipients/
Means is a cum laude 2003 Catawba College graduate with a degree in business administration. He was a football player all four years at Catawba and was the 2001 South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete for football. In 2014 he was inducted into Catawba’s Sports Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic record and is still the all-time leading receiver in yards.
Means is a member of Catawba’s Board of Trustees, served on Catawba’s Alumni Board, its Board of Visitors, and as a founding member and president of the Catawba Black Alumni Network (CBAN).
In the local community, he is an assistant basketball and football coach at North Rowan High School, participates in the Man Up Monday mentoring program, and serves on several boards including as Chair of the Leadership Rowan Steering Committee and treasurer of the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation. He received the 2023 Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Humanitarian Award for his service in the community. He is a Vice President and Community Banking Officer with F&M Bank where his career spans over twenty years.
