Chief Mission Officer Ray Cockrell will serve as temporary CEO of the Boys and Girls Home at Lake Waccamaw.
President Rickey Creech and two family pets died this morning after a fire at the family’s Canal Cove Drive home. Creech’s wife and daughters were out of town when the fire occurred. The blaze is under investigation. Creech was appointed in October 2020.
The Executive Committee of the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina Board of Trustees named Cockrell to the post Saturday afternoon.
“President Creech’s fearless leadership and passion for the youth and families in our care will be sorely missed,” said Board Chairman Dave Wyatt. “We keep his family in our prayers. We know that the children served by BGHNC were his priority and he would want the work to continue. We believe Ray is the right choice for the mission at this time.”
Cockrell joined the development team at BGHNC in April 2005 with a focus on planned giving and major gifts. He is a Certified Financial Planner and holds both a bachelor and master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In addition to his work, Cockrell is active in scouting and serves as a leader for the scouts in Troop 26 in Wilmington. Cockrell is the President of the Wilmington Optimist Club, incoming Governor of the North Carolina East Optimist, and is an active member of his church.
Cockrell has been instrumental in implementing the Waccamaw Way concept of therapeutic care put in place by Creech.
Cockrell was the guest on this week’s Columbus Connection podcast, which was recorded before his appointment. Look under the tab on this website to hear the interview.
