Joann DeLong honored for United Way service
(Left to Right:) Hartsville Mayor Dan Askins III, Joann DeLong, Bobby McGee, and Nancy McGee pose for a picture during the recent party honoring DeLong.
By Stephan Drew, Editor
Friends, family, and community partners packed into the Blind Pig on Tuesday, July 7, for a surprise celebration years in the making: the retirement of Joann DeLong, longtime Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Hartsville, whose 13 years of leadership have left an indelible mark on Darlington County.
When Joann walked through the door that evening, she had no idea what awaited her. The room was filled with people whose lives, organizations, and communities had been shaped by her work. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and gratitude, she could barely find the words. “Wow,” she said, tears filling her eyes, as the weight of more than a decade of service settled in.
From her very first day at United Way, Joann understood something fundamental about the organization’s mission: its greatest strength lies not just in the services it provides, but in its power to bring people together. She spent her career building bridges — connecting neighbors in need with resources, and connecting nonprofits with one another in the shared work of lifting up the community.
That collaborative spirit was on full display at Tuesday’s celebration. Representatives from Hartsville Interfaith Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Darlington County Community Action Agency, SPC Cares Foundation, and the Byerly Foundation all turned out to honor Joann — a testament to the partnerships she cultivated and the trust she built across organizational lines throughout her tenure.
True to form, Joann redirected the praise outward. “You can only do what you do if you’ve got good people around you who support you,” she said humbly. It was a fitting reflection from a leader who spent 13 years empowering others — but her words also speak volumes about the relationships she forged and the confidence she earned across Darlington County.
As she steps into this new chapter, Joann leaves behind a legacy of compassion, dedication, and community-building that will continue to shape Hartsville for years to come. Ahead of her now lies a retirement she has more than earned — one filled, by all accounts, with baking, crocheting, camping, and travel.
Joann, thank you for everything you have given to this community. Your presence at United Way will be deeply missed, but the foundation you built will keep making a difference long into the future — and your impact will never be forgotten.