WS Chronicle

Her 27 years at The Chronicle influenced the lives of staff, readers, and others

A Legend. A Jewel. A Sweet Beautiful Soul. An Angel On Earth. Those were just a few of the words used to describe Paulette Lewis-Moore. Moore, a longtime member of The Chronicle staff, passed away last week. 

A native of Winston-Salem, Moore, who is better known as Mrs. Paulette, joined The Chronicle in 1993 as part of the mailing department. It wasn’t long after the founder of The Chronicle, Ernie Pitt, learned that she could type that he decided to make her secretary and administrative assistant. 

During her 27 years with The Chronicle, Mrs.Paulette’s title was administrative assistant, but she was so much more; essentially, she was the face and the voice of The Chronicle and the glue that held everything together. She spearheaded The Chronicle’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, the Season’s Greetings ads during Christmas, and was instrumental in the facilitation of the annual Gospel Fest and Community Service Awards. 

With her warm, kind, and loving personality, Mrs. Paulette left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She really had a knack for connecting with people and making them feel like family.

James Taylor, publisher of The Chronicle, said Mrs. Paulette shared strength and wisdom with everyone she met. 

“A person like Paulette Moore only comes along once in a lifetime. She will forever be remembered for the love, strength and wisdom that she shared with all who came in contact with her,” Taylor said. “Mrs. Paulette made countless contributions to the culture of Black journalism for over 27 years in Winston-Salem, and she was an example of what we can all become when we chose to walk in our purpose.” 

Tim Ramsey, The Chronicle’s sports and religion reporter, said when he joined The Chronicle, Mrs. Paulette was his saving grace. 

“Mrs. Paulette was one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever met. She was my saving grace when I first started at The Chronicle. I will never forget the kind words and genuine love she had, not only for me, but for everyone she met. I will miss her dearly,” Ramsey said. 

Shayna Smith, marketing and communications manager, said to know Mrs. Paulette was to love her and every moment was special. 

“I worked very closely with her, she was like my work mother, she always made sure that I was okay. When I was sad or stressed she would tell me jokes to cheer me up, and she also provided so much wisdom in which I am very grateful for,” Smith said, “She definitely brought so much joy and laughter to the office. Almost every morning, we would start the day with  singing gospel or dancing to gospel.  She was a very special woman. I don’t think I will ever meet anyone else like her. I am really going to miss her. We truly lost a Winston-Salem warrior.”

While discussing a special moment she shared with Mrs. Paulette, Bridget Elam, editor of The Chronicle, referred to her as “an angel on earth.”

“Ms. Paulette was always on time! It was her day off and I was opening up the office on her behalf. Yet somehow, I had essentially locked myself in the foyer of the office. I was caught between locked doors – my keys were on my desk. The inner door was locked; if I walked out the main door, I would have been completely locked out. Luckily, I had my phone. But before I could call someone to rescue me, Ms. Paulette pulled up. I didn’t think I was seeing properly; it was her day off,” Elam continued. “She came with key in hand and that infectious smile on her face and freed the one trapped in the foyer! She had to pick something up that morning. But I felt she was fulfilling her position – angel on earth.” 

Judie Holcomb-Pack, associate editor, said Mrs. Paulette had an upbeat spirit and a wicked sense of humor. She also talked about Mrs. Paulette’s keen fashion sense. “Miss Paulette was the office fashionista. With her stylish ensembles and coordinating shoes, I don’t think she ever wore the same outfit twice,” said Holcomb-Pack. 

“Her upbeat spirit was infectious and if you came in the door in a bad mood, it would quickly change after just a few minutes being with her. She had a wicked sense of humor that would pop out at the most unexpected times. She knew everyone who walked in the door, and if she didn’t know you when you came in, you’d be a friend when you walked out. Whenever I am out in the community and mention where I work, the first thing someone will say to me is, ‘Do you know Miss Paulette?’ Indeed, I do.”

Former copy editor Michelle Woodburn said Mrs. Paulette was a force in her life and many others. “Ms. Paulette filled my hours at The Chronicle with joy, laughter, beauty, kindness and wise counsel,” Woodburn said. 

“She was such a warm, gracious, thoughtful, bright light — full of faith and everything that’s good. Ms. Paulette was a positive force in the lives of many. She was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.”

On his personal Facebook page along with a picture of himself and Mrs. Paulette, former editor Kevin Walker wrote, “We worked together for more than 15 years at The Chronicle, but we weren’t coworkers; we were family. Like for many, she was my mother, especially after my own mom went on to Glory. Those years at the paper weren’t always easy, but I could always turn to her for a listening ear, a pep talk and a hug before she’d send me off with an ‘I love you’.” 

Mrs. Paulette’s ability to connect with people wasn’t exclusive to those she worked with. When word of her passing was made public on social media, dozens of subscribers and others with a connection to The Chronicle talked about how Mrs. Paulette made them feel when they walked through the door or called.

Longtime subscriber RaVonda Dalton-Rann said, “What a beautiful spirit she was … That same spirit is now wearing wings and looking down at us.”