A Life That Lifted Others: Honoring My Friend Tim Kent

On a cold morning years ago, before the sun had the nerve to rise, I found myself standing shoulder to shoulder with a small group of high-school volunteers at Greensboro Urban Ministry’s shelter. Among them was a young girl named Emily—bright-eyed, kind, eager to volunteer and help. She belonged there. It was her world. What I didn’t know then was that in a few short weeks, she would introduce me to someone who would become one of the most meaningful friendships of my life: her father, Tim Kent.

Tim didn’t slip into that kitchen quietly. He arrived with sleeves rolled, spirit ready, and a heart that recognized the sacred weight of showing up for people who felt forgotten. That was Tim—one foot in the halls of power, the other planted firmly among those who simply needed a warm plate and a human smile.
It didn’t take long before our bond was sealed, forged not by circumstance but by service… and strengthened through the curveballs life would later throw at him.

Three Reflections on a Life That Raised the Bar

1. He Showed Us What True Leadership Looks Like

In roles spanning the NC Association of REALTORS®, the Beer and Wine Wholesalers, and even earlier as a broadcaster, Tim had a remarkable gift: he could bring people together—people who disagreed, people who felt unheard, people who needed direction. He helped build consensus where it didn’t exist. That’s leadership at its rarest form.

Tim lived a life that touched two very different worlds. One day he was navigating complicated legislation, guiding our state through the friction of competing visions. The next, he was in a shelter kitchen flipping eggs for men who carried everything they owned in a backpack.
And he made both spaces feel seen.

2. He Carried the Weight of Others Quietly and Faithfully

Life does not spare any of us its unexpected turns. Tim knew seasons of loss—job uncertainty, divorce, personal questions that shake your footing. But in those valleys, our friendship deepened. His faith strengthened. His compassion widened.

Tim never let hardship harden him. In fact, it softened the edges and shaped the man he ultimately became. He cared for strangers with a dignity that lifted them. He protected and cherished his family with devotion—especially his wife Andra, whose partnership brought him immeasurable joy. He even welcomed his mother-in-law into his own home, caring for her with the same steady kindness he offered to the world.

3. He Lived the A.R.T. of Life: Awareness, Resourcefulness, Timing

Tim embodied the very principles I try to teach today.
Awareness—his eyes were always open to who was hurting, who needed a hand, or who simply needed to be heard.
Resourcefulness—if he saw a need, he found a way to connect people who could meet it.
Timing—he had a rare intuition for the moment to step forward, to speak up, to lead. And when that moment came, he moved—not with bravado, but with conviction.

These weren’t skills he used to elevate himself. They were gifts he used to elevate others.

Closing Reflection

Last week, Tim was posthumously awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. As Hal Mast spoke about Tim’s heart and influence, a swell of pride and sadness washed over the room. It was a moment that felt both fitting and bittersweet.

What struck me most wasn’t the award itself—it was the reminder that legacies aren’t built in grand gestures. They’re built in kitchens before sunrise, in boardrooms where bridges are needed, in quiet conversations between friends navigating storms.

Tim Kent lived a life that mattered. A life that lifted.
A life that—quite simply—made North Carolina better.

Though I miss him deeply, I remain profoundly grateful that our paths crossed. His friendship shaped me. His example sharpened me. And his legacy reminds me, even now, that life is shorter than we imagine… and far more meaningful when spent helping others stand a little taller.

Well done, my friend. You made a difference.

 Steven, Emily, Andra and Michael Kent