Doris Conner: Ayden

2025 NC Main Street Champion

Watch The Recognition Video

Doris Conner has been a powerhouse of creativity and community spirit in Ayden since joining the Main Street program in 2019.

After retiring from Veterans Affairs, Doris set out to make Ayden a destination for family-friendly fun—and she delivered. In 2021, she launched Ayden First Friday, a vibrant monthly event with food trucks, live music, and community gathering at Veterans Park. It’s grown every year since.

In 2022, she helped establish Founders Day, celebrating Ayden’s birthday with student art, museum tours, and a town-wide party. And in 2023, she partnered with the Ayden Arts Council to bring National Quilting Day to life, showcasing the beauty of hand-stitched art.

Doris’s love for small-town life shines through everything she does. From receiving the Martin Luther King Jr. Citizen Award to helping celebrate the Ayden Museum’s 10th anniversary, her energy, time, and talents have left a lasting mark.

Ayden is proud to honor Doris Conner as its 2025 Main Street Champion.