Board of Directors

Wes Seegars was born in 1951 and has lived in Goldsboro, NC his entire life. His grandmother and step grandfather were Mary and Leslie Simmons that lived and had a farm on North Lake Road. We visited them at least one weekend a month my entire childhood and until she left the county in the late 80’s. Our family continues to own their house and lakeside. Wes hunted and fished the farm and lake his entire life and has the most wonderful memories of attending events at the Mattamuskeet Lodge where the community and visitors gathered to celebrate our hunting heritage as well as weddings, family gatherings and other county events. Hyde County is a unique and special place that is about to be rediscovered by many North Carolinians with the renovation of the Mattamuskeet Lodge.

Raised in Swan Quarter, and deeply rooted in Hyde County which established a genuine love for the county as well as its residents. As a child, his family owned and operated Topping’s Lakeside Restaurant and Motel at the corner of New Holland Road. His mother was raised in a small home on New Holland Road and grew up playing in the lodge in her early years. Phillip had similar experiences and remembered climbing to the top of the observation tower to throw pennies into the water with his cousin. Now a husband and father of two, Phillip serves as the Program Coordinator with the North Carolina Office of Information Technology/Division of Broadband and Digital Equity. He also serves on several boards within the community and is a Minister at Jobes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Edward A. Torres was born in the town of Turrialba located in Costa Rica and in 1995 he relocated to Eastern North Carolina, to finish his secondary and post-secondary education. He currently is the owner and president of Bryan Funeral Service.

He and his wife along with their daughter and son are residents of Swan Quarter and members of St. George’s Episcopal Church where he serves as a vestry member.

“Mattamuskeet Lodge is an iconic landmark in Hyde County rooted in a rich history and tradition. I remember as a young teenager attending school events as well as other private social gatherings at the lodge, the building represents so many treasured memories.”

Lifelong resident of Hyde County, the third of four children born to Mack & Sandra Carawan of Fairfield cherishes the memory and lives of those involved in her small-town upbringing. Visiting cousin Lucille Osborne, the longest and last innkeeper (1962-1974) of Mattamuskeet Lodge with her grandfather, chasing her younger brother up the stairs and around the balcony ballroom, venturing downstairs to scare the pet monkey, the sweet smell of perfume in the room of a beloved widowed neighbor that spent cold winters at the Lodge, are among her fondest childhood memories. Debbie is a local business owner, entrepreneur, wife, mother and grandmother.

Natalie Wayne was raised in Engelhard, NC, leaving for just a short while to obtain her graduate degree, just to head straight back to Hyde County as fast as she can. She got married and had two beautiful kids. She is currently the Hyde County Cooperative Extension Director and previous 4-H Agent. She has fond memories of 4-H Nature Week, Proms, Haunted Houses and other special events at the Mattamuskeet Lodge and one of her many goals in life was to help restore the Lodge back to its beauty!