About Us
Donna Hicks Spencer has had the honor of serving the citizens of Catawba County as the Register of Deeds since December 6, 2004, when she won her first election with the support of her family, friends and Ruth M. Mackie (former Register of Deeds). Her fifth term began after winning the 2020 election. Donna continues to strive to make the office convenient and as customer friendly as she did from the first day she took office.
- Implemented a statewide electronic death registration system (NCDAVE) which allows loved ones to get death certificates that were filed from 2022 forward in any NC county, right here in their own local Register of Deeds’ office
- Property Notification for property owners to regsiter and get notification of real estate documents filed within the office. (2019)
- Implemented an Online Real Estate Temporary Index and Image system.
- Began a program to honor our veterans called "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE"; a way in encourage the veterans to record the DD214's within the office and for the community to give back.
- Implemented a statewide electronic birth registration system (EBRS) which allows citizens that were born from 1971 in another NC county to obtain their birth certificate right here in in Catawba County Register of Deeds' office
- Began accepting electronic vital records request which provides the public with the ability to request birth, death and marriage certificates. electronically. Although certificates still have to be mailed to you in order for you to obtain your certified copy, this does speed the process up in us receiving your request.
- Began accepting all real estate documents except maps for electronic recording. eRecording is helping the public and private sector be more efficient and find better use of their resources.
- Recipient of the Shining Star Award from the North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds.
- Fought for and began a better communication between the State Vital Records Office and NCARD
- Fought for and began the use of PDF forms for the 100 Register of Deeds to provide a smoother service for the citizens statewide
- Fought for your protection against identity theft by redacting social security and driver’s license numbers from all real estate documents back to 1935.
- A user friendly online system that connected the GIS office with Register of Deeds real estate documents for a customer service to the citizens
- Implemented the preservation, a new back-up and disaster recovery process to protect Catawba County’s history which is still an on-going.
- Provided access to the Clerk’s AOC judgment computer system to assist those who utilizes office daily.
- Began the process to restore, preserve and scan the oldest of our vital records
- Began the process to restore, preserve and scan the oldest of our real estate records
- Was the first within the office to obtain professional certification through the North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds (NCARD) and for 95% of the staff within first two years.
- User friendly website to include and updated Real Estate program.
- Installed computers and updated software technology for each employee
- Upgraded public terminals with updated software technology
- Installed a fax machine (2004)
- Register of Deeds – 2004 to present
- Owner and President of Donna's Unlimited Searches, Inc. - a freelance real estate paralegal, title searching business – 1992 to 2004
- In house paralegal at Sigmon Clark Mackie & Hutton in Hickory
- In house paralegal at Johnson & Hughes in Newland
- Legal Secretary William Cocke in Newland
- Former North Carolina Notary Instructor
- Former Member, North Carolina Paralegal Association
- North Carolina certified Paralegal in real estate
- Member, North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds (NCARD)
- Elections Committee Chair
- Member: Elections
- Former District II: Treasurer
- Former District II: Secretary
- Past Member of Vitals Records, Automation Technology, Special Recognition-Awards, Scholarship & Strategic Long-Range Planning Committees
- Past Elections Committee Chair & Secretary
- Past Member of Land Records Management Advisory & Indexing Committee
- Special Sub-Committee for Minimum Standards for Indexing Real Property Instruments
- Special Sub-Committee for New Manual of Proceeding
- Past Vital Records: Chair & Co-Chair
- Special Sub-Committee - EDRS Business Partners Advisory Group
- Special Sub-Committee - Working Vital Records Group through the School of Government at UNC
- Associates Degree in Paralegal Technology from Central Piedmont Community College.
- Clerical Science Degree from Mayland Technical Community College
- Register of Deeds certification from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Advanced Register of Deeds certification through NCARD from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Ethics Class through NCARD from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Leadership Class through NCARD from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Various workshops through NCARD
- North Carolina Notary
- North Carolina Certified Paralegal
- Former North Carolina Notary & eNotary Instructor
- Graduate of Avery County High School
- Youth Advisory Committee member, Highland United Methodist Church
- Bible School teacher, Highland United Methodist Church
- Sports Coach Assistant
- Band Booster Parent
- Past School Bus Driver
- Past Parliamentarian CCRWC
- Past 2nd Vice-President CCRWC
- Past Assistant Treasurer CCRP
- Volunteered in "Walk in My Shoes" program
- Married to Donald Spencer (works for NCDOT) since 1993 and lives in the St. Stephens area
- Triplet sons: Aiden (NCSU), Dawson & Gavin (WCU) all 2021 graduates at these great North Carolina Universities.
- Moved here from Avery County in 1989
- Member of Highland United Methodist Church in Hickory