Jamezetta Bedford — a longtime elected official in Orange County, accountant and advocate for residents with disabilities — died on Sunday, according to her family. The Chapel Hill resident was 67 years old.
Bedford was a two-term Orange County commissioner currently elected to a District 1 seat representing Chapel Hill and Carrboro. She was poised to serve a third four-year term after winning the Democratic primary in March and previously serving 12 years on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Her family said she died after complications from a procedure conducted on Friday, June 19.
Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford speaks at 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro’s Forum On The Hill in the Whitted Building in October 2019. (Photo by Dakota Moyer/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
The daughter of a military member who frequently moved cities as a child, Bedford arrived to Chapel Hill from Baltimore with her husband, Ed, and daughter Shannon in 1992 — as Shannon has autism and the Bedfords wanted to go into Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and have access to key services. Jamezetta’s experience as a parent of a child with autism influenced much of her elected and volunteer work, serving as a PTA volunteer for many years before becoming Ephesus Elementary School’s PTA president. She earned election to the school board in 2003 and used the role to further champion the rights of IDD children alongside all others. She also served as the president for the Chapel Hill chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.
Bedford’s passion for public education carried over to when her grandchildren moved to the area and helped inspire her to run for the Orange County Board of Commissioners. After falling short in 2016, she became the president of the Democratic Women for Orange County organization before a successful run to earn a District 1 seat in 2018. As both a county commissioner and school board member, Bedford served three years as chair of the board and several years as vice chair.
As an elected official, Bedford’s attention to detail stood out — fitting for an accountant, as she earned her masters in accounting from UNC in 2004 and worked as a certified public accountant. During campaigns, the Chapel Hill resident would point to her professional experience as a bonus for navigating challenging financial situations and budget proposals. That included helping chart a path forward for Orange County’s two public school districts as they face millions of dollars in facility and infrastructure needs, with the board often helping fund beyond what the North Carolina General Assembly allocated for the districts and establishing a bond referendum in 2024, which passed and allowed for the construction of several updated schools.
When running for her third term earlier this spring, Bedford also shared her excitement and hope to see through the county’s ongoing Crisis Diversion Facility project. The county-run facility, which is slated to be constructed by UNC Hospitals’ Hillsborough campus, will operate as an urgent care for adults experiencing behavioral health issues and a place to stay for up to 24 hours to receive treatment. The goal is to prevent those undergoing a mental health break from being sent to either jail or the hospital — and Bedford cited the facility and construction related to the school bond as projects she’d “like to help…come to fruition.” On Tuesday, with Bedford absent, the Board of Orange County Commissioners formally voted for construction to start on the Crisis Diversion Facility in August.
Bedford’s colleagues and dozens of others in the Orange County community mourned her loss and shared appreciation for her after news of her passing on Sunday.
“Commissioner Bedford was a tireless advocate for our community and a trusted colleague whose impact will be felt for generations,” Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton shared in a release from the county government. “From her years of service on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education to her leadership on the Board of County Commissioners, she never lost sight of the people she represented. Jamezetta was deeply committed to ensuring that every resident had opportunities to thrive, and she worked diligently to strengthen our schools, expand behavioral health resources, and build a brighter future for Orange County. Even in recent months, she remained focused on seeing critical projects move forward for the benefit of future generations. Her wisdom, dedication, and steady leadership will be profoundly missed.”
“Jamezetta Bedford devoted her life to serving others, and Orange County is stronger because of her leadership,” added County Manager Travis Myren. “She brought extraordinary thoughtfulness, professionalism, and care to every issue before the Board, whether it involved our schools, public health, affordable housing, or behavioral health services. Her background in accounting gave her a keen understanding of complex financial challenges, but it was her unwavering commitment to the people of Orange County that truly defined her public service. Commissioner Bedford approached every decision with integrity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility. We mourn her loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of serving alongside her.”
Having been elected in March’s Democratic primary, Bedford was slated to be on the ballot unopposed in November for her District 1 seat. With her death, North Carolina law says the seat will be vacant until the Board of Orange County Commissioners determine an appointment process — at least through November. With the primary having passed, the local Democratic Party will choose a District 1 resident and party affiliate to take her place on the ballot and fill the four-year term set to begin during the board’s organizational meeting in December.
The Bedford family said a memorial or celebration of life service will be planned at a future date for Jamezetta. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Autism Society of North Carolina’s Camp Royall, which is a day- and overnight camp in Moncure that offers programs for children and adults with autism. Jamezetta is survived by her husband, Edward James Bedford of Chapel Hill; her son James (Jim) Bedford, daughter-in-law Lindsay Bedford, grandson Bryce Bedford and granddaughter Eliza Bedford all of Carrboro; her daughter Shannon Bedford of Lillington, N.C.; and her son Kevin Bedford and daughter-in-law Jonelle Bedford of Durham. She is also survived by her mother Cacynthia Karickhoff, sisters Brenda Karickhoff and Kendra Sullivan and brothers Carl Karickhoff and Owen Karickhoff.
A public memorial service for Jamezetta Bedford is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 at University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. The service will begin at 2 p.m.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the party replacement process for a vacated primary nomination and to include quotes from county officials, as well as details of the memorial service for Bedford.
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