— From Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood
The Granville County Social Services Board recently voted to appoint Interim Director Vanness Taylor as the permanent Director of the Granville County Department of Social Services. Taylor was officially appointed to the permanent role on March 15, 2026, after serving as Interim Director since October 2025. Taylor has more than 14 years of experience, having previously worked for departments of social services in Granville, Durham and Warren counties.
Taylor was chosen to serve as director of the Department of Social Services following a national recruitment search with executive recruitment and assessment firm, Developmental Associates, LLC. The intense and rigorous process consisted of multiple rounds of interviews with county staff and members of the Social Services Board, as well as assessment testing exercises conducted by other social services and local government professionals from across the state.
Taylor has served Granville County DSS for more than three years as Interim Director, Deputy Director, Adult Medicaid Supervisor, as well as other roles within the economic services and quality assurance divisions.
“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Taylor as Director of the Department of Social Services,” said Social Services Board Chair Ernestine Howard. “While serving as Interim Director, she gained the trust and respect of the employees here, and she seems to be the perfect fit for the agency. Mrs. Taylor scored extremely well during the verbal, written, and interview process, which solidified our final decision to promote her to this new role. It is especially gratifying to promote from within the agency. We are looking forward to a long-lasting relationship between Mrs. Taylor and Granville County DSS.”
“I am truly excited and humbled by the trust placed in me to continue leading Granville County DSS,” said Taylor. “I will work each day to make a meaningful difference for those we serve here in Granville County with integrity, transparency, and compassion.”
A native of Warren County, Taylor graduated from Warren County High School and currently resides in Vance County with her husband, Travis, and their two children, Zoe and Cairo. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from North Carolina Wesleyan College, as well as a master’s degree in social work from N.C. Central University and a master’s degree in human services from Walden University.
