Joe Pat Tolson was an American educator and Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twenty-third House district, including constituents in Edgecombe and Wilson counties. A retired educator from Pinetops, North Carolina, Tolson retired after the 2013-2014 session, serving his ninth term in the state House. He was replaced by Shelly Willingham. Tolson died in 2019 from respiratory failure at a hospital in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Shelly Willingham is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He has represented the 23rd district since 2015. He previously served in the House from 2002 to 2003.