RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Before stepping down from the highest office in the state, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper (D) has taken actions of clemency, commutation and forgiveness on his last day in office. In total, he commuted 15 death penalties, commuted two other sentences and issued two pardons of forgiveness. The governor's office said the moves come after thorough review by Cooper and experts from the Office of Executive Clemency and the Office of General Counsel. "Ensuring careful review of petitions for clemency is a responsibility I take seriously," said Governor Cooper. "Each of these individuals is deserving of clemency as we continue our important work to protect our communities and improve the fairness of our criminal justice system." Commutations given to 2 convicted on murder charges The two who received commutations from Gov. Cooper were 54-year-old Brian Fuller and 63-year-old Joseph Bromfield. Fuller was convicted on two counts of second-degree murder in Rockingham County and has since served 27 years. According to the governor's office, Fuller "worked steadily while incarcerated and has also maintained a good disciplinary record." Bromfield was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in Cumberland County and has been incarcerated for the past 34 years. In this more than three-decade period, Bromfield "completed a college degree, worked steadily, and maintained a good disciplinary record," the governor's office added. With Gov. Cooper's commutation decision, both Fuller and Bromfield have become immediately parole eligible. Whether and when their parole is granted is to be determined by the N.C. Post Release Supervision and Parole Commission.  15 commutations for those facing death penalty Fifteen people on the state's death row are no longer facing the possibility of an execution. With this decision, Gov. Cooper said, it is "among the most difficult decisions a governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose." After reviewing, reflecting and praying on it, Gov. Cooper came to the decision that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted. Their sentences now become life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hasson Bacote, 38, convicted in Johnston County in 2009. Iziah Barden, 67, convicted in Sampson County in 1999. Nathan Bowie, 53, convicted in Catawba County in 1993. Rayford Burke, 66, convicted in Iredell County in 1993. Elrico Fowler, 49, convicted in Mecklenburg County in 1997. Cerron Hooks, 46, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000. Guy LeGrande, 65, convicted in Stanly County in 1996. James Little, 38, convicted in Forsyth County in 2008. Robbie Locklear, 52, convicted in Robeson County in 1996. Lawrence Peterson, 55, convicted in Richmond County in 1996. William Robinson, 41, convicted in Stanly County in 2011. Christopher Roseboro, 60, convicted in Gaston County in 1997. Darrell Strickland, 66, convicted in Union County in 1995. Timothy White, 47, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000. Vincent Wooten, 52, convicted in Pitt County in 1994. Abraham Bonowitz, co-founder of Death Penalty Action, called the death sentence commutations a "powerful message." He said, "We don't need executions to hold accountable people who have committed horrible crimes, or to be safe from them. Death by incarceration is a better way to frame the sentence these men now face, and that is indeed appropriate in most of these cases." Pardons of forgiveness granted for 2 with drug convictions Two men who were convicted in 1984 and 2007 for crimes involving drugs have received full pardons from the governor. John (Jack) Campbell, who is now 63 years old, was convicted of selling cocaine in Wake County in 1984. In these past four decades, he has earned a college degree, owned a small business and has been supporting his family while remaining crime-free, the governor's office said. Brandon Wallace, 43, was convicted in Lee County on a charge of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and marijuana in 2007. In the 17 years since, Wallace has earned college and law degrees, been admitted to practice law and also served as president of his county's bar association.