Paul Gregory, author of "The Early Settlers of Reddies Rivers" published in 1976 by the Wilkes Genealogical Society, has passed away at the age of 90.
Paul worked for several years putting together the history of the Reddies River area of Wilkes County, and in the process, he uncovered much information concerning the Shepherds, Colvards, Irwins, Vannoys, Jennings, and other pioneer families. Everyone with ties to the Reddies River Shepherds, and other Reddies River families, owe Paul Gregory a big 'thank you' for his tedious research.
Paul was the grandson of Jordan Ashley and Susan Hall Shepherd, and great grandson of Larkin and Alley Irwin Shepherd.
OBITUARY: Paul William Gregory
HAYS, NC - Mr. Paul William Gregory, 90, of Mountain View Road, Hays, widower of Ruth Dare Proffit Gregory, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, at Avante Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wilkesboro.
Mr. Gregory was born Jan. 24, 1913, in Wilkes County to John Andrew Franklin and Mary LouEllen Shepherd Gregory. After graduating from Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone in 1934, Mr. Gregory taught school and coached girls basketball at Mineral Springs High School in Winston-Salem. He was then hired by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to sell tobacco products in the New York and New Jersey areas for the next 12 years. In 1947, Mr. Gregory was hired as the principal at the Mountain View School in Hays. During the next 30 years, he served as an outstanding educator, both as teacher and principal, in Wilkes County. During the early years of school consolidation, Mr. Gregory became the North Wilkes District Principal, supervising not only North Wilkes High School, but the elementary schools feeding into that high school as well. After district principalships were abolished by the board of education, Mr. Gregory completed his service to Wilkes County schools by remaining as the principal at North Wilkes High School until his retirement in 1976. Mr. Gregory was a member of the Mountain View Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and Sunday school teacher. Furthermore, he was the director of music at the church for 53 years, a position that he cherished. Mr. Gregory was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Proffit Gregory, who passed away in 2001; a grandson, Rick Gregory; six sisters, Elma Adams, Ruth Key, Vergie Johnson, Belva Byrd, Ina Handy and Ennis Wood; and a brother, Lester Gregory; as well as his parents. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard Brent and Lynda Ray Gregory of Charlotte; a grandson, Tom Russell of Charlotte; a sister and her husband, Oma Jean and Jack Martin of Courtland, Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Mountain View Baptist Church in Hays with the Rev. Julius Blevins and the Rev. Van Proffit officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 this evening, Dec. 30, at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Mountain View Baptist Church, P.O. Box 47, Hays, NC 28635.
Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home Obituary Listing for Paul Gregory
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Paul Gregory's genealogical files were donated to the Wilkes Community College Library in Wilkesboro, NC. These files are available to the public in the library's genealogy department. |
