ELIZABETH SPENCER GRAY

October 2, 1922 – December 29, 2015

by Rosalie Fonda, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham, NC, 2016

Elizabeth Spencer Gray

The daughter of Mary Elizabeth Benton Spencer and Percy C. Spencer, Elizabeth Spencer Gray was born in Greenville, North Carolina in 1922. She completed high school and took college and graduate classes in Early Childhood Education at the University of North Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina State University, and The Gesell Institute of Child Development in New Haven, Connecticut. Beth was the mother of five children and a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church.

From 1950 to 1955 Beth taught classes out of her home in Durham. In 1961 she helped establish a kindergarten and preschool for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, then on West Club Boulevard. Several years later she designed and equipped the new building for St. Luke’s Kindergarten and Preschool when the church moved to its new and current site on Hillandale Road. The school accommodated 110 children and was open to children of all denominations and faiths. All classrooms had innovative observation windows so that parents and visiting teachers could observe activities in the classroom. Now called The Gray Building in honor of Beth Gray, this original school site now houses LEAP (Latino Education Achievement Program), along with Preschool tutoring and Sunday School classes.

In the early 1960s Beth was a consultant and taught classes in early childhood development and kindergarten curriculum to the first teachers of Head Start in Durham. She was also a consultant for the first public school kindergartens in Durham and gave workshops on kindergarten curriculum and child development for teachers new to this period of education. She also served on the council of The Child Guidance Center, directed by Duke University.

Beth taught and directed the St. Luke’s Kindergarten and Preschool for more than 50 years, until her retirement in 2007 at the age of 85. Following retirement she remained vitally interested in all things related to early childhood education in North Carolina.

In 2007 the governor of North Carolina, Michael Easley, conferred upon Beth Gray The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of her “integrity, learning and zeal” during her long and innovative career in early childhood education. Upon her death in 2015, memorial gifts were requested as donations in her memory to the Grey Stone Preschool and Kindergarten in Durham, where Beth’s teaching program and philosophy continue.

CAROL CAMPBELL DAVIS

b. 1960

by the Archives Committee of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC, 2016

Carol Campbell Davis

Carol Campbell Davis grew up in the United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina while attending the Chapel of the Cross sporadically.

After moving to Winston-Salem in 1991, Carol was invited by a work colleague, Marty Lentz, to join the St. Paul’s choir. She did so, and has devotedly served the St. Paul’s choir since that time.

Carol, her husband Todd, and daughter Sarah have been members of St. Paul’s parish since 1993. Their son, Daniel Todd, was baptized there on All Saints Day in 1995. Both children participated in children’s choir programs into their high school years.

Carol has served on the Finance Committee and as the parish Treasurer. She was a member of the Search Committee for organist/choirmaster in 2016, and has served as a lector from time to time.

For Carol Davis the choir is her community within the larger community. Participating with this group connects her to the seasons of the church in a fundamental way. It gives her life spiritual structure and discipline. Connecting to weekly rehearsals and serving through music show her spiritual depth and fulfillment with fellow choir members and God.

BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE

b. January 14, 1947

by Charles K. (Ken) McCotter, Jr., Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern, NC, 2016

Beverly Eaves Perdue

Beverly Eaves Perdue, a member of Christ Church, served as the 73rd governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013. Christ Church in New Bern has a long and rich tradition of providing leadership in public service and education to New Bern and the state. Bev exemplified that tradition by a career of public service highlighted by her election as the first woman governor of North Carolina.

Bev is one of five governors of North Carolina from Craven County, four of whom were Christ Church members. Abner Nash, a Revolutionary War patriot, second governor serving in 1780-81; Richard Dobbs Spaight, a signer of the U.S. Constitution; and his son, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr., governor in 1835. The fifth, Benjamin Williams, another Revolutionary War patriot, lived in Craven County for many years; however, he was elected governor in 1798 from Moore County.

Born a coal miner’s daughter in Grundy, Virginia, Bev earned a BA degree in history from the University of Kentucky, and a Masters of Education and a PhD in educational administration from the University of Florida. She then taught school in Florida and Georgia.

Her championing of public education continues a long tradition at Christ Church that began in the mid-eighteenth century when the first rector, the Rev. James Reed, led the movement to establish the first public school in the colony.

Bev and her family moved to New Bern in 1974, because her brother, Rick Moore, M.D., was in practice here. They joined Christ Church and worshiped with Rick and his family. Bev’s early career in New Bern included twelve years as a gerontologist. She also ran a major national health care model project at the Craven County Hospital, now Carolina East Medical Center.

Bev began her political career in 1987, serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives and the state Senate. Elected lieutenant governor in 2000, she served two terms. During her years of elective service Bev championed public education. After retiring from the governorship, Bev founded a non-profit organization to accelerate digital learning and served as a Resident Fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

Bev has two sons, Garrett and Emmett. In 1997, Bev married Bob Eaves. Bev describes her marriage to Bob as “the miracle of my life and part of God’s plan.” Bev and Bob have eight grandchildren from her sons and Bob’s son and daughter.

Recently Beverly Eaves Perdue reflected: “The milestones of my life have been contemplated at Christ Church—kneeling at the prayer rails while praying as I look at the historic stained-glass altar window of Jesus blessing the children.” In Bev’s words “Anything is possible with faith and humor and the willingness to lose as much as you win – dream big and push forward.”

MARTHA ANN McBRAYER HIGGINBOTHAM

b. March 1936

by Mary Louise Burress, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC, 2016

Martha Ann McBrayer Higginbotham

Martha Ann McBrayer was born in Winston Salem and grew up in the First Presbyterian Church. In the mid 1990s she began going to St. Paul’s on a regular basis. Two dear friends, Barbara Douglas and Bill Carr, were instrumental in encouraging her to join the church and she was confirmed in 2001.

Since then, St. Paul’s has become an essential part of Martha’s life. She has served on a number of committees including Senior Adults, the Bookshop guild, and Social Action. When the Rev. Mike Bradshaw came to the church as Director of Outreach, he set up the Faith and Justice Committee (formerly known as Social Justice) on which Martha served. Through this group the church strives to educate our membership and others about issues in the community, the country and the world. In other outreach activities, Martha has spent nights at the Samaritan Inn helping to serve dinner and breakfast; helped with Habitat builds; participated in prison Ministry worship services and served a term on the Vestry.

According to Martha: “St. Paul’s has brought me closer to God through community and worship. Here I’ve felt welcomed and cared for by the clergy, staff and dear friends. Thanks be to God!”

CAROLINE WINDER DUNN ASHFORD

August 16, 1912 – April 12, 2013

By Charles K. (Ken), McCotter, Jr., Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern, NC, 2016

Caroline Winder Dunn Ashford

Caroline Ashford was a lifelong member of Christ Church. She and her husband, Dr. Charles Hall Ashford, were the parents of Dr. Charlie Ashford, Caroline Smith and Tay Roberts, all regular attendees at Christ Church. Many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren also attend Christ Church. Caroline was the second woman to serve on the Vestry of Christ Church. Here follow some of Caroline’s recollections associated with Christ Church and its people.

Caroline’s father, William Dunn, walked her to Sunday School every Sunday. Caroline’s first grade teacher, Molly Heath, was also her Sunday School teacher. The big cedar tree with the Christmas lights in the corner of the churchyard at the intersection of Middle and Pollock Streets is named the “Molly Heath Tree.”

Caroline attended Sunday School on the second floor of the Parish House. She remembered the stage where the young children sat in a circle. A little train would run around in the circle and the children would put money in the train for their Sunday School offering. Bertha Duffy made a model boat which was put up front of the church on Easter and the children would put their Mite boxes in the boat.

Caroline’s mother was Octavia Hughes Dunn. Caroline’s grandmother, Caroline Ann Hughes, was very active in Christ Church. Mrs. Hughes used to teach Sunday School at the All Saints Chapel on Pollock Street. Octavia Dunn did not believe in early confirmation and Carolina did not get confirmed until she went to St. Catherine’s.

Caroline was married to Dr. Charles Hall Ashford in Christ Church in 1932, with the Rev. Ilbert deLacy Brayshaw officiating. She wore the long white dress which had been her mother’s wedding dress. The bridesmaids also wore long white dresses. For this candlelight wedding no electric lights were used.