B F Grady High School - Overflow Yearbook (Seven Springs, NC)

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w he 0 flc vert low This Volume of The Overflow Is Dedicated to the Late WILLIAM GASTON KORNEGAY First Chairman of Our School Committee Page Five

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O-he Overflow ' 947 Page Four

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m Overflow 947 WILLIAM GASTON KOBNEGAY William Gaston Kornegay, son of Immanuel and Harriet Louisa (Kornegay) Kornegay, was born at the old Kornegay homestead in Albertson Township, Duplin County, June 20, 1867. His birthplace was in that part of said township which is now popularly known as the B. F. Grady school community and was within sight of where the B. F. Grady School building now stands. He was a worthy descendant of those sturdy pioneers, known as German Palatines, who came to America about the year 171 0 and founded the town of New Berne in Craven County. George Kornegay, the first of this family in America, owned large tracts of land in Craven and Duplin Counties, and the crossing over North East river in this community, long known as Kornegay ' s Bridge, bears and honors his name. As a young man William Gaston Kornegay attended the public schools taught by B. F. Grady, R. D. Kornegay, J. F. Maxwell, and other inspired edu- cators of that time, and in early life he became a leader in this community where he spent his entire life. He was a farmer, postmaster, merchant, and public servant for many years and was active and influential in all matters affecting the public welfare. He was a member of the County Democratic Executive Committee and was later elected by the people to serve as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and faithfully served the people of Duplin County in that office for a longer period of time, with one exception, than any other man. During the year 1928 he became the first Chairman of the B. F. Grady School Committee, having already given the premises for the school, and in that capacity he served the people of his home community, faithfully and well, until his death. Mr. Kornegay was a Universalist, a prominent Mason and Shriner, and was widely known. At the time of his death on March 22, 1935, and the funeral service on the following Sunday, more than two thousand kinsmen and friends packed the school auditorium, corridors, and grounds to pay last tribute to an outstanding citizen. Agreeable with his last request his remains were interred in a plot directly across the highway from the school building. Thus he was born, lived a life of great usefulness, died and was buried in this community. Mr. Kornegay married Miss Georgia Frances G r ' — 1 y, October 16, 1 889, and he is survived by her and the following children: Mrs. Norman Davis, Mrs. Marvin W. Simmons, Thaddeus Kornegay, Miss Bessie Kornegay, Dr. Harvey J. Kornegay, and Alvin Kornegay. We, the people of the B. F. Grady Cox: taty, where Mr. Kornegay spent his entire life, are justly proud of him as an outstanding citizen of our com- munity and county; and for u :s long and faithful service to our school, our community and our countv, we affectionately dedicate this issue of The Overflow to him. Page Six