Mrs. Anne Kornegay Gregory

July 31, 1932 - May 9, 2021

Mrs. Anne Kornegay Gregory, age 88, transitioned from her earthly home to her eternal home on Sunday, May 9, 2021, at her home. Anne was the second of ten children born in Goldsboro, North Carolina to James (Jim) and Mary Lee Cox Kornegay. Her entire life was influenced by her parents’ advice that a good education is the one thing that no one can take away from you. Anne loved music and was the choir pianist and directress at Atkinson Baptist Church. She was the third highest graduate in her class at Goldsboro Central High School before embarking on a career in education. In 1957, Anne went to Washington, D.C. to attend Miner Teachers College. She left after three and one-half years to counsel and teach at-risk young women at Sleighton School for Girls in Pennsylvania. Later that same year, she married Ronald Gregory. Together they raised two children, Curtis Gregory who lives in Philadelphia, PA and Carol Gregory who resides in Boston, Massachusetts. After raising her children, Anne decided to complete her degree in elementary education at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). She graduated magna cum laude in 1974. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree with a special certificate in reading from NCCU in 1979. Working as an educator for more than 25 years, Anne displayed a unique ability to find and meet the special educational needs of students whom others had labelled as “discipline problems” or “low-achievers.” Anne was not only an inspiration for her students, she was also seen as a motivational leader for other educators. She worked diligently as a teacher’s advocate and held numerous leadership positions in local, district, and state professional organizations. Anne designed and presented workshops for teachers in leadership, conflict management, parental involvement, and teaching at-risk children. Her activism on behalf of teachers resulted in major changes to North Carolina’s laws regarding teacher leaves and mandatory teacher workshops. Anne held many leadership roles including President of Durham Retired School Personnel, President of Durham County Association of Educators, and President of North Carolina Association of Educators. Anne was honored many times for her education leadership. She was named Outstanding Teacher of Reading by the National Assessment Governing Board, Outstanding Minority Educator, and Who’s Who in American Education in 1994. Outside of the education arena, Anne’s commitment to community service was exemplary. She was the founder and chairman of the Durham Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, a Democratic Party executive, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Anne was an active member of St. Joseph AME church where she worshipped with her husband and family for close to 50 years. She was the President of the St. Joseph AME Ladies Usher Board, Conference Chairman of the Gomez-Jordan Committee, and the founder of the St. Joseph Men’s Cookoff, which was named in her honor. She sang in the Gospel and Senior choirs. After retiring as an educator, Anne turned her love of cooking and entertainment into her own catering business called A Taste of Class. Anne is preceded in death by her parents, James (Jim) Kornegay and Mary Lee Cox Kornegay, her brothers James Lee Kornegay and John Earl Kornegay, her sister JoAnne Kornegay. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Gregory, her children, Curtis James Gregory and Carol Renee Gregory, her sisters, Bertha Edwards, Carolyn Kornegay, Mathelle Lee, Marquitta Whaley, and Cheryl Dow, her granddaughter Leah J’nae Gregory, and many beloved nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Anne K. Gregory will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 12:00 noon, at St. Joseph AME Church, 2521 Fayetteville Street, Durham, North Carolina 27707, with viewing from 11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. The service of celebration will be streamed live at https://stjosephame.org/watch Mrs. Anne Kornegay Gregory will be laid to rest in Beechwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Triangle Aphasia Project Unlimited in honor of Anne K. Gregory. https://www.aphasiaproject.org/get-involved/donate/?v=7516fd43adaa or 919-650-3854.