James Gregory Poole, Jr. was born on December 18, 1934 to Irene Rand Poole and James Gregory Poole, Sr. at the first Rex Hospital on South Street in Raleigh. After a brief illness, he died surrounded by his loving family on December 29, 2018.
Greg grew up in Raleigh where he attended public school until the 9th grade when he chose to go to Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. He was Regimental Commander his senior year. His love of Culver, its focus on the mind, body, and spirit, combined with the relationships he built there with his fellow classmates, were strong influences in his life.
After graduating from Culver in 1953, he attended Davidson College; he was a quarterback on the football team. After two years he transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 1957.
After serving six months in the Army Reserves, Greg went to work for the Gregory Poole Equipment Company, which his father founded in 1951. He became President and CEO in 1964 and retired in 1998. Greg helped his father develop MacGregor Downs and later founded MacGregor Development Company, which developed Lochmere and MacGregor Park in Cary.
Greg’s life was characterized by a remarkable knack for developing lasting friendships with all those he encountered. He had a great passion for his community and greatly influenced much of what we enjoy in Raleigh today.
In his later years he worked tirelessly advocating for the establishment of the Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh. In addition, he spent considerable time developing his basket weaving and woodworking skills, and loved sharing his work with others.
Greg is remembered and admired most not for his considerable accomplishments, but for his character and love of people. His life was framed by his father’s high school class motto, “Building for Character, not for Fame”.
Greg is survived by his four children, James Gregory Poole, III, Barbara Alyson Poole, William Kenan Poole (Stephanie) and Edward Ashton Poole (Fran); eight grandchildren, James Gregory Poole IV, Sarah Lane Poole, John Braxton Poole, Caroline Claire Poole, William Kenan Poole II, Richard Harrison Poole, Edward Ashton Poole, Jr., and Patricia Vaughan Poole.
He is also survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Mary Ann Dailey Poole, and his former wife and mother of his children, Barbara Hatcher McDonald.
He was predeceased by his sister, Jean Poole Enderle, and his parents.
A visitation is planned for Tuesday, January 1, 2019, from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Flowers Cottage, Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh.
A Witness to the Resurrection service in his honor will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. A reception will follow.
Memorial gifts in Greg’s honor may be made to the White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dorothea Dix Park, Camp Oak Hill or the charity of your choice
Published in The News & Observer from Dec. 31, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019