Davidson College – In Memoriam

Rufus Eugene Reid, Jr. (Gene) of Charlotte, NC passed away peacefully at his home on September 20, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Gene was born August 21, 1935 to the late Rufus E Reid, Sr. and late Helen Goodrum Reid in Davidson, NC. After graduating from North Mecklenburg High School in 1953 as a student athlete, Gene attended Davidson College for two years. He then earned his BS and MA in Mathematics at Appalachian State University in 1957. He taught math for 12 years at East Mecklenburg High School and 28 years at CPCC. He was awarded CPCC’s Teacher of the Year in 1989 before retiring in 1997. His retirement years were spent working at the Family Life Center at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. All that knew Gene will remember him fondly for his gift to make others laugh and his enthusiasm for trains. He was deeply loved by his family and will be truly missed!

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 46 years, Hilda Lynn Reid. He is survived by his four children Parks Reid, Kelly Reid, Jody Reid and Marty Reid, two sister-in-laws, JoAnn Cecil and Barbara Mamer and nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at the home Saturday, October 12, 2024 between 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Zell A. McGee, age 88 passed away September 20. His parents were James (“Spike”) Lloyd McGee ’28 and Laura Green Heard (McGee) (later Lambe).

He is pre-deceased by his wife, Rosalind Toy Johnson McGee (1937-2015). He married Roz on June 3, 1961 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their children are Laura Green McGee ’86, Scott McGee, and Alexandra McGee. Grandchildren are Clara and Lucia McGee (Scott and Diane, parents).

His siblings are Laura Lambe Bernstein, Robert Lambe, Jim McGee, Eddie McGee, and Dave McGee ’85 (deceased 2013).

Since 2017 he enjoyed a close and loving relationship with Donna Hart.

Zell grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, and Charleston, WV, with summers in Asheville and Greensboro, NC and Virginia Beach, VA. He graduated from Davidson College in 1957 and the University of North Carolina Medical School in 1961. He did his residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, military service at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and completed his Internal Medicine residency and Infectious Diseases training at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. He served on the faculty there until 1982, including a research year in London. He was recruited by the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1981 to be the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He found a calling in teaching bedside medicine to medical students, housestaff and fellows, and he also authored many research papers in infectious diseases. In 1984, he had a stroke and became paralyzed on his left side. Despite this setback, he resumed teaching medical students, won teaching awards, and took joy in photographing petroglyphs and flowers. Even after retiring in 2002, he continued to be active in teaching etiology-based medicine.

Zell and Roz enjoyed over 50 years of marriage, sharing in family life, community service, church leadership, and travel. In 2009, he and Roz moved to Carol Woods, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In his final years of receiving daily care from the staff there, he enjoyed sharing witty rapport and getting to know each person. Our family is grateful for the holistic approach and genuine care from the attentive team at Carol Woods.

He was well loved for his philosophical approach to the world, and known for his charm and wit. He was deeply concerned about justice issues in medicine, especially as relate to environmental health and access to care. He loved the outdoors: sailing in his youth, skiing as an adult, and photographing nature in his later years.

He requested his body be donated to medical research. Ashes will be placed alongside Roz’s at Ghost Ranch, a conference center affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, where he found hope and meaningful summer activities after his stroke and for many decades that followed.

A memorial service is expected to occur in at Carol Woods in November.

Donations in his honor may be made either to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiu, NM 87510; or to the Carol Woods Charitable Fund, 750 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Raymond grew up in High Point, NC and attended Ray Street Elementary School, Ferndale Junior High School and graduated from High Point High School in 1962.  He attended Davidson College on a football scholarship and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  He transferred to High Point College graduating with a BS in Business Administration in 1966.  He began his working career in commercial finance in High Point with Civic Southern Factors.  In 1968 he was hired by Norris Griffen at American Credit which was later acquired by London based Barclays Bank.  Ray returned to High Point in 1980 to join his brother-in-laws’ business, serving as Chief Financial Officer for W&J Rives and later as CFO and Executive Vice President of Ruff Hewn.  Ray returned to the commercial finance industry in 1999 joining Phillips Factors, which was subsequently acquired by BB&T, serving as Executive Vice President until his retirement in December, 2015.  After retirement, Ray and Liz moved to Wilmington in 2017.

Ray was a natural athlete and after his football playing days were over, enjoyed cycling, exercising, water skiing and for a brief time was an avid sailor on his sun fish in the ocean at Long Beach.  In between watching a NASCAR race or Tar Heel football games, he was very fond of napping at his beach house.  He was an active member at Wesley Memorial United Methodist church, served on the board of High Point Country Club as well as serving on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point.  Raymond was always an engaging personality and enjoyed getting to know and care for everyone that he met.  

Ray is survived by his wife Elisebeth Rives Rogers (Liz), son Hill and wife Kendall Trull, daughter Ryves and grandsons Jackson Hill and Alston Holt, sisters Judy Rogers Hockenberry, Barbara Rogers Lockard and brother James McHenry Rogers, and wife Jeri.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare for their tremendous support and care during Ray’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare in Wilmington, NC or First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC.

The family will greet visitors at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, NC on Friday October 4, 2024 from 2-4pm.  A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in High Point, NC on Saturday October 5, 2024 at 2pm.   

Gerald Wilson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on April 22,1936 to Kitty Lee Thomas Wilson and Thomas Woodrow Wilson. He died on September 12, 2024.

After graduating from Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, he earned his undergraduate degree from Davidson College. In 1958 Gerald came to his forever permanent home, Durham, to attend Duke Divinity School and then Duke Graduate School completing two master’s degrees. His Ph.D. in History was from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Gerald served Duke University for over 50 years as an Academic Dean, Pre-Law Advisor, Senior Associate Dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Associate University Marshall. In addition, he loved teaching his American Dreams/American Realities course, named a “must take class,” and his seminar on Leadership in American History.

While pursuing his career at Duke, Gerald, as an ordained Presbyterian minister, served three churches in Vance County for 24 years.

For his faithful service Duke first awarded him the Presidential Award for Executive Leadership; in 2013 the University Medal, the highest Duke award for service; in 2019 the Brodhead Service Award. Recently, OLLI at Duke presented Ginger and Gerald the Bill Wright Award for service.

The National Pre-Law Association named its annual service award the Dean Gerald Lee Wilson award. Gerald spent many happy hours with his Pre-Law students and the Pre-Law organizations.

Gerald is survived by his loving wife, Virginia “Ginger” of 60 years, his daughter Holly Schrader (Scott) of Naperville, Illinois, and two grandchildren Clayton Douglas Schrader and Sydney Arden Schrader, a brother John Christian Wilson (Marianne) of Chapel Hill, a sister Nancy Miller of Wilmington and many nieces and nephews. Gerald was predeceased by his parents and brother Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Jr.

Gerald loved his family, friends, students, colleagues and pets.

No Memorial Service is planned.

Gifts to his memory can be made to the Virginia S. and Gerald Lee Wilson Scholarship Fund. Checks can be made payable to Duke University with the memo line reading: Virginia S. and Gerald Lee Wilson Scholarship Fund and mailed to Duke University, Alumni and Development Records, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708-0581.