Pittsboro’s "Mr. Mac" has died.

William Howard McAllister, Jr., 93, a Pittsboro civic activist who led efforts to bring more jobs to town, died Friday, December 3, 2004 at Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. His death came four days after he suffered a massive stroke.

A longtime resident of Pittsboro, he had been living at The Heritage, a retirement home in North Raleigh, for the past 18 months.

A former state bank examiner, McAllister moved to Pittsboro in 1952 to help manage the Bank of Pittsboro, a small community bank which then was the only financial institutuion in eastern Chatham County.

Convinced that the town needed to create a stronger economic base and to display a better face to visitors, McAllister soon launched a campaign to attract new industry. To bolster the town’s image, he would don his coveralls early Sunday mornings to sweep Hillsboro Street, in the town’s business district.

To create more jobs, he created the Pittsboro Development Corp. He then labored for months to convince residents to buy $165,000 worth of bonds to build a new industrial plant. In 1956, his daughter Margaret, and son Mike, cut the rubbons opening the Nolde & Horst hosiery plant which became Pittsboro’s second largest employer. It operated for more than two decades producing high-quality women’s hosiery.

McAllister called the new plant "a dream come true" for Pittsboro at its dedication.

Known to most townsfolk as "Mr. Mac", McAllister served as executive vice president of the Pittsboro bank. He initiated the bank’s first consumer lending program, helping finance home, business and farm improvements in eastern Chatham.

Neither Chatham nor the bank was wealthy at the time. The bank didn’t have funds for an armed car service, so McAllister would drive the black family DeSoto sedan to Durham once a week and return with its rear seat filled with bags of cash and coins for the bank.

McAllister stayed with the bank until 1971, two years after it was acquired by Durham-based Central Carolina Bank. He first opened a plywood business in Moncure. He later worked as a securities sales representative in Pittsboro for a Charlotte-based stock brokerage house.

A native of Durham, McAllister never lost his love for his Pittsboro. After his retirement, he served as the founding chairman of the Pittsboro ABC Board and was treasurer of Friends of the Pittsboro Memorial Library which supported the Pittsboro Public Library.

Although he stopped cleaning Hillsboro Street on Sundays, he continued to mow the lawn and clean the gutters at the town library until he was well into his 80s. He was a member of the Pittsboro Lions Club, Pittsboro United Methodist Church and the North Carolina Bankers Association.

The son of a railway engineer whose name he carried and Bessie Perkinson of Durham, McAllister married Dorothy Fisk Tillett on December 22, 1939. She died August 6, 1997.

Their three children, William H. McAllister III of Fairfax, Va., Margaret M. Wells of Fayetteville and Michael T. McAllister of Raleigh, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive him.

McAllister attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1930-32 where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

He worked for Durham Bank & Trust Company as a clerk and teller from 1933 to 1943 when he was drafted into the Navy. During World War II, he served as a member of armed guard detachments aboard merchant marine vessels, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific.

It was one of the most dangerous jobs in the Navy, prompting McAllister and his wife to devise ways to alert her when his ship had arrived safely in port. For one especially risky Atlantic crossing, they devised the message
"The candy is all gone," to signal that a shipload of explosives had arrived safely in Europe.

After the war, he joined the N.C. State Banking Commission, the job that led him to Pittsboro after six years examining state-chartered banks.

Funeral services were held at the Pittsboro United Methodist Church on Sunday. Burial in Maplewood Cemetery in Durham will be held later this month.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Friends of the Pittsboro Memorial Library, PO Box 560, Pittsboro, NC 27312 or to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary’s Street, 4th Floor, Raleigh, NC 27605.

Samuel M. "Sam" Jones, 67, of Graham died Thursday, (12-02-04) at Alamance Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Jones was a native of Alamance County, an active member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he served as a Trustee and Sunday School teacher, and was a member of Eli Whitney Ruritan Club for many years. Along with his brothers, Alvin and Thomas, they ran Jones Brothers Farms as dairy and egg farmers. He also served in the Army Reserves.

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, Alvis M. "Bud" and Lena Guthrie Jones and brother, Alvis M. Jones.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ann Boone Jones of the home; daughter, Gwen Jones (Chris) Norwood of Graham; son, S. Kevin Jones of Graham; brother, Thomas G. Jones of Pittsboro; nephews, Steve Jones and Dan (Laurie) Jones, both of Pittsboro; three grand nieces and one grand nephew.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, (12-05-04) at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Rev. Shelby L. Stephens and Rev. Perry Hardison officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church Building Fund, 5043 Mt. Olive Church Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

DAVID “WRENN” JONES

  David “Wrenn” Jones, 57, of Asheboro died Friday, (12-03-04) at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro.

  Funeral services were held at 1 pm, Monday, (12-06-04) at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro with Pastor Danny Jarrell officiating. Burial followed in Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro with military honors.

  Mr. Jones was a native of Chatham County where he was a member of Big Meadows Primitive Baptist Church. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and was a member of the American Legion Post #45. He was employed with Walker Shoe Company in Asheboro for 33 years.

  Survivors include his wife, Pamela Arndt Jones of Asheboro; son, David Wrenn Jones, Jr. of Ramseur; daughter, Melissa Kaittrin Jones of Asheboro; sisters, Mae Stovall, Betty Campbell, Kay Jarman, all of Siler City; brothers, Henry Thomas Jones and Elmer Coy Jones, both of Siler City; and two grandchildren.

MRS. VERNA WHITAKER MACKEY

  Mrs. Verna Whitaker Mackey, 96, of Pittsboro died Wednesday (12-01-04) at The Laurels of Chatham.

  Graveside services were held at 3 pm,  Saturday, (12-04-04)  at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Cemetery with the Rev. John Simons and Pastor Ray Gooch.

  Mrs. Mackey was a native of Port Deposit, Md., a resident of Pittsboro since 1971; she was a practical nurse and of the Methodist faith.

  Survivors include daughters, Elizabeth June Benson of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, and Avis Elaine Autry of Pittsboro; nine grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

  Memorial contributions may be directed to UNC Hospice/Pittsboro, PO Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

 ANN MAUDE FULK COVERT

  Ann Fulk Covert, 82, of Siler City died Wednesday (12-01-04) at her home.

  Funeral services were held at 2 pm Saturday at Bethel Baptist Church, Greensboro with Rev. Vernon Gales officiating. Burial followed in Lakeview Memorial Park.

  Mrs. Covert was a native of Guilford County, a member of Bethel Baptist Church, was retired from Burlington Industries and later worked with Bi-Rite.

  Survivors include her husband, Roland W. Covert of Siler City; son, R. Wayne Covert of Lexington; daughter, Linda C. Bunn of Trinity; five sisters and two brothers; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

  Memorials may be made to Hospice of UNC, Chatham Unit, PO Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

DOLORES MADELAIN WOLF ROHM

  Dolores Madelain Wolf Rohn, 79, of Siler City died Friday (12-03-04) at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro.

  Mrs. Rohm was a native of Pittsboro and retired from McDonald’s Restaurant.

Survivors include daughters, Jacquelyn Johnson of Siler City, Mary Gesicki of Buffalo, N.Y.; sister, Florence Bodner of Florida; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Chatham Unit, PO Box 41912, Raleigh, NC 27629-1912.

 VIRGIL C. REYNOLDS

  Virgil C. Reynolds, 87, of Greensboro died Monday, (12-06-04) at Carolina Commons.

  Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, (12-08-04) at Alamance Presbyterian Church with Pastor Carl Parson and Pastor Curt Whitley officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

  Mr. Reynolds was a native of Guilford County, a life-long member of Alamance Presbyterian Church, a member of the Scott Monroe Sunday School Class, and retired from United Dairy.

  Survivors include his wife, Rosa Reynolds of the home; sons, Wayne Reynolds of Whitsett, Harold Reynolds, Sr.  of Greensboro, Jerry Reynolds, Jr. of Siler City; sister, Mae Cooke of Whitsett; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

  Memorials may be made to Alamance Presbyterian Cemetery Trust Fund, 4000 Presbyterian Road, Greensboro, NC 27406, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.

 STEVE DOUGLAS JOHNSON

  Mr. Steve Douglas Johnson, 47, of Siler City died Sunday, (12-05-04) at Chatham Hospital.

  Funeral services were held Wednesday, (12-08-04) at Burnett Chapel UCCC with Rev. Stanley Burnett officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

  Mr. Johnson was an employee of ORC in Siler City.

  Survivors include his mother, Edna J. Johnson of Siler City; brothers, Keith Burnett of Ramseur, Clarence Johnson, Phil Johnson, Rodney Johnson, all of Siler City, Chris Johnson of Asheboro; sisters, Teressa Johnson, Carla Johnson, both of Siler City, Gloria Wallace of Sanford; grandmother, Mrs. Ethel Johnson of Siler City.

MRS. VALLIE JOSIE BURKE DAVIS

Mrs. Vallie Josie Burke Davis, 96, of Greensboro died Thursday, (12-02-04) at Wesley Long Nursing Center.

Funeral services were held at 2:00  pm, Saturday, (12-04-04) at George Brothers Funeral Service. Burial followed at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church Cemetery in Silk Hope.

Mrs. Davis was a native of Chatham County and  was a former member of Jim Green Memorial Church.

Mrs. Davis is survived by her children, Doris Jean Lazar of Jacksonville, Fl., Carolyn C. Alley of Summerfield, Amick Campbell, Jr. of Julian, Jimmy Wayne Campbell of Randleman, Donnie Campbell of Pleasant Garden; brothers, William Burke, Bronner  Phillips;  sisters, Edna Kidd and Allie Johnson; fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

 Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2509 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.

 SHENNEL R. McCRIMON McKENDALL

Shennell R. McCrimon McKendall of Pittsboro died Monday, (11-29-04) at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Funeral services were held at 3 pm Saturday, (12-04-04) at Mitchell Chapel AME Zion Church with Rev. Kenneth Brooks officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. McKendall was reared in the Bronx, N.Y.

Survivors include her mother, Joyce McCrimon of New York; father, Lawrence McCrimon of New York; daughter, Janay White of the home; brothers, Charles and Andre McCrimon of New York; sisters, Delsey McCrimon of Beaufort, S.C., Tabitha McCrimon of New York; grandmothers, Mary Helen Dark of Pittsboro, and Margie Hampton of Danville, Va.

 WILMA GREER HILL

Wilma Greer Hill, 81, of Siler City died Monday, (12-06-04) at her home.

Graveside services are being  held at 11 am, Thursday, (12-09-04) at Hope Cemetery in Bonlee with Rev. Darrell Williams officiating.

Mrs. Hill was a native of Rockingham County and of the Baptist Faith. She was retired from Hadley-Peoples Mfg.

Survivors include a son, Donald A. Hill of Siler City; daughters, Sheila H. Mashburn of Sanford, Linda Hill of Siler City, Debbie H. Taylor of Goldston; sisters, Barbara Hayes, Treva Shackleford, Irene Styres, all of High Point; three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.