Reginald Frederick McCoy

Reginald Frederick McCoy
LAURINBURG -- Mr. McCoy, affectionately known as 'Mutt', died peacefully on Friday, April 16, 2010 after a short period of declining health. He was 94. Over a lifetime of service, he demonstrated his great love for family, friends, church, community and state.
A service of worship and praise to God and in celebration of the life of Mutt will be conducted on Monday, April 19, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
Born on January 9, 1916, he was the son of the late Clarence Latimer and Lutie Walker McCoy and a lifelong resident of Scotland County. He attended public schools, graduating from Laurinburg High School in 1933 and studying at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. In 1936, before completing his college degree, he returned to Laurinburg to help support his mother and siblings and began a 60-year career in the Merchantile and Agribusiness sector. He became President of John F. McNair, Inc. and later President and Chairman of McNair Investment Company. He was a member of the N.C. Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers for over 50 years and graduated from the first class of the Executive Program at UNC-CH. During WWII he served as Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in North Africa, Italy and Corsica. He was awaiting transfer to the Pacific Theater when the war ended.
He served on the East Carolina Teacher's College (ECU) Board of Trustees, Montreat College Board of Trustees, The Board of Higher Education and The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System. While serving on the Board of Governors, he was instrumental in getting a medical school established at ECU. In addition, he has served on the Board of Visitors of UNC-CH and St. Andrews College, from which he was awarded an honorary doctorate. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania and Southern Gas Company; he has been a county commissioner in Scotland County and a member of the city council in Laurinburg. He played a significant role in recruiting industries to Scotland County as part of a post-war economic development plan.
He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by Boy Scouts of America in 1957 and supported their work throughout his life. His son's fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, made him an honorary member. His interest in local history prompted him to play a very active role in the Richmond Temperance Society, the John Charles McNeill Society, the Indian museum of the Carolinas, and the Scotland County Historical Society. He was a member and past president of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Laurinburg Lions Club. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow.
He took great joy in fellowship with friends and was a founding member of The Leith Creek and Beaver Dam Porch Rockers and Inside Straight Society, successor to the Bronx-Schuylkill Chowder and Marching Club. In his youth, he played baseball, football and carried with him an interest in local high school and Legion sports. He attended local games regularly and was instrumental in the construction of the baseball field at Scotland High School which is named in his honor.
He was a lifelong member of and leader in the First United Methodist Church. He taught Sunday School to children and young adults leaving a lasting impression on those he instructed.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his beloved wife of 43 years, Mary Franklin Jones McCoy, a sister, Eleanor McCoy, and brothers, C.L. McCoy, Jr., Lloyd McCoy, Donald McCoy and Charles McCoy, and a granddaughter, Emily Patterson Kinlaw.
He is survived by his sister, Rosemary McCoy Lemmond; sister-in-law Kathryn Charles McCoy; his children, Mary Jane Rivers and her partner, Grace Pilafian of Durham; Ina McCoy of Chapel Hill; Susan McCoy Thompson and husband, Jimmy, of Reidsville; Martha McCoy Fulton and Husband, Hew, of Laurinburg; R. Frederick McCoy, Jr. and wife, Mary of Chapel Hill; his grandchildren, Clare Kinlaw, McNair and Charles Rivers, Mary Fulton McKissick and husband, Quinton, Sam and Joe Fulton; Georgia, Conrad and Rachel McCoy.
Memorials may be made to St. Andrews College, 1700 Dogwood Mile, Laurinburg, NC 28352, and First United Methodist Church, 101 W. Church St., Laurinburg, NC 28352.
The family will greet friends at McDougald Funeral Home on Sunday, April 18th from 5-7 p.m.
A memorial register is at: www.McDougald.com.