Dr. Aubrey Granville Tolley

Chapel Hill

Aubrey Granville Tolley, 92, of Chapel Hill, NC, passed away peacefully in his home on January 25, 2017. Born on November 15, 1924, in Lynchburg, VA, to Aubrey Thomas Tolley and Nonnie Pinion Tolley, he married Jeannette ("Nancy") Leigh Poindexter, on March 22, 1947. They moved to Chapel Hill in June 1956 where they resided together until his passing. A renowned psychiatrist, teacher, mentor, and health facility administrator, Dr. Tolley dedicated his professional and personal life to improving mental health care in the state of North Carolina. His tireless devotion to providing for the mentally ill has forever touched the lives of many in the mental health community across the state.

Dr. Tolley attended Duke University for one year before serving as a U.S. Navy pharmacist's mate during World War II from 1943-1946. His naval ship experiences, including caring for the wounded during the Normandy invasion, reinforced his interest in medicine, and in 1952, he graduated with his medical degree from the University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville.

Dr. Tolley joined UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 1956 as an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry. Over the next fifty-five years, he would maintain his ties with the medical school, working his way through the ranks to Clinical Professor, and Adjunct Professor in retirement. During that time, he also served as Director of Psychotherapy, Dorothea Dix Hospital, Raleigh; Director of Residency Training, John Umstead Hospital, Butner; Director of Professional Training and Education, and Assistant Commissioner, NC Department of Mental Health, Raleigh; Consultant in Psychiatry, V.A. Hospital, Fayetteville; and Director of Dorothea Dix Hospital, Raleigh.

The many recognitions he received include: 50 year Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association; Life Fellow, American College of Psychiatrists; Lifetime Distinguished Commendation, NC Psychiatric Association; Co-Founder and Trustee, Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness, Raleigh; State of North Carolina The Order of the Long Leaf Pine; and George C. Ham Society Distinguished Alumni Award.

Throughout his career and retirement years, Dr. Tolley remained devoted to his wife, immediate and extended families, friends, and co-workers, and appreciated their contributions to his many accomplishments in life. He will be missed, but his spirited life and love for the arts, opera, symphony, theater, literary works, movie classics, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, astronomy, gardening, European adventures, beach excursions, dinners at Crook's Corner, and gatherings with family and friends will live on in the memories and hearts of everyone who knew him.

Dr. Tolley is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Stuart Tolley of Chapel Hill; daughters, Barbara Tolley of New York City, Leslie (Steve) Henry of Chapel Hill, and Kate (Dale) Hollon of San Antonio, TX; granddaughter, Maren Henry of Knoxville, TN, and grandsons, Jon Henry and Matt Henry of Chapel Hill; and brother, Alton C. Tolley of Tampa, FL, and his family.

Funeral services will be held at Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, on February 18, 2017, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness, Raleigh, or Club Nova Community Inc., Carrboro, NC.

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Published by The News and Observer on Feb. 5, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Aubrey Tolley

3 Entries

Bruce Emery

July 31, 2019

I worked with and for Dr. Tolley while he was director of Dorothea Dix Hospital. Having recently retired after a 45 year career in mental health and substance abuse management, I look back over the decades and consider those who strongly influenced me and shaped my work. Dr. Tolley made such a strong impression through his gentle, mature guidance to a young man just starting out in the early 70's. I especially remember the lesson he taught me on accumulating the files of paperwork that many consider the necessary output and mainstay of good facility administration. He told me: "I have one 4 drawer file cabinet in my office. If you want to add anything beyond that, you'll have to get rid of something else to make room." It wasn't about space, of course. It was simply a reminder that we weren't about file space, or paperwork, or administrative procedure. Our job was to focus on the people we were there to serve and support. Throughout my work life, I tried to remember his lesson that no matter what we administrators think, administration is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. Thanks again, Dr. Tolley. I'm very glad you lived a long and productive life.

Laura Stowe

February 14, 2017

Granville was like a second father to me. He loved me unconditionally. We had so much fun together at 110 Laurel Hill Road, at the beach, in the mountains, etc. I loved the way he used to sit in his study and listen to his music. I loved the way he used to comb the fringe of their Oriental rugs with their cake breaker (angel food cake cutter). I loved everything about him. I will always remember how smart he was and how much I admired his intellect and his sense of humor. I picked a smart and soft-spoken man just like him with whom to spend my life. I will love you forever, Granville.

Amy Welsh Edelberg

February 5, 2017

Condolences from the Welshes who lived near the Tolleys in the mid 1950s on Hamilton Road in Glen Lennox in Chapel Hill. The kids all played together. I remember my childhood prayer at Glen Lennox: God bless Mama, Daddy, Sharon, Rusty, Amy, Mark, Nana, Granny, Aunt Mary, Uncle Joe, Aunt Sally, Uncle Jack, Deedee, Jimmy, Johnny, Tom, Howell, Mrs. Lewis, Dr. Lewis, Mrs. Tolley, Dr. Tolley, Barbara, Stuart and Leslie! (Kate must not have been born yet).

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