Jaybird Mccrary

Paul “Jaybird” Reeves McCrary died at the age of 83 on November 28, 2013 in Lexington, North Carolina. A celebration of Paul’s life will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday December 1, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, 310 South Main Street in Lexington, by the Reverend Doctors Ray Howell and Arnetta Beverly. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday November 30, 2013 from at Davidson Funeral Home and other times at the home. Paul was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lexington. Born February 19, 1930 in Lexington he is preceded in death by his father, John Cletus McCrary, mother, Flossie Reeves McCrary and his sister Alice McCrary Temple. Growing up on Robbins Circle in Lexington, McCrary graduated from Lexington Senior High School in 1948. He accepted an athletic scholarship from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson NC and was a two sport student/athlete. Paul received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Science in 1952. Paul devoted his adult life to public service, first as a Police Officer with the Lexington Police Department then as a State of North Carolina Parole Officer. A politician at heart Paul was elected Sheriff of Davidson County in 1974. He was the longest serving Sheriff in Davidson County history, winning four consecutive four year terms from 1974 until 1990. Among his many accomplishments as Sheriff, he created one of the first community watch programs in the state and was President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association from 1984 to 1985. Paul was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor James B. Hunt on January 1, 1985. In 1986 Paul lead a statewide effort for legislation to provide eligible sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina a special separation allowance upon retirement until reaching age 62. The special separation allowance legislation became law on January 1, 1987. In 1990 Paul decided not to seek reelection and retired. After his retirement, Paul was elected NC House District 37 State Representative in 1993 and proudly served in the North Carolina General Assembly representing all of his constituents with equal fervor until completion of his last term of office in 2000. During his time in the State House he served as the Co-Chairman of the subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety. He was a proud member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club and especially proud to be the Davidson County Fair Manager from 1992 until 2005. He volunteered many hours in preparation for the annual County Fair and loved the time he spent at the Fair greeting many Fair attendees, most by their first name. Paul was a strong believer in the virtues of public service. When he retired as Sheriff he said that he hadn’t made a lot of money in his life but he had helped a lot of people. That sentiment sums up his priorities in life and if helping people could be quantified into wealth then he died a very rich man. Paul is survived by his wife, Jean Amerson McCrary, son John Robert McCrary and wife Suellen of High Point, daughter Betty McCrary Bauer and husband Scott of Lexington, daughter Paula McCrary Teague and husband Reggie of Lexington, grandsons Patrick McCrary of Rocky Mount, Nathan Teague of Lexington and Austin Teague of Lexington, granddaughters Amanda Beam Davis of Greensboro and husband Brad, Sara McCrary of New York City and Mary Beam of Wilmington, brother in law Bob Temple, niece Kathy Temple and nephew Eddie Temple of Murphy. In lieu of flowers contributions in Paul's memory may be made to Kamp Kiwanis Children’s Foundation Inc. PO Box 1951, Lexington NC 27293-1951. The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the Critical Care Unit staff at Lexington Medical Center for their compassionate care for “Jaybird”.