KENNETH H. BRINSON
Aug. 3, 1935-Dec. 24, 2016
Kenneth Hill Brinson of River Bend, N.C., died on Dec. 24, 2016, in the Memory Care Unit of The Courtyards at Berne Village in New Bern, N.C.
Born on Aug. 3, 1935 in Kinston, N.C., he was the son of the late Albert and Estelle Brinson.
Ken is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Bell Brinson; his children, Kenneth Hill Brinson Jr. and Katherine Brinson; his grandchildren, Kenneth Hill Brinson III and Cason Alexander Brinson; and his siblings, Albert Wilson Brinson Jr. (Lucille) and Ann Brinson Moore (Jim); six nephews and one niece. Also missing him is his loving dog, Dixie.
Ken graduated from Rocky Mount High School and then volunteered for the draft into the U.S. Army. After serving his tour, he entered and graduated second in his class from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, N.C. He did his graduate work in education administration at UNC.
His career started in Sanford, N.C., as a teacher in 1960. After going to Warrenton, N.C., as principal, Ken integrated one of the first schools in the state in 1964.
He returned to Sanford as assistant superintendent in 1965 and in 1969, Ken became one of the youngest superintendents in the state while in his early 30s and helped integrate the Sanford City Schools. During that turbulent time, he was very proud that no child or adult suffered any injuries as a result of some very tense situations caused by outside provocations.
The state department lauded Ken as having the premier knowledge of race relations in the South. Ken’s belief in honesty, fairness and respect for all people carried him well, and he was named the Superintendent of the Year in November 1989.
In 1972, Ken was invited by the United States Department of Health Education and Welfare to join the first group to enter the Soviet Union. This group was comprised of 100 educators from all over the nation, two from each state, and he was one of the two from North Carolina.
Ken’s career as a superintendent led him from the Sanford City Schools to Lee County Schools, Goldsboro City Schools and Durham County Schools following the merger of the city and county systems.
His retirement years in River Bend and the New Bern area have been happy ones. During those years, he spent many hours working on the Friends of New Bern Library Board, the New Bern/Craven County Library Board, and researching his family history/genealogy starting from England to the colonies in the early 1600s on to the present day.
His trips all over the world, his home on the water, his fondness for good music from Grand Ole Opry to Grand Opera, his friends, neighbors and townspeople gave him much pleasure.
For 19 years, Ken and his wife have hosted the River Bend Thanksgiving Dinner where everyone in River Bend is invited to attend.
Ken’s smile, his jokes, stories and laughter, his love of children, animals and all people will be missed by good friends and relatives. He was a very special man.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at the River Bend Baptist Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. The family will greet friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Craven County Hospice, Nonprofit Organizations, 2818 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, N.C., 28560.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 28, 2016 9:58 AM