Founder’s Page

Rev. Dr. Richard L. Reid

About Rev. Dr. Reid

Northampton County always brings back fond memories to Gumberry Ole School Club’s founder, Rev. Dr. Richard Reid (Class of 1963), particularly “the hill” in Garysburg, NC. Growing up on “the hill” is where his sense of belonging and community began. Neighbors watched out for each other. Pride in your church, neighborhood, and school were evident within your circle in the community. Growing up in Northampton County, he was a member of Chapel Grove Baptist church on “the hill.”  To this very day, Rev. Dr. Reid loves Northampton County and his hometown of Garysburg.

During his childhood, his mother, Ms. Sarah Reid, was one of the two cafeteria workers who fed healthy meals to the neighborhood school’s students.  Their Reid home was host and housing for new teachers in the area. Early on, his love for teaching and children materialized.  He began his career at Garysburg Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant and became a fifth grade teacher.  His next stop took him to Washington, DC where he taught business and math in the public school system for more than thirty years.  Rev. Dr. Reid retired when North Carolina began calling his name, and he and his family relocated to Wake County. This retirement was short lived.  He began working at Shaw University with the HBCU Math and Reading program before becoming a teacher’s assistant in the Wake County public school system.  Rev. Dr. Reid remained there until 2021, when he retired once again after a productive 52 year career in education. He later served as the interim Pastor for Progressive Missionary Baptist Church for three years.

Witnessing his mother’s pride and joy in her alma mater, Northampton County Training School, and how her classmates would regularly come together to reminisce sparked the desire to create an opportunity for the same experience for students who traveled the hallowed halls of Gumberry High School.  Dr. Reid reached out to a couple of his classmates and the “Gumberry Ole School Club” was born.  Those who have traveled through Gumberry High School have heard the saying, which is paraphrased, “you are going to need all you can get here and then some more.”  Principal L. H. Moseley is the author of the original quote and Rev. Dr. Reid believes the quote is true.  He wants the powerful reunion legacy to continue so that members of all the Gumberry High School and Northampton County Training School classes can continue lifting and supporting future generations to reach and exceed their dreams.

–Interview was conducted by Ms. Thelma Epps Eley (Class of 1982) on May 28, 2022.