Southpoint Access

Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr., a World War II veteran, longtime principal of Hillside High School, and former president of Shaw University, died on March 31. He was 104.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1920, in Rocky Mount. Lucas began his career in education in Granville County, but served as Hillside’s principal in Durham from 1962 to 1985. In 1970, the White N.C. Education Association and the Black N.C. Teachers’ Association united in a new professional organization under what was known as “the Lucas concept,” becoming the North Carolina Association of Educators. Lucas would serve as the NCAE’s fourth president.

In 1986, he was appointed interim president of Shaw University and oversaw its recovery from a financial crisis.

In 2021, Durham Public Schools dedicated Lucas Middle School in his honor. A year later, he received the state’s highest honor – the North Carolina Award – for his public service career.

“Durham Public Schools grieves the loss of statesman Dr. John Harding Lucas Sr., who served this district, county, state, and nation with excellence as an educator and servant leader,” said DPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis. “Dr. Lucas was the principal of Hillside High School – which stands as only one of five remaining historic Black high schools of the original 300 in North Carolina – from 1962 until 1985. His influence is far-reaching and we will remain forever grateful for his thoughtful and calm approach to teaching and learning, and resolving the issues that persistently face public education.”

The current Hillside principal, Dr. Joshua Mallory, echoed those sentiments: “Hillside High School is saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Lucas. His legacy will continue to be celebrated for the dedication, leadership, and scholarship Dr. Lucas exhibited throughout his career and beyond. As the current principal of this historic school, I am proud to serve as one of many successors to Dr. John Lucas. He will be truly missed.”

Former students and employees this week have shared their remembrances on the website for Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor.

“He hired me right out of college to teach history at Hillside,” Alton Sumner recalled. “He mentored me and is one of the main reasons I became a secondary school principal.”

Lucas asked Sumner to sing Andrae Crouch’s “Through It All” at his boss’ retirement and vowed with humor that he would return the favor when Sumner retired.

“He drove 100 miles to attend my wedding and spoke at a farewell banquet that was held for me when I left Durham in 1989,” Sumner wrote. “He was just a great man and a wonderful role model who will continue to live through his life of service to others.”

James K. Reaves, Hillside class of 1989, called Lucas “the soul of Hillside High School.”

“We still remember his powerful voice on the PA system as thoughtful, eloquent, and always inspiring,” Reaves wrote. “His words stayed with us. He believed in students before they believed in themselves. That belief lit a path for so many of us.”

Edith Allen Penny lamented that “another pillar of my village” was gone, but remembered Lucas as “more than a principal, more than a deacon at my church – he was a man who lived by the Word of God. He loved his neighbors as he loved himself. He spread love, not hate. He was the kind of person you aspired to be.”

Dr. Beverly Royster Edwards Rogers, Hillside class of 1973, wrote: “Thank God for Principal Lucas speaking to me as a teenager mother and telling me that I could finish high school and collegee and make our family and daughter proud.”

Rev. Dr. A.C. Gore remembered that he once delivered newspapers to Lucas, who some days waited outside to receive the latest issue.

Gloria Rentrope, president of Hillside’s class of 1963, wrote that Dr. Lucas set an example worth following.

“He was compassionate yet stern,” she wrote. “He was short in stature, but a giant educator. Dr. Lucas has left a legacy that stands high.”

“If you want go to heaven when you die,” Rentrope added, “you have to be connected to Hillside High.”

Spread the word by sharing this Southpoint Access newsletter with friends and neighbors. Got a tip for your neighborhood news guy? Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news. Call 919-695-9813, ext. 800.

Get Connected

• Send email to ⁠⁠⁠wes.platt@southpointaccess.news
• Follow on ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠
• Join ⁠⁠⁠our Discord community⁠⁠⁠
• Join the Southpoint Access subreddit!