Harold Stuart Kennedy

Harold Stuart Kennedy, age 67, died of brain cancer Sunday January 22nd while under hospice care.

With wife Valerie and son Alex, at his side, Harold went peacefully home to be with his Lord, at their family home - 20 North Cameo Drive, Thomasville.

Born August 7, 1955, Harold attended Westchester Academy before graduating from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

Returning to Thomasville after graduation, his career was spent working in various aspects of the family business, Rex Oil Company.

Beginning in 1978, as Plant Supervisor, he advanced through Scheduling, Project Engineering and, since 1986, he’s served as president of the 91-year-old oil company.

In 1991, he married Valerie Lee Arnold - a med-tech at High Point Regional Hospital.  Two years later, the couple welcomed a son, Alex, into their family.  Harold also has a step-daughter, Nicole, and a daughter, Adrien, from a previous marriage.

In addition to loving and playing seriously as an avid golfer, Harold was thoroughly involved in his community; serving on local boards of the Salvation Army, Davidson Progress, the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA and the Thomasville Medical Center, where he was treasurer.

He served on the Wachovia Bank board and as chairman of the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce.  In 2009, he received the Chamber’s Outstanding Citizen award.

A longtime member of the North Carolina Petroleum Marketers’ Association, Harold served as its president in 2003.  Seventeen years later, he received the 2020 Will Parker Award, the highest individual honor bestowed by the oil industry of North Carolina.

A 20-year member of the Thomasville Rotary Club, Harold also delivered Meals-On-Wheels for two decades and was on the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church Board of Trustees.

Named for his uncle - an United States Navy pilot who died in the Pacific during WWII - Harold was preceded in death by his parents - Stuart and Helen Kennedy - as well as two aunts and one niece, Caitlin Kelly.

Harold is survived by wife Valerie, son Alex, step-daughter Nicole Cleland Scott, of Humble, Texas and daughter Adrien (Clint) Doughty of Houston; two grandchildren Bishop Scott and Daxton Doughty as well as two sisters - Marcia Hawkins of Thomasville and Kim Kelly of Cary, North Carolina.

A cherished and staunch friend, he will be sorely missed by countless acquaintances and neighbors throughout the Thomasville and Oak Island areas.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday February 18, 2023 at 12:00 noon at the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Thomasville. The family will receive friends afterwards in the Kennedy Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Davidson County, Meals-On-Wheels of Thomasville, the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church or the Davidson County Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be sent to www.jcgreenandsons.com. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.