The North Carolina Mason

■ see GREGORY, page 9 November/December 2020 The North Carolina Mason Page 3 Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Bunn Tate "B.T." Phil- lips Jr., an expert marksman who won two Purple Hearts and served during the Battle of the Bulge, died Oct. 19 at age 96. He was born Aug. 19, 1924, on a small farm near Siler City, the youngest of six born to Bunn Tate Phillips and Annie Maude Hudson. e World War II (European eatre) veteran entered the U.S. Army at 18 and was discharged at 21 as a staff sergeant. He landed on Omaha Beach on July 4, 1944, and was quickly assigned to a rifle squad of the 28th infantry division as a replacement five days after the divi- sion was committed to battle. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, was twice wounded in action and credited with partici- pation in all five campaigns in the European theater. As a foot soldier he walked from Normandy to Germany and fought through France, Luxembourg, and into Germany, including fighting the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of only four original members of his company to return to his country after WWII ended. His commendations included a Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and a Citation- Normandy Campaign (given by France). When he returned to civilian life in Siler City, he met and married Virginia Dare Lindley, of Snow Camp in 1948. His career would span 41 years in finance/banking in North Carolina. MW Phillips was a 68-year Mason, raised in 1952 at Rock- ingham #495. He served on numerous committees and was an honorary member of lodges all over the state. He served as Grand Master of Masons in 1990, focusing his year on raising awareness and finances for the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine, and was presented an honorary 33rd degree. He has a window of honor named for him at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. He is survived by his wife; and sons, Stephen Lindley, Michael Tate (wife: Phyllis) & Bunn Tate lll, grandchildren and great-grandchil- dren. e family asks that memorials be made to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. õ Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Graham W. Pervier, a celebrated servant of his community and his Craft and its charities, passed away Oct. 5. A native of Virginia, he graduated with a BA from the University of Virginia and a Master's of Urban Design from the University of Virginia School of Architecture. He began his career in state and local government with the Division of Community Planning area office in Washington, NC, in 1969. He became administrator of the Govern- mental Relations Division in Raleigh in 1970. From 1970 to 1973, he was executive director of the Lumber River Area Council of Governments in Lumberton. He served as county manager of Currituck County 1973–77 and Beaufort County 1977–80. In 1980, he moved to Winston-Salem as assistant county manager of Forsyth County and was appointed county manager in 1987. He was chairman of the Albe- marle Area EMS Advisory Council in 1976 and 1977, and chaired the Region I EMS Advisory Council. He also loved soccer. He was a youth soccer coach for eight years, and a high school and intercollegiate referee for 15 years. He was also a US Soccer Federation Associate referee instructor. He is a member and past president of the Exchange Club of Winston-Salem, and served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross. In Freemasonry, he was a member and past master of Forsyth #707, where he was raised in 1987. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Winston-Salem, the Winston- Salem York Rite Bodies, and a noble of Oasis Shrine. He is also a member of the AMD, York Rite College, and the Rosicrucians. He was appointed to the Grand Lodge line in 1998 by then-GM Tom Gregory. He served as Grand Master in 2005. Prior to his appoint- ment, he had served as a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance and as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home. He is survived by his wife Karen English Pervier; his daughter, Leigh Johannessen and husband Wayne; son, Geoffrey Pervier and wife, Heather; grandchildren, Alexis Johannessen, Karah Johannessen, Garrett Johannessen and Carson Pervier; sister, Joan Bollenbacher and husband, Robert; and, a host of much loved extended family. e family asks that memorials be sent to the Masonic Home for Children. õ A vocal champion of racial recog- nition, tolerance and openness, Past Grand Master Most Worshipful omas Warren Gregory Sr. passed away Oct. 25. Born April 8, 1946, in Iredell County, he was the son of James S. Gregory and Mary Warren Gregory. He graduated from Mitchell College and Pembroke State University. He was employed as broker in charge of Lake Norman Realty's Statesville office. He was an active member of Broad Street United Methodist Church and Gideons International. In Freemasonry, he was also an active Freemason in Statesville #27, Grassy Knob #471, and Traphill #483. His Masonic career began in 1962 when he became a member of the Order of DeMolay in States- ville. He remained active with the DeMolay. He was raised as a Master Mason in 1975, and served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina in 1998. He also was a founding force of Wilkerson College. His year was a charged one, beginning with his regret at his own installation that he did not speak out more forcefully when a parliamentary technicality prevented a vote on a Board of General Purposes resolu- tion against racism. He wrote about his regret in the NC Mason in 1998, and spoke of it again in his farewell address a year later. In that address, he thanked those who stood by him during a turbulent year. "To my friends who are here today, thank you – I know it has not been easy to support me these 12 past months. e issues of the day have been emotional ones, and I know some of you have received harsh criticism as a result. "To my foes who are here today, thank you – you've made me a better man, a better Mason. As I traveled across the state and spoke to the issues of racism and racial divisive- PGM B.T. Phillips was a champion of the Children's Home Former county manager Pervier led Grand Lodge in 2005 PGM Gregory led effort toward racial tolerance by Masonry

• Cover