Kennedy, William Jesse, 1889-1985

William Jesse Kennedy Jr., businessman, author, and community leader, was born in Andersonville, Ga. He began his affiliation with North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1916 in Savannah, Ga. He later relocated to Durham, N.C., and, in 1952, was elected the fifth president of the company.

William Jesse Kennedy Jr., was born in Andersonville, Ga., on 15 June 1889, the son of William Jesse and Katie C. Riley Kennedy. He was educated at Americus Institute in his native state. Later, he studied business administration in Columbia University's Extension Course.

Kennedy worked for Guaranty Life Insurance Company in Savannah, Ga., 1913-1916. He began his career with North Carolina Mutual while in Savannah, where he held the position of district manager. He married Margaret Mag Spaulding, sister of North Carolina Mutual president C. C. Spaulding, and relocated to Durham, N.C., where he was office manager/assistant secretary. On 2 August 1952, following the death of C. C. Spaulding, Kennedy was elected the fifth president of the company.

During his lifetime, Kennedy participated in numerous professional and civic activities in addition to his duties as chair of the board of directors at North Carolina Mutual. He served as president of Bankers Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, vice president of Mutual Savings and Loan Association, chair of the board of directors at Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and as a member of the Howard University Board of Trustees. He was a life-long proponent of education and a member of the James E. Shepard Foundation, an organization that awarded scholarships to deserving students attending North Carolina Central University. His other activities included affiliations with the 4-H Club Foundation of North Carolina, the North Carolina Recreation Commission (1945-1956), the American Teachers Association, the Durham Business and Professional Chain, the Boys Clubs of America, and the United Negro College Fund. He maintained an interest in industrial development and was one of the few African Americans active with the Durham Committee of 100, which helped develop Research Triangle Park. As a member of the WTVD Advisory Board, Kennedy helped bring television to Durham in the early 1950s.

In addition to his business-related activities, Kennedy served as Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and trustee at the White Rock Baptist Church. He and his wife had three children: Margaret K. Goodwin (1918- ), Charlotte K. Sloan (1920- ), and William Jesse Kennedy III (1922- ). Kennedy died in Durham on 8 July 1985, at the age of 96.