In Memory- John “Randy” Gregson II

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

John “Randy” Gregson II, dedicated Reynolda volunteer, passed away at home.

Randy was truly a Reynolda enthusiast. He loved the history and architecture, but he especially enjoyed interacting with our visitors to learn what they loved about Reynolda, too. Randy often volunteered three or more days a week as a Historic House host. He was an enthusiastic participant in the docent preparation class the first year I started teaching. I’ll never forget how he could conjure passages from Michele Gillespie’s Katharine and R.J. Reynolds: Partners in Fortune in the Making of the New South from memory. 

As a former real estate agent and someone who helped lead the New Orleans Downtown Development District in the 1990s, Randy had good insight into architecture, which helped him understand Reynolda and Winston-Salem. He also had a knack for understanding Winston-Salem’s evolution and community dynamics.

Over the past three years, Randy gave over 340 hours of service to Reynolda. While he loved being a historic house host most, he also volunteered at special events like Drinks at Dusk, WFU Provost holiday parties, and adult and college tours.

Randy never turned down an opportunity to learn. He attended gallery trainings, lunch-and-learn sessions, and volunteer engagement opportunities with other institutions like Reynolds Homestead.

I will miss walking up to the lobby or into the Historic House and seeing Randy there with some new bit of knowledge or insight. His curiosity was contagious, and he brought that curiosity to every shift, training, and conversation. Randy didn’t just enjoy learning about Reynolda; he made Reynolda a richer place by sharing what he learned with visitors, volunteers, and staff.

We will miss his familiar presence in the Historic House, his thoughtful questions, and his genuine enthusiasm for this place. I am grateful for the many hours he spent with us—and, even more, for the curiosity and generosity he brought to them.