Remembering Jim Gregory: A Beloved Teller & FSA Supporter

We have lost another storyteller with the passing of James Gregory Jr. on July 31. He was 82 and resided in North Carolina. He was a long-time friend and member of the Florida Storytelling Association, dating back to the early days of the Florida Story Camp which evolved into the annual Florida Storytelling Festival.

In recent years, Jim billed himself as a teller of mountain stories and tall tales, but his stories included much more, including his experiences in the 1960s Civil Rights movement. His “The Hanging of Tom Brown” won a World Storytelling Award.

It is a compelling story of eight young people (including Jim) who ventured out in an old, converted school bus to try to make a difference in the lives of black students by teaching them to read. These young people were swept up in “Freedom Summer” and the “Selma/Montgomery March.” The CD is available at https://amzn.to/3JLtzAW

Jim told that story at a Florida Story Camp at the Lake Yale Baptist Assembly, and nationally renowned teller Kim Weitkamp, who was a featured teller that year, was so moved that she offered to help him craft it for a CD.  It was released in 2014. The Florida Story Camps were at a rustic campground from 1985 to 2012 before moving to Mt Dora. Jim received the FSA Service Award in 2013.

He was the official photographer at the Story Camp for years, as people were asked not to take photos that might be distracting.  

Among other jobs in his life, he loved being a Social Studies teacher in Florida. Jim owned a ranch where he trained quarter horses and helped students learn to ride. He was a biker, riding over a million miles across the nation. He loved to sing and play guitar, and entertained Shriners and other groups, accompanied by his adopted yorkie-poo, Abby the Wonder Dog, who saved his life and probably others by alerting him to pull off the road on one of his trips.

Jim recently recorded the story of Abby, the Wonder Dog, which will be presented in ZOOM presentation of “DOGS HAVE TALES” on Sept. 10.  Even though he was in poor health, he wanted to help support Florida Poodle Rescue with this program that includes 8 tellers.

He was known as a generous soul, who will be missed by many.

Maureen Belote, of the Tampa Storytelling Guild contributed to this remembrance.