THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100010
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 60 lines
Dr. Thomas A. Newby, retired principal of Booker T. Washington High School and a resident of Portsmouth, passed away quietly at his home on the morning of Feb. 8, 1997, after a short illness. He had been prominent in many church, civic and educational activities in the Tidewater region.
A Norfolk native, he was born May 11, 1935. A 1953 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Thomas Newby completed his B.A. at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1957, and then earned an M.A. from New York University in 1964, a certificate in the Mid Career Program in City Administration at Yale University in 1972, and a D.Ed. from Nova University in 1979.
Dr. Newby always regarded his role in the church as central to his life's commitment. He was a longstanding and faithful member of Community Presbyterian Church, serving as ruling elder, chairman of the Worship Committee and vice president of the Men's Organization. Dr. Newby was also a member of the Men's Chorus and Senior Choir, and a board member of Presbyterian Home and Family Services Inc. in Lynchburg, Va.
Dr. Newby began his career in education at Jacox Junior High as a T.V. science teacher from 1957 to 1965. He went on to become an assistant principal at Campostella Junior High in 1965 and soon thereafter was promoted to principal at Campostella Junior High, serving in that capacity until 1968. Norfolk Public School officials soon recognized his talents as an administrator, appointing Dr. Newby director of Norfolk's Central Cities Project from 1968 to 1972 and principal of Norfolk's Transition School from 1972 to 1978. He was thereafter selected principal of Booker T. Washington High School, its first graduate to have that distinction. He served in that position until retiring from the school system in 1994. Dr. Newby was also a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Along with his family, church and professional interests, Dr. Newby was a vital force in the community. He served as secretary/treasurer of the board of Sentara Life Care and a trustee of Sentara-Hospitals-Norfolk and Sentara Health System. Additionally, he was on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Southampton Roads and on the Board of the Tidewater Winds.
Dr. Thomas A. Newby was predeceased by his brother, Dr. James E. Newby Jr.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Newby, and his brother, Mr. Harold E. Newby. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 1/2 years, Mrs. Barbara W. Newby; daughter, Mrs. Tomia N. Kornegay, and her husband, Mr. D. Tracy Kornegay; grandson, Christopher Kornegay; sisters, Mrs. Emogene N. McArtis of Norfolk and Mrs. Margaret N. Bradley of Columbia, Md.; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Claytea B. Newby and Mrs. Shirley B. Newby; brother-in-law, Mr. Vaughn Bradley Sr.; mother- and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Wimbish; nephews, Dr. James E. Newby II, Dr. Keith H. Newby, Mr. Thomas E. McArtis and Mr. Vaughn Bradley Jr.; nieces, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander and Mrs. Lorelle B. Brown; godson, Mr. Hiawatha Cornell Demby of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and many loving relatives and friends.
A wake will be held at Hale Funeral Home on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be on Thursday, Feb. 13, at noon at the Community Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Lawrence Bethel of Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church in Newport News.
Flowers should be sent to Hale Funeral Home, Norfolk, and memorial donations can be made to the Community Presbyterian Church Building Fund. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY