Newspaper Clipping: J. W. Gregory, February 26, 2014

Title

Newspaper Clipping: J. W. Gregory, February 26, 2014

Accession Number

2026.38.1.22

Accession Date

16 June 2026

Accession Creator

Meadow Knapp

Description

The Greer Citizen newspaper clipping of an interview with J. W. Gregory
J. W. Gregory is pictured alongside

Contributor

Amanda Irwin

Date

February 26, 2014

Storage Location

Box 33, Folder #2

Text

Greer Citizen 2-26-2014 p.1

Gregory reflects on longstanding history

BY AMANDA IRWIN
STAFF WRITER

Editors Note: This is part of a month-long series celebrating Black History Month and African Ameri-cans who have made an impact in the Greer and surrounding communities.

Born and raised in Greer, J.W. Gregory was the sec-ond of seven children to parents who were among the first black build-ing owners in downtown Greer.
"They owned sort of like a restaurant, and that kind of inspired me to want to do business because my mom worked, dad was in the Air Force, and they opened a restaurant," he said. "I didn't work in it, but I went back and forth watching them work."
Gregory said his parents instilled in him that he had to work, something he also instilled in his two children. His advice to oth-ers is to get an education because "the more you know the further you'll go," so it's no wonder he initially became a teacher, and during his time as a teacher, desegregation was enacted.
"[Desegregation was] rough," he said. "I was a reading specialist…my job was to motivate.
"Kids would come in, sit in the floor, we would set goals and talk about life itself, and in the process, I would motivate," he said.

MANDY FERGUSON | THE GREER CITIZEN

J.W. Gregory has a longstanding history in Greer. One of seven children, Gregory's parents taught him to work hard and focus on education.

Gregory said he wasn't sure what it was like in other schools, but at the once all-black school he taught at in Greenville County, the process of de-segregation was not easy.
"When they transferred whites to the blacks' school, it wasn't the best class of white. We had rough kids to start with and then they sent in rough kids, and kids were having a time getting along and so forth. But, once they got to know us…" he said.
Gregory eventually left teaching and opened a store, Gregory's Boutique, located at 114 W. Poinsett St. in Greer.
"I was teaching school and starving, so I had to do something," he said.
Cultivated by 40 years of history, his store is donned with a wall of hats, several suits and shoes, as well as framed newspaper articles and photos of locals who have since passed.
"People in Greer have been very good to me - the banks, the residents all have been very good," Gregory said. "I've not had any problem. I don't give them any problem.
"I was always respected and accepted and I think that's because of the way I carried myself," he said.
When asked about Greer's past, Gregory does not describe a race-torn

SEE GREGORY | A6

Relation

J. W. "Doug" Gregory

Newspaper Clipping: Gregory's Boutique, July 1975

Newspaper Clipping: Gregory's Boutique, July 1975

Newspaper Clipping: J. W. Gregory, July 5, 2000

Newspaper Clipping: J. W. Gregory, July 5, 2000

Gregory Family Photograph

J. W. "Doug" Gregory

Photograph: J. W. "Doug" Gregory