Dr. Don Nelson Gregson

Dr. Don Nelson Gregson of Laurinburg died Thursday, June 30, 2011 in Chapel Hill of pancreatic cancer at the age of 64. This was an unexpected ending to a life of dedication and hard work.

Born in Raleigh on Dec. 17, 1946 to W. L. and Hazel (Crumpler) Gregson, Don lived most of his life in Scotland County. He attended Laurinburg schools before heading off to his beloved Carolina to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1969. After one very long year of teaching youngsters science in South Carolina, Don decided to return to UNC-Chapel Hill to attend dental school, completing his studies there in 1974. In 1973, Don married Gail D. Lang, daughter of Cliff and Hope Lang, at her home in Wilmington, Del.

Dr. Gregson returned to his hometown to set up a very successful dental practice which he and his wife, Gail, ran together until around Memorial Day of this year when Don’s illness forced him to retire—something he would never seriously consider before.

Everyone who knew Don knew that he did not stand still for long. Whether jovially interacting from room to room with his dental staff and patients, attentively rebuilding a drag car’s engine, or attending to his garden, Don was always working hard and enjoying whatever he did. Don liked to figure out mechanical problems, to find some better or cheaper solution and then engineer and build it himself. He recently thought out, built, and put to use his own design for a post-hole digger for his tractor so he could set his own support poles for the dream workshop he had begun.

Dr. Gregson is survived by his wife of 38 years, Gail L. Gregson, and his mother, Hazel C. Gregson, both of Laurinburg, as well as one brother, W. Louis Gregson (wife, Krisan Cochrane Gregson); nephew Hugh Louis Gregson of Greensboro and niece Anna Gregson Panagi of Raleigh—plus numerous cousins.

Services for Dr. Gregson will be private and held at a later, undetermined date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Scotland County Humane Society, 1401 West Blvd., Laurinburg, NC 28352.

Read more: The Laurinburg Exchange - Dr Don N Gregson DDS