Meet Bill and Pat Campbell, friendly faces you may have seen around Old Towne Drive in Kinderton Village. Many folks in Davie County know them as Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, the longtime principal and teacher team who left a lasting impact on generations of students through Davie County Schools.

Their journey with the school system began back in 1983. Pat taught at Cooleemee, Mocksville Middle, William R. Davie, and South Davie, while Bill served at Davie High, North Davie, South Davie, Cooleemee, and Cornatzer. Over the years, they came to know so many families in the community through their dedication to education. Even after retiring in 2005, Pat continued to mentor new teachers, and Bill stayed involved through public relations for the school system. These days, they can often be found volunteering in schools across Davie and Forsyth Counties, inspired by their grandchildren who are now students in the Winston Salem Forsyth County School System.

Pat grew up in Cooleemee and graduated from Davie High in the Class of ’68. She went on to earn her teaching degree from Appalachian State, followed by a graduate degree in middle grades education from UNC Charlotte. Bill, who also grew up in Mocksville and graduated from Davie High in the Class of ’68, earned his teaching degree from Appalachian State as well. The two married in 1970 and spent their early years in Boone before moving to Hudson in Caldwell County to begin both their teaching careers and their family life. After 12 years there, Bill pursued advanced degrees and they returned to Davie County in 1983, where he stepped into school administration. They settled in Mocksville and became deeply rooted in the community. In March 2020, they moved to Kinderton Village to be closer to family in Clemmons. This move happened just before the COVID shutdown, which made it a slow start getting to know their new neighbors.

Their son Brent now serves as Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Arbor Acres, a retirement community in Winston Salem. A graduate of Appalachian with a degree in Communications and Journalism, Brent spent 15 years in television with ABC News in Florence and Myrtle Beach and with Fox 8 News in High Point. He later transitioned into education communications, serving eight years as Chief Communications Officer for Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools. Brent still lives in Winston and remains actively involved in the local community.

Their daughter Beth is the Assistant Principal at Brunson Elementary in Winston Salem. She earned a degree in speech pathology from Appalachian State and worked in that field for several years before earning an advanced degree in school administration from High Point University. Her heart lies in helping students with disabilities, and she and her family now live in Clemmons.

Bill and Pat beam with pride over their three grandchildren. CJ, age 12, attends Clemmons Middle School and has a growing interest in percussion instruments, basketball, and photography. Twins Alex and Asher, age 18, are recent graduates of Atkins High School and share a love for music, sports, and leadership. This fall, Alex will be studying psychology at NC State while Asher heads to UNC Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in law.

Giving back runs deep in the Campbell family. Pat’s father was the first mayor of Cooleemee and played a key role in helping the town become incorporated to attract new businesses. Bill’s mother, affectionately known by many as Miss Enterprise, worked at the Davie County Enterprise for an incredible 67 years. She seemed to know everyone and had a presence at just about every community event.

Even in retirement, Bill and Pat have stayed beautifully busy. They are active members of Grace United Methodist Mission, involved with Davie County Retired School Personnel, and are dedicated volunteers with the Davie County Arts Council. Pat has always had a love of music, a passion that started when she took piano lessons from Miss Mariola Crawford as a child. She later taught private piano lessons for 35 years and still enjoys participating in music programs, often singing or playing piano when the opportunity arises.

Bill has long had a love for theater, dating back to his role in his senior play at Davie High in 1968. Today, he brings stories to life for students by dressing up as familiar characters. In March, he becomes The Cat in the Hat. In December, you might see him as Santa or the conductor from The Polar Express. These moments, along with their shared love of the arts, have made both Bill and Pat proud supporters of the Davie County Arts Council.

The Arts Council has served the county for nearly 50 years. Bill joined the board in the late 1980s and now serves as its president. He has worked alongside several executive directors over the years to support student programs, concerts, plays, and art exhibits. He has also stepped on stage himself, acting in productions such as Bye Bye Birdie, Who’s Under Where, Church Ladies, Smoke on the Mountain, To Kill a Mockingbird, Bright Star, and It’s Never Too Late, among others. Next spring, he is especially looking forward to the Arts Council’s partnership with the Davie Foundation to present Admission, an original work by local playwright Dr. Daryl Rosenbaum.

These days, you are likely to find the Campbells in the audience at a grandchild’s concert or game, cheering from the sidelines, or attending local arts events. They spend peaceful time at their condo in Boone when they can, and back home in Kinderton, you might see them relaxing on their front porch, waving at neighbors and enjoying the day. If you walk by, do not be shy. Say hello. They would love to meet you too.