Robert Donald Efird, Sr.

Life of Robert Donald Efird, Sr.

Robert Donald Efird, Sr., was born in the mill village of Kannapolis, NC, on May 3, 1930. He left his earthly home and the house which he built and lived in since 1956 for his heavenly home on August 22, 2021. He was the first of four children born to R.M. (Bob) and Lottie (Poole) Efird who both preceded him in death. His siblings are Charles (Kathy), Jean (Darrell) Bost, and Phil (deceased). Little did they know that this newborn son would grow up to have not only a significant impact in his community but also in the world.

Don, as he would be called throughout his life, spent all of his life in Kannapolis except for the years he went away to study at the Georgia Military Academy outside Atlanta in 1947-48, and for his college years at NC State and Wake Forest. He had graduated from the old J.W. Cannon High School in 1947 before leaving for five years to pursue higher education. He eventually graduated from Wake Forest College with a Business Administration degree in 1952. He was fond of telling people that he went to school with Arnold Palmer, who once offered to teach him how to play golf. Don, being more of an avid hunter and outdoor sportsman, declined.

While in college, he married his hometown sweetheart, Iris Jane Harrington. (They recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary, having been married on August 12, 1950.) Within two years, they began their own family with a son, Robert Martin Efird II, named after Don's own father. A second son would soon follow, Lee Mitchell, and a third, Larry Douglas. They were just beginning at that point because a fourth son would eventually arrive, Robert Donald Efird, Jr., and finally a fifth, Jay Wesley. With five boys some told them they could have their own basketball team. A few years later, two girls would join the family, Iris Ann, first, and then the seventh and final child, Susan Elizabeth. The boys jokingly said they had prayed for sisters so they could help wash the dishes! Considering the number seven to be one of perfection or completion, Don and Iris decided their family was well established by that point.

When their children got old enough to go to college, they began praying for the best schools for their children to attend as they would go off to further their education. At the same time the oldest son would be making that crucial decision, Don was invited to join the Board of Trustees at William Jennings Bryan College, in Dayton, Tennessee. He and Robert Martin "Rick" would go to visit this tiny school in East Tennessee which began following the famous Scopes Trial in 1925. Although already accepted at Wake Forest, Rick surprisingly chose to attend Bryan College, which clearly influenced the rest of his siblings to do the same. Eventually all seven Efird children would attend Bryan. Six would graduate from there, and five would meet their spouses in the hills of East Tennessee. Clearly, God answered their heartfelt prayers regarding a college for their children. Years later, while attending a funeral of an elderly aunt in the foothills of North Carolina, Iris would learn that she had an uncle named for William Jennings Bryan who had died as a small child in the early 1900s. She did not see it as merely a coincidence, but as a divine confirmation.

Rick would meet and marry Emily Scandlyn of Harriman, Tennessee, Lee would meet and marry Lynn Puzey of Indianola, Illinois (even though after two years he came back to North Carolina to get his forestry degree at NC State), Larry would meet and marry Carla Johnson of Abilene, Texas, Jay would marry Jayne Lawson of Cranston, Rhode Island, and Susan would meet and marry Everett Bracken of Lakeland, Florida. Although Don, Jr., did not meet his wife, Lisa Tharp at Bryan, he did meet her in nearby Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. Iris Ann was the only sibling to marry someone from "home," Jeff Faggart of China Grove.

Because of those providential unions, Don and Iris would have 18 grandchildren, and currently have 20 great-grandchildren!

Throughout his life, Don worked with his father in the construction business, but after his father's death he became the owner of R.D. Efird Realty. He and his father oversaw the construction of hundreds of custom-built homes in Kannapolis. He would also serve as the president of Steiner-Efird Insurance and Dainty Maid Food, Inc. His business degree from Wake Forest served him well, along with a sense of how to diversify throughout the years and meet the needs of his evergrowing family.

Regarding his associations and involvement in the community, Don and Iris were both known to be heavily involved in their church and other civic, as well as mission organizations. He was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis where he served as a Ruling Elder for many years, as well as a Sunday School teacher for over sixty years. His father Bob recruited him to help begin the first Gideon Camp in Kannapolis in 1954. This would prove to be a pivotal decision as Don would continue with the Gideons International, serving as the organization's Vice-President and President from 1974-1980. He was an active member for more than sixty years and presented a dignitary Bible to President Jimmy Carter in 1978 in the Oval Office. He represented and traveled to over fifty countries during his time with the Gideons. One interesting story is that on a trip to Kenya for the Gideons, he and Iris were scheduled to meet with Daniel arap Moi, President of Kenya. Upon arrival at the presidential palace for their meeting, the armed guards on duty informed them that their meeting was in jeopardy. Upon learning that Don's wife was named Iris, President Moi, a lover of flowers, invited her to see his personal rose garden, opening the door for Don to share the Gideon ministry and the gospel with yet another world leader.

Looking for an additional way to spend quality time with his sons, Don served the Boy Scouts of America as Scoutmaster of Troop 36 for twenty years. During that time, he presented 75 Eagle Scout Awards and 19 God and Country Awards, an amazing feat. He was also very proud that each of his five boys earned their Eagle award. One of his most noteworthy achievements with Troop 36 was the beginning of an annual 35 mile hike to Camp John J. Barnhardt in Badin in 1967. This hike, which always begins in Don's backyard, has continued yearly since that time, now at 55 straight years.

He was a leader in the city of Kannapolis and Cabarrus County where he served as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for fifty years, the Kannapolis Merchants Association (president in 1975), and Rotary International, having been a past president of Kannapolis Rotary Club. He and Iris were strong supporters of the Kannapolis Bi ble Teaching Association as well, being one of the early presidents of that program which continues in Kannapolis City Schools today after sixty years.

He was on the Board of Trustees at Bryan College for 35 years, and due to his loyal commitment to the college was installed as a Trustee Emeritus. As a building contractor by profession, he was acutely aware of the need for good student housing and also was primarily responsible for a new entrance to the campus from a major state highway.

Although Don received numerous awards during his life, some of the most meaningful ones were Kannapolis Young Man of the Year 1961, a Silver Beaver (Boy Scouts of America) 1969, Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary Fellowship) 1991, James E. West Fellow (Boy Scouts of America) 1994, and the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine 2006.

He considered the defining moment of his life to be his rededication and commitment to Jesus Christ as a young husband and father. He knew that apart from his faith and his marriage, everything else was secondary. His life verse was I Corinthians 1:27: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." He felt that summarized his personal philosophy of life and that his life bore witness to the truth of those words.

Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis is in charge of arrangements. A Celebration of Life service will be held in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary on Saturday, August 28, at 1:30 pm. Dr. Rick Efird will officiate. A livestream of the service will be available at www.firstpresb.org. (Service can be accessed through Sermon Archive/livestream link.) In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gideons International or the Salvation Army Concord "Picture of Hope" building campaign.