Board declines to rename consolidated middle school for J.C. Holly; proposal to honor him in media center fails for lack of a second

Granville County Public Schools board members voted against changing the name of the consolidated middle school to incorporate Reverend J.C. Holly, and a later proposal to dedicate the new school's media center to Holly failed for lack of a second.

The question of how to honor Reverend J.C. Holly resurfaced during public comment and again during the agenda item titled “Honor the legacy of Reverend J.C. Holly.” Dozens of community speakers urged preserving Holly’s name in the district. Daryl Moss, a Granville County Schools alumnus and South Granville High graduate, told the board he supports honoring Holly and urged the board to "continue to work with the county commissioners to make sure that Dr. Holly is honored there at the site of Holly School." Michael Mohammed, a public commenter, framed the debate in historical terms, arguing the closures and renamings affect the legacy of historically Black schools.

Board members discussed the prior decisions that led to consolidation and the transfer of the historic Holly campus to Granville County. The superintendent noted that the county commission’s transfer agreement includes language requiring the site to be known as the “GC Holly Athletic Park” or a similar name and to display historic artifacts and information honoring Holly.

Board member Waters moved to change the consolidated middle school's name to GC Holly Central Middle School and called for a vote; according to the record Waters and board member Russell voted in favor when asked for a show of hands, but the motion did not carry and the school’s name remained as previously set. Later, the chair called for a motion to dedicate the new Granville Central Middle School media center as the Reverend G.C. Holly Media Center; no board member seconded that motion, and it died.

Supporters told the board they want both the historic Holly campus preserved and a visible acknowledgment of Holly’s contributions inside the school. Some speakers — including Sally Ann Hobson and Scotty Brooks — urged naming to preserve community pride and continuity across generations. Opponents, including Don Baker, asked the board to preserve the established name Central/Granville Central, arguing the change would be disruptive to students and the community.

The board included the transfer agreement and related documents in its board materials. Superintendent Dr. Winborn told the board he and staff had pursued grants and other options to preserve the Holly building but said maintenance, insurance and declining enrollment left few financially viable alternatives to transferring the property to the county.

Because the county's agreement binds the historic campus name and requires on-site historic interpretation, board members said the district will continue to work with the county and local alumni groups on ways to recognize Holly within school facilities and at the athletic park.