Birth Date: 11/18/1937
Deceased Date: 07/30/2022
Princeton – Frederick LeRoy Bartholomew, Jr. and affectionately known as “Mr. B”, died Saturday, July 30, 2022 in UNC Johnston Health at the age of 84. Born November 18, 1937 in Warren County he was a son of the late Fredrick LeRoy and Bessie King Bartholomew, and was preceded in death by a sister, Emma Bartholomew Vance.
Fred was a graduate of Graham High School in Warrenton. During high school he was all-conference in football and baseball. Following high school he attended and played baseball at Louisburg College and then went on to attend East Carolina University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. He received his Master degree in Educational Administration from East Carolina University in 1996.
Fred officiated high school basketball and baseball games in the 1960’s and also played semi-pro baseball with several organizations. He began his teaching and coaching career at Smyrna High School where he received Coach of the Year honors in both basketball and baseball. In 1964 he initiated the football program at Smyrna High School. While working in Smyrna he met and married the former Deanna Ballou. In 1970 they moved to Princeton where he became the Principal of Princeton School.
During his 28 years as principal, he initiated many educational and athletic programs for elementary, middle and high school students. Just a few are, Mr. B’s 100 Book Club, which motivated kindergarten through fourth grade students to read at least 100 books each year. At the end of the year, they would receive a “Mr. B’s 100 Book Club t-shirt”. Which many wore proudly. He started S.T.E.P. (Scheduled Techniques for Educational Performance), a high school program that allowed students that had met set criteria, to leave school at 1:15 on Fridays. He also established the first awards banquet in the state of North Carolina that recognized the academic accomplishments of high school students. This model is now being used throughout the state. He was very instrumental in establishing one of the first two sports medicine programs, with a Nationally Certified Trainer, in the Johnston County School system. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of a new football field, renovation of the high school gym and construction of the middle school gym. He also helped bring tennis courts, two new baseball fields and a softball field, with lights and irrigation as well as a new field house.
Mr. B has held many leadership positions with the Carolina 1-A conference and served on the Board of Directors for NCHSAA from 1982-1986 as well as the NCHSAA Executive Committee during the same time. Fred was elected to the Johnston County School Board in 2000 and served as chairman from 2002 – 2007. He has played an instrumental role in ensuring that the district’s construction program forged ahead, leading the cause for two successful bond referendums. He was elected to the North Carolina School Board Association as an All State Board Member. In 1999 Fred was presented with the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” by Governor James B. Hunt.
Mr. B, will lie in state in the Deacon Jones Gymnasium at Princeton High School, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The family will not be present at this time. A service celebrating his life will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Following the service, the family will return home for some private time. Calls and visits in the days and weeks to follow will be very much appreciated.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Deanna Ballou “Dee” Bartholomew; son, Ricky Bartholomew and wife Laura of Princeton; daughters, Betsy Bridgers and husband Mike of Rosewood and Nancy Bartholomew of Smithfield; brothers, Wayne Bartholomew and wife Ann of Raleigh, Raymond Bartholomew and wife Nancy of Henderson and Danny Bartholomew of Warrenton; five grandchildren, AnnaMikel Bridgers and fiancé, Chris Shockley, Traci Bridgers, Frederick LeRoy “Rick” Bartholomew, IV, Harley Bartholomew and Jordan Brooke Bartholomew; one great-grandson, Pierce Shockley and his canine companion, “Doc”.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Princeton Public Library, P. O. Box 500, Princeton, NC 27569.
Online condolences may be sent to the Bartholomew family at www.parrishfh.com.
