V. Vann Langston

Vann was born and attended high school in Henderson, North Carolina, and then attended Duke University and University of North Carolina, where he achieved a master’s degree in education. He moved to Raleigh as he began his career in education and public service that would continue throughout his entire life. Vann was a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent in Wake County Public Schools, and then assistant superintendent for Johnston County Public Schools. His devotion to education and the community continued with time in the North Carolina Association of School Boards and as founding member and Executive Director of High Five Partnership, a collaboration between North Carolina businesses built to support public education and training programs. Through his “retirement” years as the President of the North Carolina Governmental Employees Association he worked to educate retiring government employees and fight for their rights with the State of North Carolina.

Vann’s passion for community also included heavy involvement in local and national politics, with a focus on supporting public education, and advocating for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised.

Love of music and the arts was sparked by his mother Jessie Currin, and continued through his life as drum major in high school, a drummer in the “Dixieland Five” jazz band, a singer in several barbershop quartets, and a singer in Hayes Barton Baptist Church quartet.

His faith brought him to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, Chairman of the Diaconate, and was a Sunday school teacher for over 30 years.

He was an avid Duke sports fan, and some are even saying that he exerted divine influence on last Saturday’s football game to achieve an amazing comeback victory over UNC.

Vann is survived by his loving wife Jody, sons Gill and Lee Langston, sister Marsha Langston Smith, and granddaughter Gillian Eve Langston. He was admired and adored by so many friends and mentees throughout North Carolina. He will be dearly missed by us all.

A memorial service will be held at Hayes Barton Baptist Church at 1800 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27608 on Saturday, October 12 at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, or to Duke University, Office of Alumni Engagement and Development Duke University, Box 90600, Durham, NC 27708 (unless you are a Carolina fan-then you must donate to Duke!).

Services by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.