Anne Dewey Heartt Gregory

Anne Dewey was born June 20, 1929 in Raleigh, NC. With her family, she attended First Presbyterian Church. She went to the Murphey School, Ravenscroft and Broughton High School. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School, St. Mary’s Junior College and UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Radio. She worked briefly for WRAL before landing a job writing for the News and Observer’s Women’s Section. During this time, she traveled to Europe and sent an article to the paper. It proved popular so she continued to write articles for the duration of her trip.

In 1955 she married Quentin Gregory, Jr. from Halifax and settled in Weldon. She joined Grace Episcopal Church and was an active member, teaching Sunday School, growing flowers for the altar and serving on the Vestry. Raising a family did not deter her from taking on various roles in the community. She was PTA president, an avid supporter of little league sports her sons were involved in, and took up causes that benefited local residents. An enthusiastic gardener, she entered her prized roses in the NC State Fair competition and often won. When approached to teach English at Weldon High School, she accepted the challenge. Feeling out of her league with so many sharp students, she decided to fall back on familiar territory and started the school newspaper as a class assignment. It took off. One of her students went on to become a professional journalist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Anne Dewey is best known for being the owner of The Colonial House. In 1971, the humble shop opened in two small rooms with a few items of furniture and borrowed curtains. It went on to grow into one of the region’s largest retail furniture businesses. Frequented by customers far and wide, perhaps her most famous shopper was North Carolina native Andy Griffith.

Unknown to most, she played the piano and had a beautiful voice. Her love of music led her to host fundraising events for the North Carolina Symphony at her home in Weldon which made concert performances possible in local schools. She further supported the Symphony by endowing the Anne Heartt Gregory Chair for Assistant Concertmaster.

After 34 years, she took down her shingle, drew a close to her cherished time in Weldon and moved to the Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh. This was her home for the next 18 years with residents and staff alike becoming a beloved extended family.

Anne Dewey was predeceased by her brother Leo Dabney Heartt, Jr.

She is survived by her children Anne Heartt Gregory of Durham, Quentin Gregory, III of Halifax and Edwin Heartt Gregory of Cary; her grandchildren Samuel Gregory Bruton of Charlotte, Eleanor Burns Bruton of Durham, Savannah Marie Gregory of West Palm Beach, Florida and Edwin Heartt Gregory, Jr. of Cary; and her great grandson Hayes Stewart Bruton of Charlotte.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11am Saturday, August 16th in Oakwood Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Tucker House, 418 N Person St. A memorial service will be held at Springmoor, 1500 Sawmill Road, Tuesday, August 26th at 3pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in her honor to the North Carolina Symphony, 3700 Glenwood Ave., Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, is serving the Gregory family.