Douglas Bernard Curtis

Douglas Bernard Curtis went to his heavenly home on January 12, 2026. Doug was born January 5, 1933, to the late John Alexander and Lillie Mae Pugh Curtis in Guilford County. A graduate of Pleasant Garden High School in 1951, Doug attended Brevard College, where he played basketball and was elected “Mr. Freshman,” before transferring to Wake Forest College (now University) in Wake Forest, NC. He was in the first graduating class of Wake Forest in its current location in Winston-Salem in 1957. At Wake, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

While he was in college, he took a leave of absence to serve in the U.S. Army and spent the majority of his service stationed in Angoulême, France. After completing his enlistment and upon graduation from college, Doug joined the family business, Curtis Packing Company, which his father founded in 1915.

Doug met the love of his life, Jane Lee Braswell, in 1956, and they married on December 28, 1957, in Jackson, NC. They spent 68 years as devoted partners raising their children both in Greensboro, NC, and on the family farm in Climax, NC, where they moved in 1976. Doug loved living in the home in which he was born and on his farm with lots of acreage and several family pets, including a beloved pony and goat. Doug also enjoyed traveling with family and friends and seeing every square inch of every place he visited. One of Doug’s most favorite pastimes was watching sports – both live and on TV – especially with his grandchildren.

Doug worked his entire life with Curtis Packing Company, where he was a supportive and uplifting boss, retiring as President and CEO of the company in 2007. During his career in the meat packing industry, Doug was involved in many organizations. He was a former board member of the American Meat Institute and a Past President of the North Carolina Meat Processors Association. He was a member of the Greensboro Jaycees, Greensboro Rotary Club, the Greensboro Sports Council, and served in many positions with Christ United Methodist Church, where he and Jane joined in 1958. He also served as chairman of the board for the Climax Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years, during which time he was instrumental in relocating the department to its current home on Highway 62. Outside of these organizations, Doug was a man with a big heart who consistently helped those in need, quietly, and with no fanfare; but while Doug was a respected businessman and community leader, his absolute greatest joy was his family.

In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his four brothers: Edward, Norman, William Rufus, and Marshall. He was also preceded in death by his beloved son William Alexander Curtis (Alex). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Jane Lee Braswell Curtis, son John Douglas Curtis and wife Ellen of Greensboro, daughter Stephanie Paige Curtis Malushizky and husband Dave of Davidson, seven grandchildren: Joshua Curtis (Elisa), Ben Curtis (Jaclyn), Will Curtis (Samantha), Zach Curtis (Megan), Elissa Curtis, Aaron Rollans, and Anna Rollans, five great-grandchildren: Jack, Nora Kate, Collins, Luke, and Sequoia Curtis, and a 6th great-grandchild due this summer. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Doug’s favorite blessing was one he learned from his father-in-law, Willie Lewis Braswell, and Doug always used it at each family gathering: “Dear Lord, humble our hearts and make us truly thankful for these and all our many blessings” – and that is how he lived his life, humble and thankful for all that he had.

A memorial service will take place on Friday, January 30th at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A private family burial will follow at Bethlehem Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC, christgreensboro.org; Bethlehem Methodist Church in Climax, NC, bethlehemmethodist.org; the Climax Volunteer Fire Department in Climax, NC, climaxfire.com; the Greensboro Opera, greensboroopera.org; or the organization of your choice.

The family would like to thank the first responders from the Climax Fire Department and the excellent staff at Moses Cone Hospital Neuro ICU who lovingly and professionally cared for Doug during his time there. The family is grateful for all the prayers and support they have received during this difficult time.