Needham B Broughton High School Class of 1981 website! This website is a permanent home on the web for our class.  We welcome everyone on the site and hope that you will create an account so that others can make contact with you. Your information will not be sold, leased, gifted, or otherwise given to anyone other than class of '81 members without your expressed opt-in approval.

We welcome friends from other classes and other schools to join our site as guests. We are a friendly bunch of people.

Less than a week out from the kickoff event of the centennial anniversary of BHS!

Hope you can join us Saturday (5/30) starting at 5:30 for an evening of fun, fellowship, and great live music.

The Circus and Steamroom Etiquette, two great bands with local ties, will take the stage to play all your favorite hits.

All proceeds will be donated to the BHS 100 organization to support centennial events, scholarships, and more.

The event is open to all. Hope to see you there! More info at the link below.

You can get your tickets here: Broughton 100 Kick Off event!

Dr. Richard McNeal Jewell

SEPTEMBER 23, 1929 – MAY 10, 2026

Richard McNeal Jewell died peacefully at home on May 10, 2026. He was born on September 23, 1929, in Lottsburg, Virginia to Lloyd Marvin Jewell and Maud McNeal Jewell and was raised in a large, loving family.

Education was always important to Richard. After graduating from Callao High School, Richard attended the University of Richmond on a baseball scholarship for two years. He transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech and decided to pursue a career in education. He earned his B.S. in agriculture education with academic honor. Richard began his teaching career as a Vocational Agriculture teacher at Gloucester High School. He completed his graduate work at the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia. In a few years he was named Assistant Principal at Gloucester High School and then moved on to serve as principal at Prince George High School and Martinsville High School, both in Virginia. In 1969 he began work on his doctorate in school administration and supervision at Duke University and moved the family to Raleigh in 1970 when he was hired to serve as principal at Broughton High School. During his twenty-two-year tenure at Broughton, Richard provided leadership and vision for the school that received state and national recognition. Broughton was highlighted as a US School of Excellence in 1984 and one of five US high schools in the National Secondary School Recognition Program and featured in US News and World Report (1984). Richard was selected as one of twelve principals in the US to participate in the “Principals-of-Leadership” publicity campaign (1986). He was instrumental in building partnerships and created the Broughton Faculty Alumni Association as well as awards and scholarships to recognize teachers and students. Richard was recognized as Tarheel of the Week in 1986. Richard was a man of strong faith and was an active member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church for 55 years serving as a deacon and elder. He was also a member of Kiwanis Club and other civic organizations and served in the US Army.

Richard and Irene met on a blind date – it must have been a good one as it led to an amazing love story and marriage of 71 years. While many knew Richard as “Dr. Jewell” in his professional work, he was Richard, Daddy or Papa Jewell to his family. He loved planning trips for friends & family and hosting them at their home on the “rivah” in Marshallberg. Richard loved setting crab pots, pulling a shrimp net, oystering and time on the boat. Richard was a man of many talents and interests. He was a master woodworker and collector of antiques, including an extensive collection of Edison record players and records. His collection was featured on the Tarheel Traveler on WRAL tv. Richard and Irene had the opportunity to travel extensively after his retirement.

Richard is survived by his wife of 71 years, Irene; daughters Teresa Jewell Winstead(George) and Brenda Jewell Jones(Wesley); six grandchildren – Ryan McNeal Winstead(Colleen), Haley Jewell Durgin, Kelton Wesley Jones(Jenna), Jackson Edward Winstead(Phoebe), Molly Gray Winstead, Lucas Kinton Jones (Gardner); seven great-grandchildren – Brooks, Sophie, Lillian, Jasper, Russell, Logan, Ruthie and Galene; sister-in-law Anne Jewell and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Marvin and Maud and his siblings; Berkely Jewell, Hilda Jewell, Pauline Swann, Elise Murphy, Eldine Mould, LM Jewell, Jimmy Jewell, Annette Newman, Maxine Beatley and Bob Jewell.

Thank you to our wonderful caregivers; Julie, Christine, Caroline, Kiki, Millie, Rachel, Alice, Vivian and the Hospice Team.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Broughton Faculty Alumni Association to sponsor student scholarships for future teachers. Checks made out to Broughton Faculty Alumni Association and mailed to Broughton Faculty Association, c/o Broughton HS, 723 St Mary’s St. Raleigh NC 27605

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 2:00 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. A family graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 at Melrose Church in Lottsburg, VA.

A small number of people in the class have inquired about our class sponsoring and funding an annual scholarship to a deserving Broughton student, something in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 per year. I've checked with the Alumni Association, and while they are a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3), they have contemplated doing this very thing or allowing classes to do so under their umbrella. This has been a non-starter for them for various legal reasons. Primarily, the issue is how the student for the award would be selected. There are some legal risks associated with this if someone were to contest the award. .........
 

Visit https://www.wcpss.net/domain/19467 to learn more, then buy or bring items from the food or clothing list.  Want to donate funds? You can do that at the event.  

High school is hard enough but imagine doing that if you are homeless or needy. The Pantry provides everything from deodorant, shaving cream and feminine hygiene to food to eat. To contribute, if you want to, just visit https://www.wcpss.net/domain/19467and look at the Amazon lists! Then, buy or bring items from the food or clothing list. Want to donate funds? You can do that at the event. Thanks in advance!

Saturday Night, October 21, 7PM - 10PM, College Grill on
 

Class of '81 reunion, Saturday October 21, The College Grill, 7PM - 10PM

Time Warp to '80 - '81 events and people

Whether you rode in a packed car or walked en masse to overwhelm local eateries, we know you have stories to share! Tell all at the College Grill, just below Mitch’s, on Hillsborough Street. 

All night cram sessions? Check. Endless papers to write? Check. Squeaking in just under the wire with that final senior project? Check!  Tales of derring-do welcomed! Tales of derring-didn’t?  Very welcome!

See you at the College Grill. On Hillsborough St. (Below Mitch’s)

Cash Bar!  Mitch’s Munchies! Old Pals! New Stories!

Reunion Photo Fun

We’re older and wiser, but does Class of ’81 still have more fun? Find out Oct 21, 2023!  Dress up or dress down, admission is free! Full cash bar, apps from Mitch’s! Party like it 1981! 

(2-Apr-2023)

Hello everyone,

The reunion committee has selected the weekend of October 21, 2023 for our Class of '81 42nd reunion.

Activities and locations are still being worked out. The reunion committee is being headed up by Henry Jarrett with assistance from Chrystal Bartlett, David Walser, Peter Pediaditakis, Chris Crew, and Bryan Bliss. The committee welcomes additional help if you would like to participate! Organizing these events are a big undertaking and require a lot of time and help to pull it all together. Please consider offering some assistance if you are so inclined.

You can contact Henry at "jarretth@bellsouth.net", or call or text at 919-606-5674. You can also contact me, Bill Ott, at "weo@nbhs1981.com" or call or text at 919-398-2279 and I will help get you plugged into the activities.

If you have class friends that aren't subscribed to our website, please share the date information with them and encourage them to come to the site, "www.nbhs1981.com" and sign up so they receive all of the information directly that will be pushed out.

We will also be updating the class Facebook page at "https://www.facebook.com/nbhs1981" with the same information that comes out of our website email account.

Thank you and be on the lookout for more information soon!

(21-Mar-2023)

Hi all, the next meeting of the 42nd reunion organizers of the Broughton class of ‘81 is at Mitch's on Hillsborough Street at 3pm on Saturday, April 1st. Henry Jarrett is heading up the reunion events with several others that have been assisting.

Henry can be contacted at jarretth@bellsouth.net, or call or text at 919-606-5674