Mr. Harold Augustus Bass, Sr. transitioned peacefully on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Trinity Oaks, Salisbury, North Carolina. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Infant Catholic Church, Freeway Drive, Reidsville, NC with family visitation one half hour prior to the service. Burial will be conducted from the Chapel Hill Progressive Primitive Baptist Church, Ruffin, NC. Public viewing will be held on Monday, May 30, 2022 from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. at McLaurin Memorial Chapel, 721 E. Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC.
He was born to the late Douglas Bass, Sr. and Eatrice Tate Bass on December 8, 1934 in Madison, GA and was educated in the public school system of Alexandria, VA, graduating from the historic Parker Gray High School. He then attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA, where he met his future wife, the late Lula Belle Crawford Bass. While attending Virginia State, Harold became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He would later become a life member of the distinguished fraternity, serving as Senior Province Vice Polemarch for the Middle Eastern Province.
Following his studies in Music Education, Harold married Lula on June 29, 1957 and settled first in Washington, DC then moved to Brandywine, MD to raise their family and ultimately built his dream home in Ruffin, NC in 1981.
In 1957, Harold was drafted and served six years in the United States Army, receiving the Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged in 1963.
Harold began his career with Kraft Foods, then Sealtest Dairy, in 1964 as a dairy delivery man and after more than 30 years with the company, he retired as Regional Sales Manager for a multi-state area.
Following his successful career with Kraft Foods, Harold dedicated his time to community service to include serving on the boards for the Ruffin Volunteer Fire Department, the Rockingham Council on Aging, Help Incorporated and Rockingham County Library. He also served on the Parish Council of Holy Infant Catholic Church and the Rockingham County Planning Board. He went on to organize the Ruffin Whistlestop Jubilee for successive years, a street festival whose proceeds benefitted the volunteer fire department. In 1996, Harold was proud to receive the Governor’s Volunteer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Services.
Other civic and social affiliations included serving as a member of the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce, President of the Reidsville Rotary Club and on the Wachovia Bank Board of Directors. His passion for community culminated with his election to the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners in 2004 and re-election in 2008, serving as Chair of the Commissioners during his terms.
Harold and Lula were blessed with a large and close-knit family. He raised his family with strong core values, a belief that everything was possible and a devotion to the Catholic faith. He was very proud that he and Lula were able to support all of his children attending and graduating college. Prior to his passing, Harold was a resident of Trinity Oaks Assisted Living facility in Salisbury, NC.
Harold will be dearly missed by his family and his community and is survived by his son, Harold A. Bass, Jr. (Deborah and children – Brittany and Tyler), of Concord, NC; daughters, Adrienne B. James (children – DeRyan and Taylor), of Salisbury, NC, Marina M. Bass (children – Adrienne and Noah) of Winchester, VA; Leslie A. Bass (child – Caden) of Upperco, MD, and Janice L. Bass of Stuttgart, Germany; two great-grandchildren, Legend and Dallas James of NC; beloved sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Ashton and Yolanda McLaurin and the staff of the McLaurin Funeral Home are serving the family. Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required. At the designated date and time, you may connect to the Virtual services through FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home’s FB page.
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