Yet, during the second half of the 20th century, hardly any name was heard more in Greensboro than that of George Christopher Simkins Jr. The mention of it brought hope to black people and fury to many whites.

Admirers and old adversaries packed the chapel at Bennett College on Thursday for the funeral of Simkins, 77, who died Nov. 21 after a brief illness.

As leader of the local NAACP from the late 1950s to 1985, Simkins arguably brought more social change to Greensboro than anyone in the city's 193-year history.

"We have rubbed shoulders with greatness," declared the Rev. Howard Chubbs of Providence Baptist Church, one of Simkins' closest friends.

His was a "life well spent," said the Rev. James Belle of St. James Presbyterian Church, which Simkins attended.

That life saw Simkins rip away barriers that had kept black people in Greensboro from using public golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and libraries, and from attending schools with white people. Simkins brought about the integration of medical staffs at Moses Cone and Wesley Long hospitals and forced a change in the method of electing the City Council.

He organized the black community into a voting bloc that could make or break white candidates.

"Think of George," lawyer Joe Williams urged in his eulogy, "when you go to the public library. Think of George when you go to a public tennis court and golf course. ... Think of George when you eat in one of the excellent restaurants of our city. Think about George when you go about an integrated city.

"Contrary to the thoughts of some young people," Williams said, "it hasn't always been that way."

Williams recalled that in 1982 he co-signed with Simkins the list of candidates -- made up of black leaders -- favored by the Simkins-led Greensboro Citizens Association. No sooner had the list hit the streets, Williams said, than "a brick comes tearing through my office window."

Simkins remarked later, "They must like you. They usually shoot at me."

Julius Chambers, former state NAACP lawyer and retired chancellor of N.C. Central University in Durham, recalled that every time Simkins encountered discrimination, "He simply demanded that someone do something about it."

In the 1950s and early '60s, he said, "I saw more golf courses during that period than anytime in my life," as Simkins pushed him to help desegregate the courses.

"I was a single practitioner, but George had me suing everybody," Chambers said.

Former Mayor Jim Melvin -- who battled Simkins for years over whether the city should elect its council at large or switch, as Simkins wanted, to a district system -- choked up as he described Simkins as "a community giant."

Yes, Melvin said, he and Simkins clashed. "But I'll say this, we never lost respect for each other."

He told about sitting behind Simkins at a banquet about a month ago. Melvin said he reached over and said to Simkins, "George, I want you to know that I love you."

Simkins replied, "I love you, too."

"Those were the last words we ever spoke to each other," Melvin said.

The Rev. Chubbs, who gave the main eulogy, said Simkins and the Biblical Moses had many parallels, including that "they were both born with a silver spoon in their mouths."

Moses was adopted by a pharaoh's daughter; Simkins' father was a prominent black dentist in Greensboro. Both could have sat back and enjoyed the good life, Chubbs said, but Moses and Simkins were born during difficult times for their races.

"Both of you had a sense of justice that wouldn't allow you to remain comfortable while others suffered," Chubbs said as if the two men were present.

While both led their people far, the pastor said, "You and Moses were given a glimpse of the Promised Land but not allowed to enter."

He predicted that just as Joshua was sent to continue Moses' work, "so does the Lord have someone in this room, and we don't know who it is, who will continue your work."

A scripture reading was done by the Rev. Carlton Morales, chaplain of Moses Cone Hospital, the hospital Simkins once sued.

Present were former council members and administrators from city government. Decades ago, city government was the target of Simkins' suits, and once it had him arrested for trespassing when he tried to play at Gillespie Park Golf Course.

The funeral started after a one-hour visitation with the Simkins' family, where mourners hugged and shook hands with Simkins' daughter, son, grandchildren, sister and special friend Mary Purnell.

Among the legislators, judges and other dignitaries paying respects was the city's oldest living mayor, Carson Bain, who served from 1969-71. Former state Rep. Katie Dorsett read tributes from Gov. Mike Easley, NAACP national leader Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Reps. Mel Watt and Howard Coble and others.

Before the body was removed to Piedmont Memorial Park for burial, the audience locked arms and sang "We Shall Overcome."

Source: News & Record, Greensboro, North Carolina