Page 46 - MOST RECENT

Mrs. Leo Burks, Jr.
Alderman 1959-1961
ALDERMEN
Mrs. Margaret Burks served as Kernersville's one
and only woman member of the Board of Aldermen from
May 1959-1961. She has often been referred to as the
"Mother of planning and zoning."
She was born and reared at Woodsdale, Person
County. After graduating from Bethel Hill High School
she obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from East
Carolina University. She did secretarial work at UNC-G
before her marriage to Leo F. Burks, Jr., who is em-
ployed at Western Electric. They have a son and a
daughter.
Mrs. Burks was a charter member of the Woman's
Club; she has been active in the local P.T.A.; she is a
member of the Homemaker's Extension Club and serves
on the Board of Managers for the YMCA. ,She is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian Church.
A unique family contribution to the government of
Kernersville has been that of "Neighbor" (1917-1961),
J. M. (1961-1970), and Johnny (1970-) Pinnix who have
given fifty-three years of continuous service as mem-
bers of the Board of Aldermen.
John Marshall Pinnix
"Neighbor"
Alderman 1917-1961
J. M. Pinnix, Jr.
Alderman 1961-1970
J. M. Pinnix III
Alderman 1970-
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Pinnix Drug Store was established "on the square" in 1904 by J. M.
("Neighbor") Pinnix. The store is one of the three oldest family-owned
pharmacies in the state, being operated by three generations of Pinnixes,
and also one of the oldest businesses in Kernersville, situated in the same
location.
J. M. Pinnix, Sr. ("Neighbor") was born January 20,
1882 to Reverend J. W. and Victoria Caffey Pinnix. At
the age of eighteen he went to work for Dr. B. J. Sapp
helping run a pharmacy in one room of the hotel. He
studied pharmacy in Raleigh and later worked one
year in Durham before returning in 1904 to establish
Pinnix Drug Store. He was married to the former
Mayde Leak. They lived the second door south of the
drug store and for sixty years, all day each day, and
late at night when need be, he dispensed pills and medi-
cines until one million prescriptions had been filled by
February 10, 1958. He served continuously on the Board
of Aldermen from 1917 until retiring from the Board in
1961. He was a staunch supporter of Main Street United
Methodist Church.
J. M. Pinnix, Jr. was born to J. M. and Mayde Pinnix
on January 3, 1911, the second of two sons (Joe L. Pin-
nix being the other). He attended the Kernersville schools
and in 1921 was a member of the State Soccer Champion-
ship team. In 1930 he worked in Washington, D. C. for
Congressman Frank Hancock. Later he returned to Ker-