Lail, Longtime School Board Member Passes

A former Alexander County School Board member has died. Gary David Lail, age 73 of the Bethlehem Community passed away on Sunday, March 31st.

Lail owned and operated Bethlehem Insurance Agency and Bethlehem Realty until his retirement. He was also very active in the community. Lail served as a member and President of the Bethlehem Jaycees and Ruritan Club, served on the Alexander County Board of Education for 23 years and was given the board’s Award of Honor.

A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Gary played football during his time there and carried his love for sports on by coaching youth sports in Bethlehem and Alexander County for over 20 years. In 2014 he was inducted into the Alexander County Sports Hall of Fame.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church with his daughter, the Rev. Stella Perrin officiating. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday evening at Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.