Bullock, Philip

The Reverend Doctor P. Leslie “Les” Bullock, of Laurinburg, passed away on Saturday June 25, 2011 at the age of 92. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church officiated by Dr. Neal Carter and Rev. Elizabeth Foster. Born December 14, 1918, in McKinney, Texas, his parents were John Randolph Bullock and Bernice Haydon Bullock. He was a graduate of North Texas State where he received a BA degree in English. He then attended Union Theological Seminary of Richmond, Richmond, VA, where he received a Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Theology degree. He later studied at Cambridge University in England. After graduating from seminary, he went to Houston, Texas, where he organized the Church of the Covenant for Brazos Presbytery. He wanted to teach and in 1948, he went to Flora McDonald College in Red Springs, N.C. as Professor of Religion. In 1958, when Flora McDonald College and Presbyterian Junior College of Maxton, N.C., merged to form St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C., he was appointed to begin work on a new general education program called “Christianity and Culture.” Leslie served as chairman of the group made up of four newly hired professors. The program started when the new college opened in 1961. The Danforth Foundation who studied 800 colleges in the entire country singled out this program as one of the two most outstanding general education programs in the United States. While on a trip to Scotland, Leslie secured a piece of ancient oak from St. Andrews University. He designed a mace for the college showing Flora McDonald College and Presbyterian Junior College merged into St. Andrews Presbyterian College. The mace was carved by Ramseur of Lincolnton and the stand was made by John Williamson of Maxton. He presented it to the college in 1980. Leslie was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Edith Williams Bullock; his two brothers, Rev. Dr. James R. Bullock of Jacksonville, Fl., and Rev. Dr. Robert H. Bullock of San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Sarah of the home; his daughter, Patricia Bullock Gossage and husband Charles of Summerfield, NC; grandsons Charles III and Zachary Randolph Gossage Greensboro; granddaughter, Jennifer Haydon Gossage of Summerfield; stepdaughter, Susan DeArmon King and husband, Dennis and step grandson John King all of Charlotte. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28th at Richard Boles Funeral Service. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Leslie Bullock Scholarship Fund, 1700 Dogwood Mile, Laurinburg, NC 28352.