Kay S. Currie | Eastern North Carolina Now

September 16, 1930 - May 27, 2020
    Katherine Sholler Currie, age 89, well beloved citizen of Beaufort County, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at her final residence, Autumnfield Assisted Living Home.

    Kay, as she was known, was born September 16, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Emlyn Cope Sholler and Katharine Lucking Gailey Sholler. She married Robert C. Currie, who, along with her parents, preceded her in death. Her brother, James Kenneth Gailey, also preceded her in death. She had no children of her own.

    Surviving are a nephew, Peter Gailey of Connecticut, and a niece, Marysue Gailey of Connecticut.

    Kay enjoyed describing herself as a Southern Bell but identified with the Liberty Bell as well because, as she would say, "I'm a ding-a ling and a little bit cracked."

    Kay's life in the entertainment industry left a trail of love, laughter and memories for her fans across eastern North Carolina and the surrounding region.

    Kay also hosted "Hospitality House", a daily that she produced at WITN-TV, soliciting her own guests and interviewing them.

    Kay was very involved in community activities where she would be found serving as Mistress of Ceremonies at talent and fashion shows. Also, for many years she volunteered as commentator and announcer at the Washington Yacht and Country Club Golf Tournaments.

    Kay loved participating. She was a people person and loved being involved in whatever was going on. She, with her 1954 white Cadillac convertible, was cheered at parades all over Beaufort County.

    As a very talented artist, her paintings were exhibited. Brown Library in Washington, NC hosted one exhibit. And I should also mention that she loved riding the waves at the ocean on her boogie board. And speak of her love for animals, even stuffed ones.

    She grew up as a member of an Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Washington, North Carolina and more recently became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day- Saints in Washington.

    Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

    Condolences and more information can be found by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

    Reprinted article from the February 1982 edition of "The Centenarian", her Centenary College newspaper, the year she was honored as alumna of the year.

    Title: "Kay Sholler Currie '50 Brightens Up Television Screen".

    "In a successful television career that has now touched four decades, Kay Sholler Currie" 50 has met numerous celebrities and traveled all over the world.

    Currently the hostess and producer of a popular live talk show on an NBC station in Washington, North Carolina, Kay has interviewed the likes of Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, and Joan Crawford, and has traveled to countries like Switzerland, France and Germany.

    A native of Philadelphia, Kay credits her education at Centenary as the jumping off point for her career.

    "I majored in radio and dramatics at Centenary," recalled Currie. "After I graduated, I got a job at an NBC affiliate in Philadelphia." But her big break came when she secured a position at WCAU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia.

    "I was the program assistant on a daily news and interview show called "Names In The News," said Kay. "It was a fast-paced show, and working at the station at the time were Ed McMahon and sportscaster Jack Whittaker. There I met such people as Grace Kelly and Senator Estes Kefauver."

    After the stint in Philadelphia, Kay moved on to KBMT-TV in Beaumont, Texas where she was hostess for "Kay Currie's World", a daily talk and variety program. Among her other chores were hostess of prime-time specials, and as a commercial spokeswoman.

    "Kay Currie's World" then became "Kay's Corner" when the broadcasting trail took her to WNBE-TV (now WCTI) in New Bern, North Carolina. Besides being the hostess of her own daily talk show, she was also a news reporter.

    Two years later, Kay moved to Washington, N.C. and station WITN-TV, Channel 7. She became hostess of "Hospitality House", another talk-variety show she enjoyed doing. Her other functions at the television station included being a news reporter and hostess for a mystery show, Sherlock Holmes Theater.

    She has just launched a new live morning talk show she does daily, "On Top of it All Today", which features guests, special themes, and studio audience.

    "I returned recently from Switzerland," said Kay, "and I taped interviews with the King and Queen of Romania, and with the grandson of Indian leader, Mahatma Ghandi."