Cherry, David King

May 8, 1883-September 17, 1956

By James R. Stewart Jr., 2019
North Carolina A&T State University

Captain D. K. Cherry was a noted African American college professor at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, a distinguished World War I veteran, and the president of the historic Kittrell College in Kittrell, NC from 1929 to 1932.

David King Cherry was born near Powellsville in Bertie County as one of the 13 children of Wright and Malinda (Mitchell) Cherry on May 7, 1883. Wright Cherry was a veteran of the 14^th US Colored Artillery, and as a boy young David attended a school named after his father. Cherry also attended the Bertie Academy in Windsor, NC and began teaching in the Bertie County schools at age 16. David graduated from the North Carolina State Colored Normal School in 1904 and continued his studies at Wilberforce University, graduating with his B.A. in 1911.

In the fall of 1911 D. K. Cherry moved to Greensboro to be a mathematics instructor for the Agricultual and Mechanical College for the Colored Race (now North Carolina A&T State University). While he was a student at Wilberforce he had been a Cadet Captain and brought this experience with him to NCA&T as a drillmaster. Cherry would continue his educational studies at the University of Chicago in the summers of 1912 and 1914.

Professor Cherry was one of five faculty members at A&T known to have served overseas during World War I. Enlisted in the fall of 1917, he served as a Captain in the 367^th infantry of the 92^nd Division of the Armed Expeditiary Forces (AEF). Following the Armistice, Cherry was transferred to the educational corps at a large base camp. After this he was reportedly the only commissioned African-American soldier who was not denied admittance to a French university. Cherry studied at the University of Bordeaux and following the war he returned to Greensboro./p>

Among D. K. Cherry’s achievements at A&T, he was one of the earliest known faculty members to complete a history of the college following a January 1922 request from the U.S. Commissioner of Education. This history was republished in 1926 and 1927 editions of the A&T College Register newspaper. After 17 years at A&T, Cherry became a professor and acting dean of education at Elizabeth City State University.

In the fall of 1929 Cherry was elected president of Kittrell College, a historical A.M.E Church institution in Kittrell, to succeed Dr. Gaston Alonzo Edwards, an A&T graduate. Under his leadership the college experienced significant financial growth. Several new buildings, notably the auditorium gifted from Duke University, were constructed under his presidency. He resigned from the role in 1932 and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles E. Stewart, also a former professor of North Carolina A&T State University. During the summer semesters at Kittrell, Cherry continued his education at the University of Chicago. His 1931 dissertation for his Master of Education was titled “Vocational Activities of Educated Negroes”.

Following his presidency at Kittrell College Prof. Cherry moved to Knox County, Tennesse to become a professor of education and psychology at Knoxville College. In 1943 he was appointed dean of the college and later dean of administration in 1954. With his retirement a year later, the college awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Dr. Cherry passed away in 1956 at the age of 73 at the local veteran’s administration center in Johnson City, Tenn. from complications of a stroke. Cherry left to cherish his memory the former Irene L. Chestnut his wife of nearly 36 years, a daughter Marie T. Williams, six sisters and two brothers. Captain David King Cherry is buried in the Knoxville National Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Honoring his service for the centennial of the Great War, Dr. Cherry was one of several Greensboro, NC citizens featured on an honor wall in the Greensboro History Museum exhibit “Lest We Forget: WWI through the Eyes of Nine.”