Two former Locust mayors die within weeks of each other
Published 10:01 am Thursday, December 17, 2020
- Locust North Carolina
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Locust, the city with a soul, has lost two of its leading souls.
Michael Lee Huneycutt, 66, died Nov. 30. Harold Greene, 82, died Dec. 13. Both were former mayors, with Huneycutt serving Locust from 1989-1993 and Greene from 2003-2009.
Scott Efird, who followed Greene as mayor, currently serves as planning and zoning director for the city.

Harold Greene was mayor of Locust from 2003 to 2009.
According to a death notice through Stanly Funeral Home, “During this period, Locust experienced unprecedented growth with the addition of several housing communities, Red Bridge Golf Course, Walmart, and Chicago Tube and Iron. Harold worked to develop a new land plan for future growth, helping the city rebound from the widening of highway N.C. 24/27 which effectively destroyed the heart of Locust’s legacy commercial center. This work paved the way for building the new Locust Town Center. Locust was brought under sound financial management, received grant funding for the new city park, Officer Jeff Shelton Memorial, baseball fields, tennis courts, soccer and football fields. USDA funding was secured to build a new City Hall, library, and community room as well.”

Mike Huneycutt, left, is joined by Bobby Harold Barbee, Benny White and Charlie Higgins during this dedication of Locust Fire Department pumper in memory of Pete Henkel. Huneycutt and White were on the Board of Directors at the time, Higgins was fire chief and Barbee was the district’s state representative in the House.