Mark Wayne Gregory

Mark Wayne Gregory, 38, a former resident of Washington, DC, died of AIDS-related complications on Friday, September 6, 1996, at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, according to his lover, Richard M. Addy of Durham, NC.

Gregory was born October 15, 1957, in Fayetteville, NC. He graduated from East Rowan High School and attended Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. He also attendedNorthern Virginia Community College (NVCC) following nearly four years in the U.S. Air Force and a move to Washington.

Gregory worked in the technical and performing arts of theatre for over 20 years. He composed and conducted the music for Pegora and Aesop's Fables at NVCC. After two seasons with John Moran's Celebration singing ensemble at the Old Town Alexandria Holiday Inn, Gregory went on to perform with the cabaret group DECO. This very popular trio regularly performed at the Capitol Hill nightclubs Equus (now Remington's) and Dot's Spot (Zapata's).

Gregory's many credits include the role of Johnny Casino and musical director of Grease for the Fairlington Players; Johnny Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and the Quintet in A Little Night Music with The Arlington Players; and Pap in Big River at the Harlequin Dinner Theater. Gregory was also musical director for his own group, The Sunday Review. Previously, he starred as Curley in Oklahoma and Woody in Finian's Rainbow.

Gregory was one of a small number of long term survivors of HIV infection, and volunteered for a number of research protocols at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. He was only the second person in the world to receive the anti-AIDS drug ddI in the testing stage.

Gregory achieved national prominence in 1988 when he was fired from a job with the Department of Justice, exactly one week after his lover died, for taking time off to participate in an in-patient study at NIH. An out-of-court settlement was reached after a Congressional hearing. Before moving to North Carolina two years ago, Gregory also worked for five years as manager of Crown Books stores in Rockville and Germantown, MD.

"He will be remembered for his extraordinary keyboard and vocal talents, for his incredible energy and love of life. When you were out with Mark, you knew you would have a great, fun time. He was very generous and caring to all his many friends, and was courageous in fighting discrimination," according to Addy.

In addition to Addy, Gregory is survived by his parents Fred and June, a brother Benny, and his grandmother Mildred Myers, all of Salisbury; by another brother Freddy of Charlotte, NC and by several aunts and uncles.He is also survived by long term friends Bonnie and Larry Edwards, Sr., of Rockville, MD; Keith Cunningham of Silver Spring, MD; Andrew Coile of Springfield, VA; and Gary Regan of Arlington, VA as well as by many other friends in DC and North Carolina. Gregory was pre-deceased in 1988 by his lover of six years, Larry Edwards, Jr.

Gregory's remains were cremated. His ashes will be distributed over the gravesite of his deceased partner and over the Potomac river near LBJ Memorial Park. A reception and celebration of Gregory's life will be held at the home of Gary Regan, 900 S. 16th St., Arlington, VA at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12. For more information, call (703) 521-6175. Contributions in Gregory's name may be made to the Whitman-Walker Clinic, 1407 S Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009.