Funeral services for former Southern Shores Mayor James Harold “Hal” Denny, who died April 10 in Gaithersburg, Md., will be held at Duck Church in Duck tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Mr. Denny would have marked his 100th birthday on May 13. He was born in 1925 in Red House, Ky.
Mr. Denny is survived by his wife, Billie Sue Watson Denny; his son, James H. Denny II (wife, Fran); his daughter-in-law, Nancy Wylie; three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His son, David Watson Denny, and grandson, David Elliott Denny, predeceased him.
(For a full list of survivors, see Mr. Denny’s obituary at https://gallopfuneralservices.com.)
Dr. Denny, a former naval aviator and retired U.S. Navy Reserve captain, began his public service in Southern Shores in 1999 when he was elected to the Town Council. He was reelected to a two-year term on the Town Council in 2003 during the period when the Town was transitioning to staggered terms for Council members and opening up mayoral elections.
The Town held its first popular election for mayor in 2001, Council members having previously elected the mayor from among their ranks.
Mr. Denny was chosen mayor by the Town Council in 2004 after then-mayor Rear Admiral Paul E. Sutherland, Jr., resigned before his term ended. Admiral Sutherland was the first mayor of Southern Shores who was elected by popular vote.
In 2005, Mr. Denny retired from Town government service, but he returned to politics in 2009 to run for mayor against incumbent Mayor Don Smith, whose term was marked by controversy. A retired logistics manager, Mr. Denny, then 84, defeated Mr. Smith in a landslide, 816-352.
Mr. Denny served out his term and was succeeded by Tom Bennett, who won two terms as mayor. (Current mayor, Elizabeth Morey, succeeded Mr. Bennett, winning election in 2021.)
During his time in Southern Shores, Mr. Denny also served as president of the Southern Shores Civic Assn. and Vice Commodore of the Southern Shores Boat Club. He lived in Chicahauk and was actively involved in the community.
THE SOUTHERN SHORES BEACON, 5/16/25
The Southern Shores Beacon 