About John Henry McCray
Lived 1910 – 1987 (aged 77). John Henry McCray was a journalist, publisher, politician, newspaper editor and academic administrator, known for Civil and political rights and Publishing.
Career He started his career at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest Black-owned life insurance company. The articles covered many aspect of Black life and columns. The last publication of the Lighthouse and Informer was June 12, 1954.
In 1950, McCray charged with criminal libel for writing an article in which he suggested that Willie Tolbert, a black man who had recently been executed in South Carolina for raping a 16-year-old white girl, was innocent and the girl had consented to sex with Tolbert. In 1951, he was found guilty and sentenced to three years of probation plus a $3000 fine. In 1951, he was arrested for violating the terms of his probation and served one month on a chain gang.
In 1944, he was cofounder of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) of South Carolina. McCray is part of a mural, The Pursuit of Opportunity: Celebrating African American Business, by artist Ija Charles, located at 1401 Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina. Additionally there is a historical marker located in Columbia, dedicated to McCray and the Lighthouse and Informer.
McCray is included in Sid Bedingfield's book, Newspaper Wars: Civil Rights and White Resistance in South Carolina, 1935–1965 (published in 2017).
In 2020, the National Park Service gave a three-year grant to Allen University located in Columbia to study McCray.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Henry McCray's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Henry McCray's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Henry McCray?
American journalist (1910–1987)
When was John Henry McCray born?
John Henry McCray was born on 25 August 1910 in Youngstown.
When did John Henry McCray die?
John Henry McCray died on 15 September 1987 in Sylacauga.
What was John Henry McCray's occupation?
John Henry McCray was a journalist, publisher, politician, newspaper editor and academic administrator.
What was John Henry McCray known for?
John Henry McCray was known for Civil and political rights and Publishing.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Henry McCray
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Henry McCray. https://biography.guide/john-henry-mccray/
MLA: "John Henry McCray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-henry-mccray/.
Chicago: "John Henry McCray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-henry-mccray/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:27 UTC