GROOM NAME
Gary Duncan
NAME OF HBCU FOR GROOM ?
North Carolina A&T State University
GROOM PROFESSION?
Client Services Manager II, ADP and Co-Founder of Still Moon Moonshine
BRIDE NAME
Shay Duncan
NAME OF HBCU FOR BRIDE?
North Carolina A&T State University
BRIDE PROFESSION?
Educator, Chesapeake Public Schools
SO, EXACTLY HOW DID YOU MEET?
We met through a calendar! I was a freshman, and my RA had a centerfold calendar full of campus hotties on her wall. One look at my birth month, and I knew I had to meet Mr. July. At the time, I didn’t know his name, only that everyone called him “Scratch” (he was a campus DJ). From that moment on, I made sure if a campus party advertised Scratch as the DJ, my friends and I had to attend! Little did I know, Gary was asking about me as well. I worked part-time in the library. My co-worker was trying to encourage me to share my phone number with his friend, Gary. I didn’t know anyone named Gary, and I was NOT interested in meeting him. If only I knew the “Scratch” I pursued was the “Gary” that was pursuing me. It wasn’t until my junior year did I learn that Scratch and Gary were the same person. Once our paths aligned, we have been together ever since.
HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT YOU WOULD MARRY?
Shay: Gary and I have a vibe. I can’t put it into words, I can’t describe it, we just work. He is quiet, reserved, and laid back. I am bold, outgoing, and edgy. Are we opposites? Not quite–but we complement each other like matching bookends. He is the only man that still gives me butterflies in my stomach when he walks into a room. There was an amalgamation of little moments that let me know he was my soulmate-the way he reaches out to always hold my hand; the way he looks for me when we are on opposite sides of a room; the way he lives by example. He is a GOD FIRST type of man. Gary: From the first time I saw Shay walking across the yard and from the day we actually met, I felt a deep sense of connection to her. It grew after that through a combination of factors such as shared values, common interest, and a strong emotional bond. I wanted a sense of comfort and security in envisioning a future together, and 32 years later, we still have that “thing”!
DESCRIBE THE PROPOSAL?
Watching the season finale of “A Different World” together on the couch, Gary turned to me during the commercial and asked if I knew he loved him. I didn’t notice he had moved for sitting on the floor to the proverbial “one knee” when he asked me this. He went on to tell me how much he loved me, how he wanted to spend his future with me and then he “popped the question.” There was no fanfare, no big production–just the two of us–and that was absolutely perfect for me!
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH HOMECOMING YOU ATTEND EACH YEAR?
There is no choice. We are both NCAT Aggies–and true Aggies do not miss THE GREATEST HOMECOMING ON EARTH. In addition to both of us being proud alumni of NCA&T, Gary is also a brand ambassador for Still Moon Corn Whiskey for which he is the co-founder/owner. Still Moon is the official drink of North Carolina A&T State University.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?
32 years–July 13, 1991
How do you Balance Work, Home and Fun Times?
Fortunately, Gary has a job that values work-life balance. He works 2-3 days a week from home which allows him to spend more time with the family. It is always “fun” when it comes to the Duncans. We do things together and WE LIKE IT! We even transformed our entire backyard into an adult playground complete with a cigar lounge, ax throwing wall, fire pit, and outdoor karaoke–just to allow us the space to spend more time together. You have to have laughter and fun to make any relationship work, and we are a family that incorporates all of that in everything we do.
1 Comment
Outstanding article and outstanding couple. I have known Shay from the time she was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan and she has always been about commitment to excellence, fun, great food, and family. Knowing that she met a dedicated godly Aggie man who loved her dearly made all of our hearts leap for joy, We never had to worry about whether Shay was okay. We knew she was in great hands and that they together would one day grow into a wonderful example of God’s love, grace, and mercy. We are all so proud of them back at home in Michigan and all over the country wherever we are located. They are the real deal. They are the pinnacle of great home training and great personal, spiritual, and professional development. There is nothing like #AggieLove and #AggiePride
Angelo and TJ Haygood
Authors of “How to Build a Successful Marriage”
NCATSU Class of 1983
Married Senior Year Nov 27, 1982
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