Dr. Pete K. Stone, 77, passed away peacefully at Atrium Health Cabarrus on Monday, June 1, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

The family would like to welcome friends, former players, coaches, colleagues, students, and all others who’s lives were touched by Dr. Stone to join them Sunday, June 7th from 3-5:45 pm at Lady’s Funeral Home to celebrate the WONDERful life of Dr. Stone, or as he preferred, Coach Stone. A short Memorial Service will follow in Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel.

Coach Stone was born August 6, 1948 in Union, SC where he was raised by his mother, Marguerite K. Bradley; grandmother, Virginia B. Kirby; and father Harold V. Bradley, Jr.

Coach Stone was an All State Football and Track Star at Union High School in Union, South Carolina where he graduated in 1966. Coach Stone graduated from The Citadel in 1971, where he lettered in football for four years as a defensive tackle playing for former Clemson head coach Red Parker. He was also an incredible baseball player, earning a contract offer from a Major League baseball team.

Coach Stone was a legendary coach and educator. He coached in South Carolina at Ridgeland and Seneca High School before moving to North Carolina to become the head Football Coach at West Stanley High School.

At the request of new Head Coach Bob Boswell, Coach Stone was hired at A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis and served as both Offensive and Defensive Coordinator during his coaching tenure with Coach Boswell. Coach Stone “officially” coached on Boswell's staff for six years from 1976-1981, until being hired as the new principal at Fred L Wilson Elementary School. Still wanting to coach, but unable to be paid for it by Kannapolis City Schools, Coach Stone offered his services to Coach Boswell for free, which put him in the press box on Friday nights communicating directly with coach Boswell. He also continued to coach for Head Coach Bruce Hardin, winning a State Championship with his son Rock as a player in 1989. He coached 7th and 8th grade football at Mount Pleasant Middle School from 2015-2016, before returning to Coach defensive line for A.L. Brown High School from 2017-2021, winning the SPC Conference Championship in 2020 with his grandson Luke Stone, thus fulfilling his dream of getting to coach both his son and grandson in football. He also coached track and wrestling throughout his career.

As an educator, Dr. Stone served as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Schools. After retiring from the State of North Carolina as an Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Stone moved to South Carolina where he served as an Assistant Superintendent and eventually retired from the State of South Carolina as Superintendent of schools for Saluda, SC. With too many accolades to attempt to mention in education, Dr. Stone was a pioneer in the use of learning styles to educate children and was even hired by corporations such as McDonalds, Wendy's and Taco Bell to teach them how to better train their employees.

After retirement Coach Stone loved watching his grandson play football at Lenoir-Rhyne University and his granddaughter’s softball and volleyball games in Mount Pleasant. A lifelong hunter and fisherman, Coach Stone continued to enjoy these activities all across the country, as well as riding horses and tending to cows with his wife, Terri, on his farm in South Carolina.

Dr. Stone is survived by his wife, Terri; son, Rock Stone and wife Jennifer; grandson, Luke Stone; and granddaughter, Banks Stone.

In lieu of flowers, Coach Stone wished for any memorials to be sent to A.L. Brown Football through the included link which is tax deductible.

https://won1der.org/football