New NCBF Endowment Justice Funds Support Open Door Initiative
The North Carolina Bar Foundation dedicated three new NCBF Endowment Justice Funds during a special dedication ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary.
The Cheslie C. Kryst Justice Fund, John B. McMillan Justice Fund, and W. Gerald Thornton Justice Fund have all been established posthumously and designated toward the NCBF Open Door Fund and Fellowship.
Establishment of the Kryst Justice Fund was led by the NCBA Young Lawyers Division, of which Kryst was a member while practicing with the Poyner Spruill firm in Charlotte. Establishment of the McMillan Justice Fund and the Thornton Justice Fund were made possible through the generosity of their firm, Manning Fulton, with a lead gift provided by Deborah Hildebran-Bachofen of the firm and her husband, Max Bachofen.
The Young Lawyers Division, Manning Fulton, and Deborah Hildebran-Bachofen and Max Bachofen are now recognized for their commitment and support as Open Door Fund Founding Donors.
Mark Holt and Caryn McNeill, who have served as founding co-chairs of the Open Door Fund, participated in the ceremony and announced fulfillment of the $1 million campaign to endow the Open Door Fund and Fellowship. They also recognized April Franklin, a 2024 Open Door Fellow, and 2025 Open Door Fellows Josh Peacock and Suzy Brito Lagunas, all of whom were in attendance.
President Kim Stogner and Executive Director Jason Hensley provided remarks and introductions throughout the event, including the unveiling of the Justice Fund plaques at the conclusion of the ceremony. Accompanying biographies of the honorees are now also on display at the Bar Center and provided at the end of this article.
New Justice Fund plaques honor the memory of three distinguished NCBA members.
Six new Liberty Garden Pavers were also announced during the event, including two dedicated in honor of Richard Lee Robertson and Richard Lee Robertson Jr., who were in attendance. Founder Richard Roberston and his son, Managing Partner R. Lee Robertson Jr., guide the firm of Robertson & Associates in Charlotte.
Three additional pavers previously dedicated posthumously by NCBA sections honored Jackson C. Bebber of The Van Winkle Firm in Asheville (Litigation Section) and William Hunter (Bill) Gammon of Nelson Mullins in Raleigh and G. Dudley Humphrey Jr. of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in Winston-Salem (Construction Law Section).
Posthumous dedication of the paver honoring William H. (Bill) Humbert of Davis Humbert Law in Mebane was also announced. This paver was funded by colleagues and friends, led by fellow Alamance County attorney Tom Steele.
The Cheslie C. Kryst Justice Fund was introduced by Collins Saint of Brooks Pierce in Greensboro, who serves as chair of the Young Lawyers Division, and April Simpkins, mother of the late Cheslie Kryst.
“Cheslie challenged the image of what a lawyer, a pageant queen, and a changemaker could look like,” said Saint, who first met Kryst when they served together as student ambassadors at Wake Forest University School of Law. “And yet, for all her strength, she struggled. In January of 2022, Cheslie died by suicide. And even saying that now … it still hurts. Her death shattered those of us who knew her. And it reminded us, painfully, that outward success does not erase inward struggle.
“I want to acknowledge what I, and so many in this room, are feeling: this is hard. The grief is still real. The loss still feels fresh. And yet, standing here today – surrounded by people who loved Cheslie, people who admired her, people who are committed to honoring her – we are reminded that grief is love with nowhere to go. And today, we give it somewhere to go. We give it to legacy.”
“Cheslie was always one to challenge her peers,” her mother added. “I believe it was in 2019 when Chief Justice Beasley invited Cheslie to the 200th anniversary of the North Carolina Supreme Court so that Cheslie could deliver keynote remarks.
“As she stood there – of course my heart was bursting with pride – she challenged everyone in that room – her peers, judges – to do better. To reach back and help someone along the way. I loved that about her. She had that kind of energy, and it brought that kind of passion everywhere she went.”
The John B. McMillan Justice Fund was introduced by longtime Manning Fulton colleague John A. Hardin, who now serves as president of The Raleigh Group, and Katherine Skinner, who serves as executive director/North Carolina for The Nature Conservancy.
“The North Carolina Bar Foundation Open Door Fund supports individuals who have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession,” Hardin said. “It supports students who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through their activities, backgrounds and life experiences. John didn’t care what you looked like or where you were from. His commitment to everyone was to care about you, to mentor with you, and help you succeed.
“He may have scoffed at the notion of us sitting in a room talking about him in any way, but he would be so incredibly proud to know that law students will have new voices listening to them, and that the generous contributions of his friends, family and colleagues will support the involvement of the next generation of North Carolina lawyers.
“You see, for John, it was never about his name adorning the walls of a museum or being named the best of the best, which he was. It was never about people standing around talking about how great he was. For John, his north star was his commitment to clients, colleagues, community, his family, and the practice of law. This endowment will help guide future generations towards that north star, and because of that, he may, he just may, forgive us for standing around today cherishing him, praising him, and thanking him for his unwavering and relentless pursuit of professionalism and justice.”
“Thank you to the North Carolina Bar Foundation for convening this group and celebrating John McMillan and his many accomplishments, and for perpetuating his many gifts with the establishment of this fund in his honor,” Skinner added. “Over the past three decades, I have had many, many conversations with him, from the Boy Scouts’ troop trip to Africa, everything Carolina sports . . . to how he and Angie approached their philanthropic giving. I am always interested in why people give and how they give, because nowhere does it say you have to give your time or your money to any nonprofit.”
“One day, in a moment of clarity, he looked at me and said, ‘I give to Carolina Law School because they gave me one of the best educations I could ever get, and I will keep giving, because through it I have followed all of my passions.’ And I took that to heart, because with a lot of donors throughout my career, I generally get an answer like that from people who really believe in what they’re doing. And he did follow his passions!”
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The W. Gerald Thornton Justice Fund was introduced by longtime Manning Fulton colleague Ritchie Taylor and the honoree’s son, Will Thornton.
“For over 50 years, Gerald established himself as one of the preeminent business tax and estate planning lawyers in eastern North Carolina,” Taylor said. “As Gerald’s associate, and later as his law partner, I witnessed his formidable legal skills in action. When addressing complex issues, he had the well-developed ability with laser intensity to focus on the relevant issues, shifting the wheat from the chaff, helping his clients achieve their objectives with uncommon efficiency.”
Thornton was highly regarded by his clients and revered by his partners and colleagues within the firm.
“Not only did Gerald’s clients look to his sage counsel and leadership, but so did our firm, and the bar, and the community,” Taylor said. “For over 20 years, Gerald served as managing partner of our firm and head of our business practice. As such, the firm benefited from his steady hand as the firm grew and matured, maintaining its commitment to excellence taught in no small measure by his example.
“What began as a one-man tax practice grew into one of the largest corporate practices in eastern North Carolina with 20 attorneys at the time of his passing. As our firm’s managing partner, he dealt with each employee fairly, seeking to address everyone’s needs. The fact that he had the same legal assistant for 50 years speaks to his ability to nurture and develop people, and her everlasting patience.”
“I am a product of the tax strategies of Gerald Thornton,” Will Thornton added, inserting a note of levity into the proceedings. “He was a young IRS attorney at the time, and I was born on December 31st, close to midnight. I got teased as a tax-deduction baby as his first child, and probably was one of the first kids in school who knew what a tax deduction was. And then, somehow, he developed me into considering going into tax. He was disappointed that I ended up taking the CPA route versus the attorney-legal route. He teased me throughout my life that CPAs are really just certified public attorneys . . . in their own minds.”
Gerald Thornton’s life, his son continued, was guided by his “love for his Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ,” and “his unwavering commitment to his family.”
“We deeply miss him,” Thornton concluded. “Last Tuesday was his birthday, so this is a wonderful opportunity to come to this place. I think this is the first time I’ve been in this building . . . but I have driven by it with my dad, and he pointed it out to me several times and said, ‘Hey, I helped build this building.’ I’m so grateful that now we can be here on the celebration of his birth, if you will, to celebrate our love for him in this special way.”
Justice Fund Biographies
Cheslie C. Kryst
Cheslie Corrinne Kryst was a remarkable woman of many talents – licensed attorney, Miss USA 2019, and Emmy Award-nominated TV presenter. Beyond her impressive accolades, Cheslie was a cherished daughter, sister, and friend whose light touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Cheslie’s brilliance and compassion were evident in all she pursued. She graduated cum laude from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina with a business degree from the Darla Moore School of Business. She continued her academic journey at Wake Forest University, earning her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees simultaneously. While at Wake Forest, Cheslie dedicated herself to mentoring at-risk teenage girls, volunteering for community initiatives, and serving as parliamentarian for the National Black Law Students Association.
After becoming a licensed attorney in North and South Carolina, Cheslie joined the prestigious Poyner Spruill law firm as a complex civil litigator. Her passion for justice shone through her pro bono work, where she advocated for inmates facing excessive sentences for low-level drug offenses – a mission inspired by Bryan Stevenson’s transformative book, “Just Mercy.”
A gifted athlete, Cheslie was a Division I track and field competitor at the University of South Carolina, where she set records as a standout performer. Her drive and leadership extended beyond the track, as she championed causes close to her heart, including Dress for Success, where she served as an Impact Ambassador, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where she contributed as a board member.
Cheslie’s inner grace was as striking as her outward beauty. In 2019, she made history by winning the Miss USA crown. She proudly held the title for 557 days, the longest reign in Miss USA history. Her pageant title opened new opportunities, including becoming an entertainment news correspondent for EXTRA, where she earned an Emmy nomination.
Cheslie’s legacy is one of brilliance, resilience, and unwavering commitment to uplifting others. Her light continues to inspire and remind us of the power of compassion and excellence in all we do.
John B. McMillan
John Burchfield McMillan was a towering figure in North Carolina’s legal community and the community in which he worked and lived — an attorney, mentor, and public servant whose quiet strength and deep sense of ethics defined his five-decade career. Born on August 31, 1942, in Rochester, Minnesota, and raised in Southern Pines, McMillan’s path from Eagle Scout to one of North Carolina’s most respected lawyers was marked by a consistent commitment to professionalism, humility, and the public good.
McMillan earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he developed a love for learning, advocacy, and service. He graduated from the UNC School of Law in 1967 and remained an active and devoted alumnus, serving as president of the Law School Alumni Association and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.
After law school, McMillan began a legal career in Raleigh with the firm Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A. where he practiced for over 50 years. His areas of focus included general civil litigation, eminent domain, and government relations. A trusted advocate before the North Carolina General Assembly and the courts, McMillan built a reputation for fairness and effectiveness. His lobbying work earned him top-tier ranking among more than 800 registered lobbyists in the state. Despite these achievements, McMillan eschewed self-promotion. He declined to single out favorite cases or clients, believing all clients deserved equal dedication and discretion.
McMillan’s commitment to the legal profession extended well beyond his practice. He served with distinction on the North Carolina State Bar’s Disciplinary Hearing Commission (which he chaired for 10 years), the State Bar Council, and ultimately as president of the State Bar. His leadership helped strengthen the ethical standards of North Carolina’s legal community. McMillan was instrumental in the successful effort to plan and build the new State Bar Building in downtown Raleigh.
In recognition of his unparalleled service and mentorship, the North Carolina State Bar established the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award – the highest honor it bestows on its members for exemplary service, professionalism, and integrity.
McMillan’s public service included roles as counsel to a lieutenant governor and active involvement in various state institutions. He served on the boards of the North Carolina Symphony and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – where he played a key role in acquiring the museum’s celebrated Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur exhibit. He championed public education and conservation and was known for his behind-the-scenes impact in shaping policies and institutions across North Carolina.
Those who knew McMillan remember him as a “prince of a man”: modest, kind, and generous with his time. He mentored countless young attorneys, advised Boy Scouts, and guided friends and colleagues with a gentle but unwavering moral compass.
He shared his life and many adventures with his beloved wife, Angie McMillan, to whom he was devoted. The two traveled extensively, including at least 16 trips to Kenya, drawn by a mutual love of wildlife and natural beauty. Their partnership was marked by warmth, humor, and a shared commitment to service and learning.
John B. McMillan passed away on February 6, 2019, following a courageous three-year battle with cancer. His influence endures through the many lives he touched, the ethical standards he championed, and the ongoing legacy of the award that bears his name.
Gerald Thornton
Gerald Thornton was born on May 13, 1942, in Clinton, North Carolina. He was a hard worker and a beloved friend to many growing up in Clinton. He worked at the Dairy Queen, the ice cream factory, and local farms. When he was an 8th grader at Clinton Junior High, it shared a cafeteria with the high school next door. While there, he saw for the first time a beautiful girl with a ponytail. He would go on to befriend this girl, Katrina Crumpler, whom he later married and stayed by for over 60 years.
Gerald was active on the debate team and was captain of the football team at Clinton High School, where he graduated in 1960. Gerald subsequently attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was active in student government. He and Katrina were married in 1963 and they moved into a small trailer home in Chapel Hill to start their life together. Gerald decided to follow the advice of one of his professors to become an attorney. Gerald graduated from UNC’s law school in 1967.
Gerald began his legal career in Kentucky with a three-year stint with the District Counsel’s office of the Internal Revenue Service. Thereafter, he returned to Raleigh to establish one of the first tax law practices in Eastern North Carolina, practicing law with his law school study partner John McMillan.
For over 50 years, Gerald established himself as one of the preeminent business, tax and estate planning lawyers in North Carolina. Gerald’s legal skills were formidable. When addressing complex issues, he had the well-developed ability with laser intensity to focus on the relevant issues helping his clients achieve their objectives with uncommon efficiency.
For over 40 years, Gerald served as outside general counsel to General Parts until its acquisition by Advance Auto Parts for over $2 billion. General Parts was the largest member of the CARQUEST network. North Carolina business titan and General Parts founder, O. Temple Sloan, Jr., once said, “Over a 40-year timeframe, Gerald’s legal advice, counsel, and guidance were critical to our company’s success. His actions and advice always illustrated his high ethical standards, ensuring that we always protected the company’s reputation, which enabled us to earn the trust of our customers and industry peers.”
Mr. Sloan continued, “Gerald steered GPI through over 200 acquisitions; the complexity of an ESOP (with over 10,000 members) . . . and the complications of being a privately held company with thousands of shareholders. . . . All of this for over 40 years and GPI was never involved in a lawsuit with its ESOP or shareholders.” This is just one example of what Gerald helped his clients achieve.
In his estate planning practice, Gerald often served as the Rock of Gibraltar to many a client – great and small – dealing with the sensitive issues associated with their family planning. Clients relied on Gerald’s counsel and integrity as they navigated sensitive family situations.
He zealously advanced his clients’ interest. His clients knew they could rely on his sound judgment without question as to Gerald’s allegiances. As members of his team, he was able to mobilize us to consistently advance our clients’ interests.
Perhaps Gerald’s life is best described by some of his clients who also became his friends:
- Temple Sloan Jr.: “I have known many attorneys and business executives in my long career, but I have never met anyone with more integrity, high standards, professionalism and loyalty than Gerald Thornton.”
- Tom Blanchard, III: “In every meeting that I ever attended with Gerald, his presence elevates the performance level of each participant. He consistently demonstrates an outstanding degree of professionalism, high ethical standards, and solid character. His advice has consistently given me confidence in my work endeavors. I hope his influence shows not only in my work but more importantly in my life.”
- Jeffrey B. Mims: “I observed Gerald during Board meetings soaking up everyone’s comments. He would wait to speak at the end with his mature expertise and wisdom. My business associates on many occasions would say, “What would Gerald say?” Gerald provided us with not only legal advice, but excellent insight and personal advice. . . . Gerald’s kindness and generosity is exemplary. His big handshake, smile, and attentiveness made you feel like he is someone listening who really cares about what you are saying.”
Not only did Gerald’s clients look to his sage counsel and leadership, but so did his firm, the bar, and his community. For over 20 years, Gerald served as Manning Fulton’s managing partner and head of its business practice. As such, the firm benefited from his steady hand as the firm grew and matured, maintaining its commitment to excellence taught in no small measure by his example. What began as a one-man tax practice is now one of the largest corporate law practices in Eastern North Carolina with over 20 attorneys at the time of his passing.
Gerald’s skills as a practitioner have been routinely recognized by his peers including his election as a Fellow in both the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and American College of Tax Counsel among other accolades, including the North Carolina Bar Association’s Legal Practice Hall of Fame.
In addition to his law practice and firm leadership responsibilities, somehow Gerald found the time to provide leadership to the profession as his senior partners had done before him. Gerald is one of the few chairs of the North Carolina Bar Association Tax Section who served for two terms. Additionally, he was a regular speaker at continuing education programs and served for decades on the advisory board for the UNC Law School’s Annual Tax Institute, developing the next generation of tax attorneys. In 1985, he served as chairman for the Bar Center Steering Committee, where he led the efforts to build the current Bar Center, where thousands of lawyers have received continuing education training. Once constructed, he went on to serve another eight years on the Bar Center Building Committee, including a four-year term as chairman as well as serving four years on the Bar Association’s Board of Governors. He instilled in each of the junior attorneys on his team a commitment to bar service, with six of those attorneys having gone on to serve as chairs of the Tax, Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law, or Business Law Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association.
While developing a thriving legal practice and serving his profession, Gerald served as a lay leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Church”). For over 20 years, his leadership responsibilities included being a spiritual leader to thousands of parishioners and working to administer the temporal needs of the Church from building chapels to creating new congregations. At various times he served as a Bishop, Stake President, Raleigh NC Mission Presidency Counselor, Raleigh NC Temple Presidency Counselor and Temple Sealer, and Stake Patriarch for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Raleigh.
These professional and civic accomplishments only tell us part of the story as Gerald believed “no success can compensate for failure in the home.” Gerald’s 60-year marriage to his wonderful wife Katrina and the outstanding citizens each of their five children have become are the greatest measure of the man.
Gerald departed this mortal life on September 23, 2023, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Gerald’s influence and example continues to impact the lives he touched through his life as a true citizen-lawyer. The W. Gerald Thornton Justice Fund is a worthy recognition of a life well lived where he “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.