Kenneth Daurice Butler (1932–2023)

Kenneth Daurice Butler was a pillar of love, leadership, and service in Princess Anne, Maryland. For decades, he poured himself into education and community, shaping lives with equal parts discipline, generosity, and joy. He wasn’t just an educator—he was a guide, a protector, and, to many, the community’s godfather.

Kenneth devoted more than 40 years to Somerset County Public Schools, serving as a teacher, principal, and Supervisor of Federal Programs. In 1976, he founded the Migrant Worker Program, a groundbreaking effort that opened doors for countless families and students. He carried this work with pride, knowing education could change not just lives, but entire generations.

What people remember most, though, is how Kenneth showed up for children. He was famous for keeping a pocket full of small bills, always asking kids about their grades and rewarding effort and success with a dollar, five, or even ten. Children would run toward him like he was the ice-cream man. His booming voice, big presence, and unforgettable Santa-like laugh—“Ha…Ha…Haaa!”—filled rooms and lifted spirits.

Beyond the classroom, Kenneth quietly invested in his community by owning and maintaining homes in Black neighborhoods, offering affordable housing and extending grace when people needed second chances. He believed in people, often before they believed in themselves.

Kenneth Butler’s legacy lives on in the students he inspired, the families he supported, and the countless lives he touched with kindness, leadership, and love. His impact wasn’t loud—but it was lasting, and it was everywhere.