His … name was Jubal, he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
Genesis 4:21
Jubal – the first musician
Former Ocracoke Islander Jubal (Kennedy Patrick-jubal) Creech died on March 11, 2026, after a two-year struggle with cancer and complications.
He was a son of the late Merle Smith Davis and James Edward (Jimmy) Creech of Raleigh and stepmother, the late Chris Weedy.
Jubal was born on Aug. 7, 1972, in Raleigh. At the age of 10 months, he moved with his family to Ocracoke Island where he spent the next eight years of his life.
He then moved to Warsaw, North Carolina, where he discovered his musical passion for drums, playing in the James Kenan High School marching band. It was during a performance of the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble at the school that his passion became a love affair with hand drumming.
From Warsaw, in 1987, Jubal moved with his family to Raleigh where he graduated from Needham Broughton High School in 1990.
Over the years, Jubal traveled with his family to France, China and Hong Kong. Later, he traveled to Gambia and lived in Haiti where he studied techniques of hand drumming from Gambian and Haitian musicians.
He was multi-talented. In addition to being an accomplished percussionist, with both drum sets and hand drums, he played the ukulele, was a poet, songwriter, massage therapist, artist, storyteller and teacher of English as a foreign language.
Jubal lived in Asheville and Raleigh, playing with local bands in each.
In Raleigh, he played with the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, and for the Paperhand Puppet Project and the Raleigh Little Theater.
He lived the greater part of his adult life on Ocracoke where he played with local bands, including Molasses Creek. He hosted Jubal Jams, a weekly show on WOVV, the island radio station. He is remembered on the island as one whose hands and heart brought vibrant and magical energy to his music.
As one who taught how to listen to rhythm, to life, to oneself. As one who carried a quiet depth, with always more beneath the surface – more joy, more insight, more pain and unyielding truth. That depth was part of his gift, part of what made him so human, so real and so unforgettable. As one who had a humble love for all people, a gentleness that was there from the earliest days, moving through the world with kindness, openness and grace.
In 2017, Jubal moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he lived until his death. There, he played with local bands and taught English to Thai and Chinese students, as well as percussion and ukulele. He especially enjoyed working with children.
His Thai friends remember him as a beautiful soul who lived authentically, a kind soul, one with compassion for the underdogs with a strong moral compass and dry wit, a genius musician, a sweet man, a generous spirit, and a lovely creative gifted man, sensitive percussionist, great group and community workshop leader who played and lived and loved with a beautiful sense of wonder.
Jubal’s ashes will be scattered on Ocracoke Island, the home he never truly left. His rhythm lives there – in the bird’s wings against the backdrop of the sunset over the sound, in the wind through the live oaks, in the pounding rain of a summer squall and in the quiet spaces between heartbeats.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his stepfather, Donald Davis (Ocracoke); step-sister Natalia Weedy (Durham); aunts Alice Creech Wilson (Raleigh) and Frances Creech Allen (Goldsboro), and cousins Susie Allen Daniels (Goldsboro) and Robert Allen (Wilmington).
Jubal’s birth announcement read:
New life,
Tender,
Small and so grand,
From life-loving
Is this spirit
Born of woman-man.
Keeper of some future’s history,
Nature’s miracle of hope,
Truth veiled in mystery:
Sunshine felt …
Breath drawn …
Cries breaking
From Life’s fleshed music …
And, we, this day
Have given New Life, New Spirit, New Hope, New Music
To you with love.
This tender and beautifully written description of Jubal paints an accurate picture of a truly gifted young man. I had the pleasure, the honor, of hearing his music and rhythms during my six years on the island. His Mom was a sweet friend and spent the evening with me before my son and I departed the island. I was unaware of her passing as well. Many thanks to the writer, and sincere condolences to all family and friends.
Anne Trevvett
RIP You will, Mr Jubal Creech❤️!!
Thoughts & Prayers go out to All Family & Friends of Mr Jubal Creech❤️🙏!!
To the person/persons that wrote this very Heartfelt Story of Mr Jubal Creech…You have a gift…Outstanding on all points❤️
Jubal’s father, Jimmy Creech, wrote it.