November 25, 1941 ~ January 26, 2024 (age 82)
John Wayne McPherson age 82, of Whiteville went to be with his Lord on Friday, January 26, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in Durham with his family by his side.
He was born November 25, 1941, to Madge (Hinson) and John McPherson. After their divorce, John was raised by his mother and stepfather, Joe. John married Nellie (Price) on April 16, 1967, and they had two children, Joan (Terry) and Susan (Johnny). John also had two daughters from his first marriage, Sherry and Terry.
Susan had two children, Kristen (Toby) and Sarah, who brought tremendous joy to their grandparents. Ruby, Kristen and Toby’s daughter, was John’s great-grandchild, and her infectious personality brought many smiles and memories to cherish of her beloved Granddaddy John. Our family feels confident that she added time to his life so that she and we could create memories to last a lifetime. John and Nellie were blessed to have a bonus daughter, Kimberly Elkins Baccarny.
John grew up in the Beaverdam community and experienced farm life as a child. John served in the US Army and was stationed in Munich, Germany. He talked vividly about his time in Europe sharing stories about his service and many adventures before returning to NC.
He later worked in the public sector and farmed for himself. He eventually committed most of his work time to J. W. Cook & Sons, working his way through the construction field and retiring at age 62 as a construction foreman. After his retirement, he was able to spend several years experiencing the farm again.
John left his work at the farm to enjoy hunting and fishing to the fullest extent. He passed his love of the outdoors on to his family, even though he often joked all of his boys were girls. There was nowhere he would rather fish than Lake Waccamaw, and if you talked to him often, you would surely hear a tale or two of the white perch he loved to fish for. Our family will miss those tales and the smile that a trip to the Lake was sure to bring, but we will forever cherish the tales he told and the memories made there.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Madge McPherson, father, John McPherson, stepfather, Joe McPherson, sisters, Veta McPherson and Sue Skipper, and daughter, Sherry McPherson. He is survived by his wife, Nellie, daughters Joan (Terry) and Susan (Johnny), grandchildren Kristen (Toby) and Sarah, and great-granddaughter Ruby, as well as his brother, Charles (Frances), and daughter, Terry, from his first marriage.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn.
A private service will be held with Dr. Dave Heller officiating.
Instead of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Lake Waccamaw State Park Friends, a non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the Park and Lake Waccamaw. John loved Lake Waccamaw and its surroundings, and the family feels that this is a fitting tribute to honor his memory. Donations can be sent to PO Box 84, Lake Waccamaw, NC, 28450.
