John Faircloth Jr.

Published 3:59 pm Wednesday, April 17, 2013

IVOR—John Thomas Faircloth, Jr., 93, passed away April 16, 2013. He was the son of the late John Thomas Faircloth, Sr. and Hope Stephenson Faircloth and was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Martha R. Faircloth; sister, Annie Betty Bailey and brother, Allen J. Faircloth.

Mr. Faircloth was a lifelong member of Ivor Baptist Church where he served in numerous capacities. He was baptized in the Blackwater River in 1929 by Rev. W.M. Hall. He served for 39 years (1958-1997) as a deacon, receiving a certificate from the church and named an honorary lifetime deacon.

An Ivor native, Mr. Faircloth completed Ivor High School in 1937 and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the class of 1941. He served in the Army’s European Theater for 4 ½ years during World War II attaining the rank of Major and was recalled to active duty in 1951 during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Faircloth was employed by the State Board of Education from 1947-1952, and with Virginia Carolina Chemical Company serving in several counties. He was the manager of the former Thomas L. Bain Est. until his retirement in 1984. He was very active and civic minded in organizations and was instrumental in the establishment of Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad, Ivor Volunteer Fire Department and the former Berlin-Ivor Community Center, now known as Ivor Medical Center, serving as President and member for a lengthy time. He was a former member of Ivor Town Council and Ivor Ruritan Club, receiving a 50-year Ruritan membership pin. A Past Master of Ivor Masonic Lodge 291 A.F. & A. M and received a 50 year membership pin in the Mason’s Fraternity. Mr. Faircloth served on the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Commerce Board, Richmond, as a 4th district representative from1971-1979; serving as President of the board for 6 years. He was a member of the Board of Visitors of V.P.I. and State University from 1973-1979; member of Reforestation Advising Committee from 1972-1975; member of the committee of the Atlantic Rural Exposition, Inc.; member of Southampton County Board of Equalization; the Southampton Highway Safety Commission Committee and member of Trustees of Chippokes Plantation Farm and Foundation from 1977-1979. Mr. Faircloth enjoyed many kinds of sports and was a member of B&B Hunt Club for 25 years where he served as President and Vice President.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 66 years, Eleanor Bryant Faircloth; brother, Hermer H. Faircloth; step-sister, Selma O. Graves; and many nieces and nephews, Hope F. Coffey (Gary), Jay Faircloth (Susan), Martin Bailey, Christy Faircloth Lynch (Jim), Jo Anne F. Joyner (Len), Nancy F. Scott, Leroy Bryant (Texie), Jerry Bryant (Beverly), Tommy Bryant (Brenda), Martha Rowe Croft (Bob), Sammy Vick (Shannon) and LeeAnne Long (Wallace).

A funeral service will be held Friday, April 19 at 2 p.m. at Ivor Baptist Church with Rev. J. Lytle Buckingham and Rev. Donald Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Ivor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad P.O. Box 228, Ivor, VA 23866 or the Ivor Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 213 Ivor, VA 23866. R.W. Baker & Co Funeral Home and Crematory 509 West Washington Street Suffolk, VA is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.