John Bryant Shearin of Main Street, Creedmoor (94) went to his heavenly reward May 25, 2014. Born February 20, 1920 on a plantation in Essex in Halifax County, NC to William Louis and Roberta Walker Shearin, John was one of seven children with six older step siblings. His siblings were Susie Elizabeth, William Ray, Daisy Mae, Clifton Aaron, Richard Beron, himself and a twin named Edith who died in infancy. All preceded him in death except Richard remains. John went to live at Oxford Orphanage in January 20, 1927 where he and several siblings grew up and apprenticed in several trades and dairy. He graduated from high school there in 1937. Taking his first job inWallace, NC at the agricultural extension dairy, he then enrolled in Mars Hill College. He would join the Navy and be at the Normandy invasion on June 7, 1945. Upon returning he finished his education at Carson Newman in Johnson City, TN and found a home and teaching position in the Oxford community of Mountain Creek. There he would meet Lucia Beryl Elliott and marry in 1958. John was employed at the NC Division of Prisons, the Employment Security Commission and later retired as a public school teacher in Vance County. He worked in transportation part-time at Springmoor Retirement Community in North Raleigh. John was a member of First Baptist Church in Creedmoor and served as a Sunday School teacher, a Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of Deacons and many other positions over the years. He loved his participation in later years with the Keenagers and their many outings.
Most of all John loved his children that survive him—John Byrant Shearin, Jr (Lisa) of Winston Salem, Nancy Hunike (Mike) of Oxford, and Debra (James) of Bahama. There are six grandsons who Papa loved and adored: Ben and Matt Johnson; Joey, Jared and Jack Hunike; and Brandon Shearin. There is one very special granddaughter, Ava Shearin.
There are too many medical providers to thank—Dr. Hoffmeier and staff, the nurses at Granville Medical Center, the home health providers and Hospice. Know that he appreciated you all and witnessed to you at every opportunity. He never met a stranger.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 30, 2014 at First Baptist Church on Main St Creedmoor at 11:00am. There will also be a visitation at the church Sanctuary on Thursday evening, May 29, 2014 from 6pm -8pm. A lover of beautiful flowers, they are acceptable as are donations to the First Baptist Church P.O. Box 38 in Creedmoor, NC and the Masonic Home for Children at 600 College St in Oxford, NC 27565. Commitment to the grave will be held immediately following the service at Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Oxford, NC.
