John Alvin Atkinson, Sr.

John Alvin Atkinson, Sr., 78, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, NC.

John was born in Winston-Salem, NC on September 6, 1945, to Mabel Lewis and Daniel Thomas Atkinson, Sr. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty A. Moser and Vicki A. Rich.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 57 years, Judy Bowman Atkinson, son John A. “Jay” Atkinson, Jr. (Leslie), daughter Julie A. Frazier (Blake) all of Wilmington, five grandchildren, John Atkinson, III, Ellie Atkinson, Cole Frazier, Anne Frances Frazier, and James Atkinson, sisters Shirley R. Atkinson and Peggy A. Lawson of Winston-Salem, brother Daniel T. Atkinson, Jr. of Conway, SC, sisters-in-law Kaye B. Byrd, Peggy B. Smith, and Susan B. Arthur, brothers-in-law Richard A. Moser and Bryan J. Arthur, and many nieces and nephews. 

John graduated from James A. Gray High School in 1963 where he excelled on the basketball court. He attended Appalachian State University earning a degree in Political Science in 1967.

John and Judy moved to Eden, NC and became active members of Leaksville Moravian Church. He started a career teaching and coaching basketball. 

John transitioned from educator and coach to businessman. After early mentoring in the real estate business from Homer Wright, another Eden builder/developer, John would go on to create his own real estate brokerage and residential construction companies. His partnership with Homer in multi-family projects and other real estate ventures would last 50 years, as would their deep friendship.

Mr. Wright founded a real estate community in the 1980s near Southport called St. James Plantation, and early on encouraged John to relocate to the coast to partner with him in its development. With Homer’s vision and John’s business acumen, St. James would grow to be one of the finest and most successful master-planned communities on the East coast.

John’s children Jay and Julie and son-in-law Blake would all follow him into the real estate business.

John loved the NC and VA mountains and spending time with his family. He enjoyed card game nights and basketball clinics with his grandchildren, and playing tennis and pickleball. 

One of his proudest coaching memories was leading Morehead High School to the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic Basketball Championship in his hometown of Winston-Salem in 1988.

In addition to his family, John loved Appalachian State University athletics, and in particular App State football. He and Judy were proud supporters and members of the Circle of Excellence.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 21 from 4-6 p.m. at Andrews Market Street Chapel, 1617 Market St., Wilmington.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 22 at the Kenan Chapel at Landfall, 510 Arboretum Dr., Wilmington.

Memorial gifts may be made to the St. James Plantation Service Club Foundation (www.sjserviceclub.org) or to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (www.lifecare.org).