Mr. John Thomas South Jr.

SOUTH, JOHN THOMAS, JR. - age 90, a leading educator of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 at a nursing home in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was married to the late Nell Perkins South for 66 years. South was born November 17, 1920, in Tullahoma, TN, one of three children of John Thomas South, Sr., and Mildred Gossage South. He grew up in Nashville, TN, and was a graduate of David Lipscomb College. He studied at Draughon's Business College in Nashville, TN, and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida. He was called to active duty in 1942 and served his country in the United States Army 69th Division. He served in England, France and Belgium and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service during the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, he served as Captain in the 7th Army Headquarters Adjunct General Section in Heidelberg, Germany, until 1946. South has long been a leader in the field of education. Upon returning to the states, South taught at Draughon's Business College in Nashville. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict and was assigned to the 3rd Army Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was discharged from the army, he became director of Marsh Draughon College in Atlanta. In 1969, South bought Lakeland Business College in Lakeland, FL. In 1971, South moved to Asheville to become president of the former Cecils College, now South College-Asheville. He served as president and owner of the college until 1998, transforming the curriculum and the direction of the college to meet the needs of the Asheville business community. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, he was also involved with educational institutions located in Savannah, GA, Montgomery, AL, West Palm Beach, FL, Charleston, SC, Ft. Smith, AR, and Knoxville, TN. South was an active member of the Asheville business community through his leadership on the boards of directors at Capital Bank, First Citizens Bank and Trust, the Eliada Homes for Children, and the Asheville Downtown City Club. He was a long-time member and elder at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, and a dedicated and passionate educator, mentor, businessman and friend in the Asheville community. South is survived by son John Thomas South III and wife Donna of Savannah, GA; daughter Donna South Davis and husband Bud Davis of Mt. Pleasant, SC; son Stephen A. South and wife Becky of Knoxville, TN; grandchildren, Lorri Ray South of Atlanta, GA; Christopher Edward Kabine of Summerville, SC, Abigail Elaine South of Savannah, GA; Tradd Ashton Kabine of Atlanta, GA; Nicholas Garrett South, Ansley Allison South, and Turner Hogin South of Knoxville, TN; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nell. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel in Bearden with Dr. Bill Barron officiating. The entombment will be Saturday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. in Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 40 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801 or Eliada Homes Foundation at P.O. Box 16708 Asheville, NC 28816. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com