John LeRoy Townsend, Jr.

J. LeRoy Townsend, Jr. died peacefully at Wesley Pines on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 after a short time of declining health. He was the eldest child of J. LeRoy Townsend and Lucy Bullard Townsend and a lifelong resident of Lumberton. He was educated in the Lumberton city schools and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, where he was a member and officer at Phi Delta Theta fraternity. While serving on a student government board, he interviewed a student running for the Honor Council, Beverley Chalk of Greensboro, NC, whom he married the week after his graduation. With her, he returned home to Lumberton to operate tobacco auction warehouses in Lumberton and Virginia and manage family farms, business interests in real estate and automotive dealerships in Lumberton and Mullins, SC. Upon retirement, LeRoy enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, the good fellowship with friends on the golf course and his church, First Baptist, where he was a lifetime member.

LeRoy was preceded in death by an infant son, Stephen, as well as his mother, father, and brother, James Neil Townsend. He was very proud of his family and all of their accomplishments in life. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beverley; son John L. Townsend III and wife Marree of Greenwich, CT and their daughters Merritt Patridge and son-in-law Adam, Louise Duckett and son-in-law Will; son David Gray Townsend and wife Margaret of Winston-Salem, NC and their daughters Reilly and Mary Lyle, and son Gray; daughter Betsy Townsend Smith and husband David of Atlanta, GA and their daughter Elizabeth Edwards and son-in-law Scott, and daughter Catherine; as well as two sisters, Mary Ann Floyd of Raleigh and Geraldine Bullard Pittman of Fairmont.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Lumberton on Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive relatives and friends in the Cherry Fellowship Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Endowment Fund, First Baptist Church, 606 Walnut Street, Lumberton, NC 28358 or to the charity of your choice.