Gerald Haywood Quinn

Gerald H. Quinn

WARSAW — Mr. Gerald Haywood Quinn, 80, passed away Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at Vidant Duplin Hospital.

Born Jan. 23, 1937, Gerald was the son of the late Tharon Roscoe Quinn and Isla Bell Quinn of Duplin County. He was a member of the Warsaw Baptist Church and was currently serving as a deacon.

He was married to Rita Sutton Quinn on Dec. 28, 1958.

Surviving Gerald are his wife, Rita Sutton Quinn of the home; one daughter, Carla Quinn Rouse and husband, Rick; one son, Gerald Haywood Quinn Jr. and wife, Patricia, both of Kenansville; his grandchildren, Leslie Rae Rouse, Ivey Quinn Rouse and Gerald Haywood Quinn III (better known as Luke); and one sister, Faye Quinn Williams.

Gerald was preceded in death by two brothers, Milford Quinn and I.J. Quinn, and two sisters, Grace Quinn Carlton and Zona Quinn Jenkins.

A native of Beulaville, North Carolina, Gerald graduated from Warsaw High School in 1955. Following his graduation from high school, he attended UNC Chapel Hill in 1955 and then transferred to Campbell College (1956-57). Following his education from Campbell, he attended Atlantic Christian College where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959. Following his graduation from college, Gerald also served in the Armed Forces of the USA - Army National Guard of North Carolina.

Gerald has been a servant leader his entire life. His faith and integrity is appreciated by all who have ever conducted business with him. As a Christian businessman, Gerald, along with his brothers Milford and I.J., owned and operated Quinn Wholesale Company, Inc. where Gerald served as the President. In addition to providing honest and fair prices to his customers, Gerald is also known for being an outstanding supporter of community organizations and assisting these groups with finances, materials and supplies to help them meet their individual mission goals. As a leader in the grocery business, Gerald served as President of the North Carolina Wholesalers Association in 1986-87. His service to Warsaw Baptist Church has been exemplary as well, having served in numerous capacities throughout the years from financial management to family ministry to educational administration.

Active in his local civic community, he has been a life member of the Warsaw Jaycees. He also served as the vice president of the North Carolina Jaycees, received the Distinguished Service Award by the Warsaw Jaycees, and was also named a Jaycee International Senator life member in 1975.

Gerald's generous life of service has extended to membership on numerous boards including the Board of Trustees for Atlantic Christian College, the Morehead Selection Committee for the John Motley Morehead Foundation, investment committee for the NC 4-H Foundation, Board of Commissioners for Duplin County 1972-76 (chairman 1975), Duplin County Hospital Foundation Board, the Duplin County Industrial Board, BB&T local board, and President of Business-Industry Associates for Duplin, Wayne and Sampson Counties.

In recognition of his service to the citizens of North Carolina, Governor James B. Hunt awarded Gerald with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1984 and Governor James G. Martin recognized Gerald's volunteer services to the people of North Carolina in 1986.

One of Gerald's passions is healthcare, and he served on the Board of Trustees at North Carolina Baptist Hospital from 1971 to 2009 and was chairman of the Board in 1984, 1985 and 1994. In 2009, he was named a Life Member of the Board. In recognition of his outstanding and long-tenured service to Baptist Hospital, he was presented the North Carolina Heritage Award in 2010.

In recognition of his outstanding service to his local and statewide business community, the citizens of Duplin County, and his alma mater, Campbell University, the National Alumni Association proclaimed Gerald a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus.

In his spare time, Gerald enjoyed travel, golf, music and sports.

Visitation will be at Warsaw Baptist Church from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Funeral services will be held at the church at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21. Burial will follow at Devotional Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Duplin General Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 278, Kenansville, N.C. 28349 in appreciation of the compassionate care provided by Vidant Duplin Hospital's Medical/Surgical, ICU and Emergency Department teams or to Warsaw Baptist Church, 209 E. College St., Warsaw, N.C. 29398.