John Barry Keel

John Barry Keel

On Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, John Barry Keel, 54, passed away suddenly.

He was a devoted father, husband, brother and friend. He resided with his wife Tamie in Southport, and attended Aposolic Tabernacle Church in Wilmington.

He was born in Clinton to Annie Lee Williamson Kinlaw and Robert Franklin Keel. After graduating high school, John worked several jobs before starting work as a Parking Lot Maintenance Technician. While working as a technician, he was also a Firefighter with the Leland Fire Department. There, he found his true calling helping others, protecting society, and making communities safer. Once he completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training program, John secured a job as a Leland Police Officer where he heroically and proudly served for 16 years until his retirement in 2016.

John loved cooking and hosting cook-outs for family and friends as often as possible. He was an outstanding home improvement "go to" guy who put his heart and soul into his projects, especially ones to make his next cook-out even better.

As a father and a father figure to all, John could be stern when necessary, but had one of the softest hearts known to man-kind and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

John was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Tamie Keel and his three sons, Aaron Keel, Elijah Keel, and Jacob Keel, all from Leland his step-children Kayla Drew, Madison Drew, and Hannah Drew, his sister Melissa Keel Powell and her husband Calvin from Whiteville, and his brother Larry Keel and his wife Tina from Whiteville.

He also leaves behind two nephews, Deandre Powell and Jaylon Powell of Whiteville , two step-nephews, Eric Toler of Greensboro, and Jacob Toler if Wilmington and two step-nieces, Emily Toler of Greensboro, and Jessica Toler of Wilmington.

Services will be Saturday Jan. 16, at Apostolic Tabernacle Church, 712 Wellington Ave, Wilmington at 1 p.m.