Kenneth E. "Sonny" Basinger

1937 - 2024

Kenneth E. "Sonny" Basinger

December 29, 1937 - November 30, 2024

Kenneth E. "Sonny" Basinger, 86, of Fayetteville, NC, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2024, at home with his family by his side.

Sonny was born on December 29, 1937, in Concord, NC. He was a 1957 Concord High School graduate. He was an all-around athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. While in high school, he won All-Conference honors in football and basketball and won All-State honors in football. He received a football scholarship to Wingate Junior College and another scholarship to finish his degree at East Carolina University. Sonny's adult life was involved with coaching football, wrestling, track, and teaching in the Cumberland County School System.

Sonny's first coaching and teaching job was in Reidsville, NC. He was contacted by "Red" Wilson and asked to come to Fayetteville as an offensive backfield coach in 1965 at Fayetteville High School, now Terry Sanford High School. He later went to Reid Ross High School as Athletic Director and coached football, wrestling, and track. He finished his career coaching and teaching at Pine Forest High School in 1998 after 35 years.

Sonny enjoyed coaching and teaching in the classroom. He was also a Driver's Education instructor for many years. During his 35 years of coaching, teaching, and retirement, many former students stopped to talk or called him to share good memories of his positive influence in their lives and thanked him.

After practice, Sonny would often take his football and wrestling players to McDonald's and then take them home. Sonny loved to talk to people. He enjoyed eating breakfast and talking with friends at the Rainbow Restaurant.

For many years, family vacations were spent at Holden Beach and the North Carolina mountains.

Sonny made many close friendships in high school, college, teaching, and coaching that remained close throughout his lifetime. Sonny never met a stranger and was an outgoing person who loved to talk to everyone.

Sonny received many honors during his career. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at East Carolina University and was Pledge of the Year in 1959. He was also the Outstanding Player of the Year in football at East Carolina University, second team NAIA and Little All-American. He was inducted into the 2011 Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame, the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame, and was awarded the NC Order of the Longleaf Pine for his contributions as a citizen.

Sonny was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and on many committees. He also worked with Royal Ambassadors and played church league softball. Sandra and Sonny were married at First Baptist Church in August 1961 by Rev. Louis S. Gaines.

Sonny was predeceased by his parents, Ernest E. and Bessie M. Basinger; his daughter, Lisa Kay Basinger; sisters, Mime Jean Basinger and Ellen Straun; and brother, Cecil "Buddy" Basinger.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sandra Basinger; his daughter, Ashlee M. Basinger; and three nieces. He was a devoted and loving husband and father to his wife and two daughters.

The family would like to thank the medical providers who cared for Sonny, specifically Dr. David Stewart and his staff. The family would also like to express sincere gratitude to Medi-Home Hospice and his devoted caregivers, Patty Drake, Guenderlie Warner, Cathy Ellis, Angela Roy, and Chinesha Owensby, who compassionately cared for Sonny at home. A special thank you to Lynnette MacFadden for her loving care of the family.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Visitation will be held from 12 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey St.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 201 Anderson St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com.