Ernest Bryant Whichard Jr.

1946 - 2022

Ernest Bryant Whichard Jr.

April 25, 1946 - April 12, 2022

Ernest Bryant Whichard Jr., 75, of Nebo, formerly of Greensboro, died peacefully Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at his home at Lake James, after suffering from several strokes over the past nine years.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 7, at First United Methodist Church in Marion, with Pastor Jim Hunter officiating.

Mr. Whichard was a hard worker and a generous man. He loved being with people and was dedicated to the well-being of his family and clients. He loved to travel the world with his family, and for many years had his private pilot's license and enjoyed flying airplanes. He was an avid reader, loved to watch movies, and loved the North Carolina mountains and Lake James where he retired.

Mr. Whichard was born April 25, 1946, to Cleo and Ernest Whichard Sr. of Robersonville. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in economics and attended one year of law school at UNC Chapel Hill before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He was an officer in the Army and received a Bronze Star for serving in Vietnam.

Mr. Whichard is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jane Reinhardt Whichard; two daughters and their husbands, Michelle and Mike Willoughby of Chapel Hill, and Sandy and Sean Farrow of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Bryant Willoughby, Alex Farrow, Claire Willoughby, and Will Farrow; sister Amanda Hamm and her husband, Keith, of Wilson; brothers, Jim Whichard of Hickory, and Harvey Whichard and wife, Ann, of Charlotte; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

While in Greensboro, Mr. Whichard was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Search Ministries Men's Bible Study. He was past president and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greensboro for over 35 years, was a former Eagle Scout, and was past chair of the Old North State Eagle Scout Board Review. He was a former member of the Greensboro Concert Band and a longtime member of Greensboro Country Club.

With over 40 years of experience as an insurance agent and financial consultant, Mr. Whichard was a chartered life underwriter since 1975, a chartered financial consultant since 1982 and a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Before retiring from Whichard Roach & Associates in 2016, he was a former board trustee of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and board director for the American Society of Financial Service Professionals. He was a charter member of the Association of Health Insurance Advisors, and was the 2008 recipient of the Richard M. Metcalfe Award with Asset Marketing Systems.

During his professional career, Mr. Whichard was also past president of the North Carolina Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the North Carolina Insurance and Financial Advisors Foundation, the Greensboro Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Greensboro Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and the Greensboro Estate Planning Council.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Mr. Whichard's memory are asked to please consider The First United Methodist Church of Marion, 176 Robert St., Marion, NC 28752, or Search Ministries, c/o John Willett, 1852 Pembroke Rd., Greensboro, NC 27408.

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