John C. Jay, Jr.

John C. Jay Jr., 87 of Greensboro, passed away at his home on November 1, 2025. Services will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 11:00 am at First Methodist Church of Greensboro with Rev. Dee McGuire and Rev. Doug Jolly officiating and Magnolia Chapel South directing. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Greensboro. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at First Methodist Church of Greensboro from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. 

John is preceded in death by his two sons; John C. Jay, III and Thomas Kinard Jay, a brother; William Jay and his parents; John C. Jay, Sr. and Willie Kay Johnson Jay.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years Sharon Jay, daughter; Fran Jay Cox (Ronnie), son; Ervin Jay (Susu), grandchildren; R.J. Cox  (Lauren) of Demopolis, Jackson Jay Cox of  of Demopolis, Bess Jay of Charlotte, North Carolina, James Jay of Auburn, Alabama, Emily Jay Neuhoff (Thomas) of Tyler, Texas and great grandchildren; Preston Cox, Mattie Neuhoff, Trip Neuhoff, and Jay Neuhoff. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law; Gina Jay, sister-in-law; Anne Jay, special sister; Charlotte True and the mother of his children; Louise Holbrook Jay.

John was born in Greensboro, Alabama on March 1, 1938 and graduated from Greensboro High School in 1956. He received the American Farmer's Degree in 1956 and in 1957 was Alabama's Future Farmer of the Year. He also held the title of Alabama's Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Farm Family for 1973.

John held many titles over the years including, Director and Organizer of the Greensboro Farmers Cooperative 1971 to present, where he also held the title of President and Vice- President, Director of SF Services, Inc., in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1992 -1998, Director and Secretary of Southern Farm Fish Processors, in Eudori, Arkansas from 1992 -1998, Organizer at The Citizens Bank in Greensboro, Alabama from 1972 -1976, Director and Chairman of the Board of The Citizens Bank from 1976 to 1979 and 1981 to present, Mayor for the City of Greensboro from 1976 to 1997, Superintendent of Greensboro Utilities Board  from 1981 to 2025, Organizer and Director of Lakeview Country Club from 1971 to 1975, where he held positions as President, and Director of Superintendent for several years, Advisor of the Board for Hale County Library from 1986 to 1998, Member of the Historic Magnolia Grove Foundation from 1987 to 2025, where he held the position of President from 2006 to 2025, He was the organizer and Board Member of The Greensboro Opera House from 2004 to present, organizer and Director of the Oakwood Cemetery Association from 1978 to 2025, the Director of The Catfish Institute from 1993 to 1998, the Director of Golden Years, Inc. from 1980 to 1997, Director of Hale County Farmers Federation from 1965 to present, here he held the positions of President, Vice - President, and Farm City Chairman, He was also the Director of Hale County Cattlemen's Association for twenty years and held the positions of President and Vice-President, Director of Alabama Cattleman's Association from 1973 to 1974. He also served as past chairman of many charities including; Boy Scouts, American Cancer Society in Hale County, Walter Hagen Cancer Golf Chairman for 14 years.

John was a Merchant in Greensboro from 1964 to 1986, a Cattle Farmer from 1952 to 1996, a Catfish Farmer from 1966 to 1989 and a Broiler and Hog Farmer from 1952 to 1976.

John's hobbies included Golfing, Hunting and Boating on the Black Warrior River, and Shrimping in Wolf Bay. 

Pallbearers will be R.J. Cox, Tommy Martin, Gary Bice, James Jay, Chris Bishop, David Parker, Jackson Cox, and Montgomery Freeman. Honorary pallbearers are The Citizens Bank Board of Directors and Employees, Utilities Board of Greensboro Employees and Board of Directors, Greensboro Farmers Cooperative Board of Directors and Employees, Margie Davis, Nicholas Cobbs, Ray Duncan, Arthur Dunn, Elder Borden, James Hamilton, Woody Stokes, and Stephen Barnette, Jr.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404, or your favorite charity.