Mr. John Cornelius

Mr. John Cornelius was the second child of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charlton, Sr. and Maggie Cunningham Cornelius in High Point, North Carolina.

John was educated in the public school system of Richland County School District Two and attended Bethel High School in Blythewood, South Carolina, where he also worked as a student bus driver. He later left school to help on his family's farm but eventually returned to complete his education, earning his GED from Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina. John was widely known as a true "Jack of All Trades," excelling as a carpenter and skilled crafts tradesman. He was also a Master Mason and a proud member of St. Paul Lodge #3 in Elgin, South Carolina.

John confessed Christ as his Lord and Savior at Rehoboth Baptist Church where he actively served as a lead singer on the Usher Board. He later joined Zion Canaan Baptist Church after marrying his lovely wife Charlie Mae, who is the great-great granddaughter of Frank I and Phyllis Lawhorn Anderson who were the Founders of Zion Canaan Baptist Church.

John worked as the Supervisor of the Maintenance Department at the Columbia Area Mental Health Center and was formerly in a business partnership with his brother, Charlton. He had a deep love for fishing, gardening, and cooking, and was exceptionally skilled in all three. As a gardener, he took pride in sharing the vegetables he grew with family, friends, and neighbors.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his beloved wife of 61 years, Mrs. Charlie Mae Cornelius; two children, Kenneth John Cornelius and Lashon Patrice Morrow (Carl). He was preceded in death by two children, the late Randall Leonard Cornelius and Gerald Lamont Cornelius. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Kennetha Cornelius, Richard Thomas, Demetri Cornelius, Payton Cornelius, Brittania Cornelius, Alyssia Cornelius, and Dashaun Bostic; ten great-grandchildren; a special great-nephew, Kayce Presley; four brothers, Wardell Cornelius, Butler Cornelius (Rosa), Lewis Cornelius (Maxine), and Bobby Cornelius, all of Blythewood, SC; and one sister, Rev. Mattie L. Branch (Ryan) of Lugoff, SC.

He is further survived by four sisters-in-law: Margaret Davis (Anthony), Christine Winn (Rev. Dr. Leon), Mary Canty, and Deloris O'Neil. He was preceded in death by five siblings: Charlton Cornelius (Dorothy), Louise Cornelius Boulware, Willie Cornelius (Edna), Paul Cornelius (Frances), and William Cornelius. He also leaves a host of loving relatives and dear friends to cherish his memory.