John McCall

Longtime Carthage businessman, Mr. John McCall of the Tanglewood Community and a partner in D.T. McCall and Sons, died at 4:42 a.m. Sunday morning June 1, 2025, at the Pavilion Senior Living in South Carthage where he had made his home since January 9, 2023.
Mr. McCall is at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. His funeral services will be conducted on Thursday afternoon June 5th at 1 p.m. from First Baptist Church Carthage with his former pastor, Bro. Tim Frank officiating. Musical presence will be by the church pastor, Bro. Jim Wilburn accompanied by Mr. McCall's daughter-in-law, Crystal McCall. Burial will be beside his brother Dave, in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
The McCall family will receive friends at Sanderson in Carthage on Wednesday June 4th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again on Thursday June 5th at First Baptist Church Carthage from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. services.
Mr. McCall was the youngest of nine children, four daughters and five sons, of the late David Thomas (D.T.) McCall who died at the age of 85 in 1985 and Amy Barnett Manning McCall, who died at the age of 77 in 1980. He was born John Edwin McCall in South Carthage on July 10, 1941.
The seven siblings preceding him in death were Frank Thomas McCall who died June 15, 2003 at the age of 81, Bro. Ray Barnett McCall who died February 2, 2008 at the age of 83, David Manning (Dave) McCall who died April 27, 2008 at the age of 70, Lois McCall McDonald who died September 14, 2009 at the age of 82, Mildred McCall Hix who died January 16, 2013 at the age of 80, Mary Nell McCall Hight who died August 7, 2022 at the age of 91 and Albert Burr (A. B.) McCall who died September 13, 2023 at the age of 94.
Mr. McCall was a member of the 1959 graduating class at Smith County High School, where he played football for Coach Turney Ford. He also especially enjoyed Chorus, where he served as president his senior year and was known for his special rendition of "It's Only Make Believe."
He continued his education at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Cumberland University in Lebanon and Belmont College in Nashville where he graduated with a degree in business in 1965.
On the first day of a summer chemistry class at Belmont, he met a classmate named Winnie "Kay" Farris from Lawrence County. They were lab partners and studied together, and she introduced him to the sport of tennis. They were united in marriage at the Ramah Baptist Church in Leoma, Tennessee on June 5, 1965. John absolutely adored her, and she was truly the love of his life.
The newly wedded couple moved back to Carthage where Mr. McCall joined the family business, D. T. McCall & Sons. He so enjoyed working with his brothers, A.B. and Dave. He had a great appreciation for the many employees and customers of "the store" and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with them every day. John often traveled to Nashville to do early morning commercials as an advertiser on the "Ralph Emery Show" on WSMV-TV. He was a beloved figure in the furniture and appliance business until his retirement in 2022.
Mr. McCall was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Carthage where he had the distinct honor of serving as a Deacon. He and Kay made many lifelong friends there.
He loved his community, and greatly enjoyed the time he spent serving on the Board of Directors of the Smith County Bank.
John also valued education very highly. He received the Award of the Phoenix from Cumberland University in 1980, and he was honored to serve on the Board of Trustees for Belmont University for many years. He and Kay and the family enjoyed traveling and visiting many countries all over the world.
He excelled at tennis, playing in many tournaments in both singles and doubles. He and Kay often played as a doubles team, and they enjoyed tennis together throughout their many years of marriage. He was an accomplished skier and took many trips with family and friends to ski the slopes of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
John enjoyed reading poetry and studying the Scriptures. He also loved music, having taught himself to play the piano by ear. While sitting at the piano he made many happy memories, playing and singing songs with his family and friends.
Surviving in addition to his wife Kay are their two children, Julie Marie McCall Thompson and husband Scott of Spanish Fort, Alabama and John Justin (J. J.) McCall and wife Crystal Underhill McCall of the Tanglewood Community; three grandchildren, Paul Ross Thompson of Mobile, Alabama, Tanner McCall Thompson and wife Jewel of Mobile, Alabama, Ana Gabrielle Thompson of Spanish Fort, Alabama; sister, Ruth Jean McCall Garrett and husband Gary of Nashville; sister-in-law, Rebecca Hackett McCall of South Carthage.
The McCall family has requested memorials to either the First Baptist Church Carthage or First Light Community of Mobile, Alabama.
Active Pallbearers: Tanner Thompson, Jacob Farris, Tom Broyles, James Trainham II,
Chris McCall, & A.J. McCall.
Honorary Pallbearer: Paul Ross Thompson