John Clementson

SPARTANBURG — John Charles Clementson, Sr. passed away peacefully on November 6, 2025, in his Spartanburg home.

Born on June 16, 1938, he was the son of Charles Ashworth Jr. and Lena Haskins Cord Clementson. John, known to his grandchildren and many in his community as "PeePaw," was born in Athens, Tennessee, but later moved to Winter Park, Florida, in 1946.

He attended Rollins College then transferred to Florida State University where he graduated in 1962. John worked as General Agent of the New England Life Insurance Company where he specialized in estate planning. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida.

After living in Orlando until 1986, John relocated to Pisgah Forest, NC near Brevard. This was his most beloved home and is where he requests his earthly remains to be placed, stating that it was "the place where, for a few years, we found earth bound peace not to be equaled in any other location."

John was an eloquent writer, and for years was the author of the current events column in the Hendersonville Times News. John spent time in South Georgia and Newberry, SC, before settling in Spartanburg to be closer to his grandchildren. While in Orlando, John enjoyed playing golf at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, and some of his favorite stories included his interactions with Arnold Palmer while there. John was extremely passionate about cars, attending car shows and auctions with his family and carefully detailing each family member's automobile in his spare time.

A Formula 1 racing enthusiast, he traveled to many different countries just to see the race in action. The Florida State football and baseball teams were lifelong passions, and his love of sports carried over to watching many Wofford College athletic events in addition to attending every sporting event his grandchildren participated in.

John will be most remembered for his intense love for his family and his ability to create lifelong and meaningful friendships everywhere he went. John celebrated the strengths and passions of those around him, always encouraging them to live to their greatest potential. John (PeePaw) could always be found in a lawn chair at a baseball game or in a coat and tie fully immersed in a youth orchestra event.

John was predeceased by his former wife, Susan Clementson, and his mother and father, Lena Haskins Cord Clementson and Charles Ashworth Clementson Jr.

He is survived by his five children, David and his wife Linda Clementson of Beverly, MA, John Jr and his fiancée Robin Merkel of Orlando, FL, Betsy of New Orleans, LA, Will and wife Lexi of Charlotte NC, Charles and wife Blair of Spartanburg, SC, and his grandchildren, Abby, Charlotte, and Charlie.

His memorial service is to be planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to St Jude Children's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105) or to Hatcher Garden (P.O. Box 2337, Spartanburg, SC 29304) located in Spartanburg. The family would like to thank the many friends who enriched John's life -most notably Trez Clarke, whose friendship, kindness and support is unmatched. Also, we would like to thank the support of many medical professionals, caregivers (Live Long Well Care of Spartanburg) and Spartanburg Regional Hospice.