John Elliott Ferren

1941 - 2016

John Elliott Ferren

Greenville

Mr. John Elliott Ferren, 75, died Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at Vidant Medical Center.

A Life Celebration will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday at The Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Brad Smith officiating. A private family committal will be held in Pinewood Memorial Park.

John was born on July 2, 1941, in Bowling Green, KY. The son of the late Paul Street and Lillian Hunt Ferren, John was the former Executive Director of Pitt County United Way, the Assistant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Greenville Utilities Commission, and served twice as Club President of the Greenville Golf and Country Club. John lived a full life and was happiest when golfing with his buddies, grooming his yard, sharing a joke, singing and playing the guitar, woodworking, playing with his Bichon Frise "Putter" and spending time with his family and friends.

John attended S.W. DeKalb High School in Atlanta, Georgia. After completing his B.A. at Georgia State University, he completed his Master of Public Service at Western Kentucky University. A member of the Greenville community since 1979, John served as a Rotary Club member, U.S. Power Squadron member, the Chairman of the Pitt County Area Mental Health Board, the Chairman of the Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and he was a member of The Memorial Baptist Church. In addition, John and his wife, Arlene, were the first husband and wife co-chairs of the Pitt County United Way campaign in 1993 which resulted in a record setting campaign.

John is survived by his: wife of 31 years, Arlene Murphy Ferren; daughters, Beth Ferren Britt and husband, Keith, of Monroe, GA; Jennifer Ferren Brodeur and husband, Edward of Kennesaw GA; sister, Dianne Maddox of Calhoun, GA; two beautiful granddaughters, Samantha Britt and Kelsey Brodeur; brother-in-laws, Buster Murphy and Kent Murphy of Kinston; sister-in-laws, Marie White, Faye Moore, Edna Reynolds, all from Kinston; and many other Murphy family members.

John held a special fondness for "his girls" and was an honorary third granddaddy to Molly, Catie and Lyddie Reynolds, daughters of Chad and Laura Reynolds of New Bern, NC.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Greenville Golf and Country Club, Greenville, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, NC; the Lung Cancer Initiative of NC (lungcancerinitiative.org) or a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory.