John L. McCain M.D.

John L. McCain, MD, 78, of 1134 Woodland Drive, Wilson, NC died Wednesday, June 29th, 2005 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Dr. McCain was born on April 11, 1927 in Sanitorium, NC (now McCain, NC) to Paul Pressly McCain, MD and Sadie McBrayer McCain. He grew up in Hoke County on the grounds of the State Tuberculosis Sanitorium where his father served as Director of the sanatoria system in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but interrupted his college education to serve in the United States Navy after the death of his brother Paul in World War II. He returned to Carolina and graduated with his class with an AB degree in Chemistry. As a son, grandson, nephew and brother of physicians, he followed his passion and family tradition entering the medical profession upon his graduation from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1952. He completed his internship at the Philadelphia General Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and his residencies in Internal Medicine at the NC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC and the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was a founding Fellow of the American Rheumatism Association, a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and a Certified Medical Director of Skilled Nursing Facilities. He served as Medical Director of Avante, WilMedNursing Center and Brian Center and former Medical Director of Britthaven.
In providing care for patients, Dr. McCain was in an active clinical and solo practice for more than 49 years. Widely respected and recognized by his peers throughout hiscareer, Dr. McCain was accorded opportunities for leadership in numerous medical organizations, including presidencies of theWilson County Medical Society, Fourth District Medical Society, Seaboard Medical Association, NC Mental Health Association,NC Mental Health Research Foundation, Central Coastal Plain Health Planning Council, Eastern Carolina Health Systems Agency, NC Society of Internal Medicine, and the UNC Medical Alumni Association, and First and Second Vice President of the NC MedicalSociety. He also chaired several committees at the state level over the course of four decades, including NC Health Coordinating Council, Professional Advisory Council to the NC State Board of Mental Health, and Geriatrics Task Force of the American Society of Internal Medicine. Dr. McCain was Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, UNC School of Medicine and Lecturer in Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He also served as Chairman of the medical staff of the Wilson Memorial Hospital. He served on numerous professional boards including appointment by President Jimmy Carter to the National Council on Health Planning and Development, the NC Arthritis Foundation, NC Heart Association, Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Co. of North Carolina, the Wilson-Greene Area Mental Health Authority, as well as Wilson County Senior Citizens Council and the Home Health and Hospice Care Board of Directors, were he served as Chairman for several years. At the time of his death, he was active as a founding member of the Wilson Internet Empowerment Project which seeks to improve the quality of life for residents of local andregional long-term care facilities where access to computers and trained volunteers help a forgotten generation reconnect with the world.
Dr. McCain received numerous commendations from his peers and from the community, including the Distinguished Service Award from the UNC School of Medicine, the Government Affairs Program Award from the NC Arthritis Foundation, AMA "Stemwinder" award, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the NCMHA Irene McCain McFarland Award, as well as meritorious recognition from the NC Heart Association, NC Arthritis Foundation and the NC Society of Internal Medicine. At a citation presentation by the NC Medical Society at its annual meeting in November 2004, President Lawrence Cutchin declared him to be "one of those rare individuals who has enthusiastically devoted his life to the profession, the health care of people, and the needs of their community, whose life and career serve as a role model for all who practice in the profession of medicine." In December 2004, he and his wife Betty were named "Wilsonians of the Year" by the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Dr. McCain was devoted to his family as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betty Ray McCain of the home; son, Paul P. McCain, III and his wife, Beth, of Raleigh; daughter, Eloise McCain Hassell and her husband, Judge A. Robinson Hassell of Greensboro; five beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emily and John L. McCain, II of Raleigh and Molly and Bayly Hassell of Greensboro; a sister, Sara McCain McCollum of Olney, MD; a number of beloved nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and by his sisters, Dr. Irene McCain McFarland and Jane Todd McCain Reagan and his brother, Lt. Paul P. McCain, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church for the "Ensuring Our Church Heritage Campaign", P.O. Box 3184, Wilson, NC 27895; to the WilMed Healthcare Foundation, 1705 South Tarboro Street, Wilson, NC 27893; or to the Wilson Internet Empowerment Project, c/o Area L AHEC, P. O. Box 7368, Rocky Mount, NC 27804-0368; or to another charity of your choice.
There will be a visitation at Joyner's Funeral Home on Hwy 264 Alt. in Wilson from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1st.
A memorial service will be conducted at First Presbyterian Church in Wilson, NC where he served as a deacon, elder and longtime choir member on Saturday, July 2nd at 2:00 p.m. The Rev. James H. McKinnon, Jr.