John Gayle Kennedy

John G. Kennedy of Elizabethtown, N.C. passed away March 27, 2025 at the Columbus Regional Hospital in Whiteville, N.C.

Mr. Kennedy was born November 25, 1939 in Athens, Tennessee. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity while a student at the University of Tennessee. After graduation he began a long career in Personnel Management. He worked for the Kresge Company (later renamed K-Mart), the Lockheed Corporation, the Jerold Corporation, Veeder-Root, and finished with the N.C. Port Authority in Wilmington.

In younger days, he loved playing golf and tennis with his sons and friends and could often be found working in his yard. He was a lifetime fan of his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. And that explains why he painted the family camper a very bright orange that was enjoyed on multiple trips to the Carolina coast with his family.

He is preceded in death by his father John Henry Kennedy and his mother Glenna Mae Kennedy of Sweetwater, Tennessee. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 41 years, Sue B. Kennedy; his sister Carol Ann Vestal; his sons Bart Kennedy, Alex Kennedy (Christy), and David Kennedy (Yongyong); his grandchildren Joy (Daniel), Zach (Brenna), Anna Grace (John), Lexi, Peyton, Lauren, Kody and Keira; and his great-grandchildren Eden, Nico, and Paloma.

Whether you called him John, Johnny, Dad, or Poppy, he will be deeply missed until our reunion with him in heaven.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 3:00 PM in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery.