Dermont Everhart

James Dermont Everhart, 87, of Magnolia Road, died Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at Hinkle Hospice House. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2013, at First Baptist Church, where he was a member, with the Rev. Dr. Ray Howell 3rd and the Rev. Tommy Wilson officiating. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. Dermont was born June 5, 1926, in Erlanger, to V. Vestal Everhart Sr. and Lena S. Everhart. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1943, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, spending one and a half years in the Pacific aboard the USS LST 721. Returning home, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Business College in Roanoke, Va. Throughout his business career he was Director of Credits and Collections at Burlington Furniture (formerly United Furniture). He retired from Dixie Furniture (now Lexington Furniture Industries). Later he became Vice President of Sales and Marketing as well as the Credit Manager at Uwharrie Chair Company in Archdale. At First Baptist Church he was Scout Master, leader in the youth Department and Sunday school teacher. Dermont was Church clerk and chairman of the Board of Deacons. Dermont served as President of the Lexington Kiwanis Club, Director of the United Way and overall chairman of the United Way campaign; Director of the Chamber of Commerce and President of the Carolinas LST Association for two years. During the last ten years of his life, he served as a volunteer at Lexington Memorial Hospital with over one thousand volunteer hours. Upon retirement at 81 years of age he mentored a young man for CIS. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, V. Vestal Everhart Jr. and the Rev. William M. Everhart; as well as his son, James D. Everhart, Jr. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 57 years, Mary Nickerson Everhart of the home; a daughter, Beth Rhodes and husband Gary; grandchildren, Emily Brooke Rhodes and Alec Rhodes; great-grandchild, Erin Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 436, Lexington, NC 27293; or James D. Everhart Jr. Memorial Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel, Contact Mary Everhart for address or further information. The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff of Hinkle Hospice House for the compassionate care given to Dermont.