John Walser

Lifelong resident and former Lexington Mayor John Thurman Walser Jr., passed away peacefully at home on Saturday morning, November 21, 2015. He was 76 years young. A service of celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25, at First Reformed United Church of Christ on East Center Street in Lexington with the Revs. Elizabeth Horton, Michael Hooper and Dr. Lee Jessup officiating. The family will greet friends after the service in the church fellowship hall. He leaves a loving family: his devoted wife and partner of 58 years, Sylvia Virginia Leonard Walser, proud daughters, Joni Leonard Walser (Andrew B. Church) of Rowayton, Ct., and Rebecca Walser Abernethy (W. Miller Abernethy) of Charlotte; and cherished granddaughters, Margaret Rebecca Abernethy of Atlanta, Ga., and Anna Virginia Abernethy of Auburn, Al.; also surviving are his two beloved siblings, Rebecca Gail Walser Thacker (C. Mac Thacker) of Jamestown and William Henry Walser (Cheryl Yarborough) of Lexington. He remained connected throughout his life to over 30 first cousins. He was born on August 4, 1939, to John Thurman Walser Sr. and Mozelle Prevette Walser. He attended Robbins School and was a 1957 graduate of Lexington Senior High School, where he was student body president, lettered in basketball and track, attended Boy’s State and was voted “Most Popular” and “Best All-Around”. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1961, he had a long career in the furniture industry, primarily at United Furniture (later Burlington Industries). He remained an avid learner his entire life and promoted the importance of education. He was a longtime supporter of Project Potential and its first mentor. He was deeply proud of his first student as a mentor, Antionette Kerr. As a child, John was a charter member of Meadowview Presbyterian Church and, as an adult, a faithful member of First Reformed United Church of Christ, where he served as Deacon, Elder, Elder Emeritus, and President of the Consistory. He taught Sunday school for 40 years, starting with the Young Adult Class and ending with the Men’s Bible Class. The Bible inspired him, and he committed to reading it in its entirety several times. He left his family a legacy of Bibles with his markings and notes. John was passionate about his family, his friends and traveling the world. He felt a calling and a responsibility to serve his church and his community. He and Roy Bevan were regular overnight co-custodians at the local shelter. He was a Lexington City Councilman for 16 years before his two terms as Mayor and an active member of the Lexington Jaycees, the J. Smith Young YMCA, twice Board Chairman of ElectriCities of North Carolina, and member of the Davidson County Community College Board of Trustees. In August of this year, John received the N.C. Public Power Lifetime Achievement Award. The prescient quotation that appeared by his Senior photo in the LSHS yearbook was: “The heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, the hand to execute.” His life was a testament to this early assessment. The family appreciates any memorial contributions to local organizations, noting that John had a special place in his heart for First Reformed United Church of Christ, The Salvation Army, the Pastor’s Pantry, Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation, Project Potential, Crisis Ministries of Davidson County, and Habitat for Humanity. Davidson Funeral Home is caring for the family.