John Robert Alexander, Sr.

It is with deep sorrow that Mrs. Jeannette Montgomery Alexander announces the death of her beloved husband, Mr. John Robert Alexander, Sr, 82. Mr. Alexander entered into rest on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins are caring for the family in Hartsville, SC. Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home is conducting the services in Greensboro, NC.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on his birthday, January 6, 2025, from 2:00 until 4:00 pm at Abbotswood in Greensboro, NC. The Rev. Dr. Michael Brown of Blowing Rock Methodist Church will officiate.

John was born in Statesville, NC, the son of the late Robert Woodrow Alexander and the late Thelma Withers Alexander. He finished Statesville Senior High School in 1960. He played football, basketball, and ran track all three years and was awarded the coveted Purdue award for most valuable athlete by his coaches. He went to Appalachian State and played basketball his first year there. Then, he became very involved in student government. He earned his BA degree from ASU in 1964, and that same year he married Jeannette Montgomery of Hartsville, SC.

They moved to Hartsville in 1965 when John started his career at Sonoco Products Company. He took early retirement in 2001, having become Director of Corporate Purchasing, where he was responsible for all national and international procurements for the global company. During his career at Sonoco, John was president of the Carolinas/Virginia chapter of the Purchasing Managers Association (PMACV). He was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club, serving as President. He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 1990. He was president of Prestwood Country Club and an elder and treasurer at First Presbyterian Church, Hartsville.

His coaching days for the boys’ basketball city league gave him immense pleasure as he was able to coach his son and even took them to the state championship. Throughout their 60 years of marriage, he and Jeannette traveled extensively. They loved riverboat cruises and went on most of the major rivers in Europe, including Russia, China, and Thailand. Then, they began taking equally enjoyable ocean cruises.

After early retirement, he enjoyed more than twenty wonderful years with his wife and family in their homes in Charleston, SC, Fripp Island, SC, and Blowing Rock, NC. He was a member of the First Scots Presbyterian Church, the Gibbes Museum, and the Historic Charleston Foundation, all in Charleston, SC. He was also a member of the Blowing Rock Country Club and the Blowing Rock Methodist Church, where he served on their Board of Directors. They moved from Blowing Rock to Greensboro in 2020, and in 2023, they moved into a cottage at Abbotswood in Irving Park, a wonderful retirement community in Greensboro. Alzheimer’s hit John hard in 2024, and he was moved to Memory Care at Abbotswood, which was within walking distance from their cottage.

As we were reminiscing about our life together, we realized that we should not cry because it was over, but we should laugh and rejoice because it happened! John was the love of Jeannette’s life, and she was his. They made the most of their many blessings and cherished the years they’ve had together. He was visited by his children and several grandchildren the night of his passing, and he died in the arms of his beloved wife that same night. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Those who knew him loved him - a gentleman and a gentle spirit who knew His Father in heaven and is now home for Christmas -- At peace and joyful.

He is survived by his wife, Jeannette Montgomery Alexander of Greensboro, NC; daughter, Mimi Alexander Joyce (Steve, Jr); granddaughters, Liza and Nora Kate, all of Greensboro, NC. He is also survived by his son, Dr. J. Robert Alexander, Jr (Tracie) of Charleston, SC; two grandsons, Robert Cole and Aidan Wells, all of Charleston, SC; and granddaughter, Chloe Rose of Charleston, SC; sister, Toni Alexander of Boston, MA; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Pat Alexander Anderson of Hickory, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in his honor to Samaritans Purse P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, or the Blowing Rock Methodist Church, c/o Mr. Wayne Bass, Treasurer, 1530 Queens Road #704, Charlotte, NC 28207.