John P. Booker Jr.

John P. Booker, Jr., 85, died June 5, 2015 surrounded by his loving wife, two daughters, and nephew. He was the son of John P. Booker, Sr. and Bessie Holland Booker, both of whom predeceased him, as did a sister, Betty Booker Lyons, all of Winston-Salem. A graduate of Reynolds High School, John worked his way through UNC-CH, earning a BS degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the UNC tennis team for three years. After serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years during the Korean War. He was a Squad Leader in the 101st Airborne Division before transferring to the Armed Forces Language School where he graduated top of his class as Chinese Lindquist; then he served as an Intelligence Analyst for the NSA. He earned Honorable Discharges from both the US Army and the US Navy. He was a proud veteran and a member of the American Legion. He retired as Director of Accounting and Budget Officer of the N.C. Dept. of Revenue after serving more than thirty years combined service there and N.C. State University where he was Business/Budget Officer for 23 departments. At the Revenue Department he also managed 93 employees as Director of Computer Operations, the third largest Division of the Department and the only one in operation around the clock. He earned over 20 management commendations during his State Service for his ability to get the job done under severe time and resource restraints, and to inspire others to give the very best of themselves. Six of his top supervisors won departmental Employee -of-the-Month Awards. John was one of the first groups of 8 administrators throughout State government selected by the Council of State to receive The Executive Cabinet award for Management Excellence. This award, presented by Governor Hunt, signified the highest recognition given by the executive leadership of North Carolina to professional managers in state government, whose sustained performance far exceeded normal expectations. He also was a graduate of the first Government Executives Institute (GEI) conducted by the graduate school faculty of UNC-CH and a member of the first Management Development Program for State Executives. Appointed by Governors Holshouser and Hunt, he served eight years on the Board of Trustees of the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System. During that time he served as Vice- Chairman to State Treasurer Harlan Boyles on the Retirement System Equity Investment Advisory Committee. He was honored by gubernatorial appointments to the first Legislative Productivity Committee and a Legislative appointment to a study Commission on Retirement Matters. He gave over 25 years of progressively responsible service in the State Employees Association, culminating in his statewide election as President before it became unionized. He received his Area's Member-of-the Year award. For over 40 years, John served, without pay, as the Financial Secretary of the Raleigh Moravian Church. Other church offices held were Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Building and Budget Committees, President of the Men's fellowship, Youth Sunday School teacher, and choir member. After retirement, he won numerous tennis gold medal championships in the local and statewide Senior Games and several other local tennis doubles championships. A special thanks goes to Dr. James Parsons and his staff for their devoted care over the years. He is survived by his devoted, loving wife of over 50 years, Pat; daughter, Lynn Blanchard of Wilmington; son, John Booker, III of Greensboro; step-daughter, Vickie Christos of Raleigh; special nephew, Barry Lyons of Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015 at 2:30 p.m., Raleigh Moravian Church, 1816 Ridge Rd. Raleigh, NC 27607. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 5pm until 7pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd. A burial in " God's Acres" section of Historic Oakwood cemetery will be held on Monday prior to the service at 1pm with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Wake County SPCA, the Raleigh Moravian Church Choir Fund, SECU house in Chapel Hill, or the National Kidney Foundation, www.?? Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownwynne.com Arrangements under the direction of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.