John was born to the late Edward Earl Priest and late Pauline Umphrey Priest in Eva, Alabama on August 22, 1939; he was one of 3 children.
John was a humble man who was a leader in his church, a pillar in the community and someone who helped to love and guide his family. John was a beloved member of Grow Church of God, formerly Sunnyside Church of God, in Woodstock. He served many capacities in his church including missionary work abroad, serving in leadership and on staff of his church and living the word through his compassion and gentle nature.
John was a proud United States Air Force Veteran. He was a decorated hero of the Vietnam War and worked as Chief Operations Officer of Aerospace Ground Equipment. John retired as a Master Sergeant in November of 1987. After serving 26 years of service to his country.
John’s love for his family could not be measured by words. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. John and his wife, Joann, enjoyed traveling both before and after retirement –. After following their dream of moving to the “Land of Sunshine” in Florida, after eleven years John and Joann relocated back to Woodstock, GA.
John is survived by his wife, Shirley Joann Priest of Woodstock, Georgia; sister, Ann Priest of Cullman, Alabama; children, James Michael Schamerhorn of Altamonte Springs, Florida, Sherrie Lynn Classey of Woodstock, Georgia and Mark Kevin Schamerhorn of Acworth, Georgia; grandchildren, Tiffany Rene Patrick of Milton, Kentucky, Ryker Brady Smith of Eufaula, Alabama, Nathan Tanner Boyd of Smyrna, Georgia, Joshua Schamerhorn of Acworth, Georgia, Nicholas Schamerhorn of Acworth, Georgia and Kalvin Schamerhorn of Acworth, Georgia; and great-grandchildren, Austin Patrick of Milton, Kentucky and Caleb Patrick of Milton, Kentucky.
John’s memory will be cherished by his family, friends and church family.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 12:00 pm Friday, September 7, 2018 at Woodstock Funeral Home 8855 Main Street Woodstock, Georgia 30188. Committal Services will be held at 2:00 pm at the Georgia National Cemetery 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive Canton, Georgia 30114. A Reception will follow at Woodstock Funeral Home.
For those who wish to bring a covered dish to the reception, please drop off your labeled dish by Woodstock Funeral Home on Friday, September 7, 2018 after 8:30 am.
Please consider a donation in John's memory to support the Parkinson's Foundation at www.parkinson.org.
