John Clarence Southern

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John Clarence Southern, 79 of Sanford passed away Tuesday November 29, 2016.  A Memorial service will be held at 11:00am Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church of Sanford. The family will greet friends following the service in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Mr. Southern was born in Portsmouth, OH son of the late Clarence O. Southern and Louise Jones Southern. He was preceded in death by his wife Rita Snipes Southern, and his sister, Martha S. Hirsch. John graduated from Walter Williams High School in Burlington, attended The Citadel and Elon University and graduated from Wake Forest University. Throughout his career John worked at Glen Raven Mills as a Fabric Designer, Cost Accountant, and Systems Analyst; North Carolina Lutheran Homes as a Nursing Home Administrator; Bristol Myers as a Cost Accountant; and retired from Pentair, Inc as a Cost Accountant.

Mr. Southern served the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Graham as Choirmaster; Low’s Lutheran Church in Liberty as Choirmaster; and Trinity Lutheran Church in Sanford where he served as President of the congregation, Financial Secretary of the congregation, Chairman of the Worship & Music Committee, and Chairman of the Organ Committee.

Mr. Southern is survived by his son, Scott Southern and wife Kathy of Raleigh; brother, David Southern of Durham; niece’s, Genevieve Southern-Coleff and Audrey Lynn Strickland; nephews, Caleb Southern and David Snipes; brother in law Bob Snipes and wife Cindy of VA.

Memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 525 Carthage St, Sanford, NC 27330.