John Wayne Southerland passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on October 25, 2025. Born on February 12, 1949, as the third child to Wayne and Dollie Southerland.

Funeral Service:

Saturday, November 1, 2025

1:00 PM

With visitation one hour prior to the service.

Burial:

East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville, NC

Southerland he grew up in the Fountaintown community, where he helped his parents on their tobacco farms. He was an active and faithful member of Bethlehem Original Free Will Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir since he was a teenager and had spent years serving as a trustee and deacon.

After graduating from East Duplin High School in 1967, he earned his Associate's Degree in Business through Mount Olive College and James Sprunt. Shortly after, he married his first wife and had two children, Karen & Ryan, and went into civil service at Camp
LeJeune Marine Corps base in Supply and Logistics for 38 years, finishing his last years of retirement at Norfolk Naval Base. Never one to enjoy downtime, he returned to Camp LeJeune as an independent contractor for an additional four years, giving over 42 years of service.

In 2012, John married his treasured longtime friend and companion, Betty Byrd Southerland.

Although a 2017 diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease prevented them from traveling as much as they would like, their home was never short of laughter and joy with their little dogs, Cocoa, Jake, and Toby and relishing in family celebrations with children and grandchildren.

John was witty, curious, and loved storytelling and storytellers even more. He always had time and an open heart for anyone who needed a listening ear from his family to his coworkers to people who he would encounter on a daily basis.
He was exceptionally close to his sisters, Kathleen and Mary Lane, and always lived within a
step of them.

He was a family man who never had too little time for his children and grandchildren and loved traveling to see them in their activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Dollie Southerland and his sister, Mary Lane Nobles.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, daughter Karen Jackson and son-in-law Jarrett of Chinquapin, son Ryan and daughter-in-law, Jessie of Beulaville, sister Kathleen Southerland of Chinquapin, grandchildren William Jackson, Zachary Jackson, Devin Southerland, and Jonah Southerland, special niece Lori Price and husband Phil, and great-niece Amanda Price. He also cherished a close and loving bond with his stepson, David G. Byrd and wife Angela and their children, JW, Spencer, Brooke, Nicole, and Ronnie.

Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Southerland family.