Shuford, John Martin, Jr
LAWNDALE — Mr. John Martin Shuford Jr., 85, of 143 Elam St.,
died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 at his home.
A native of Cleveland County, he was a retired shipping supervisor for Cleveland
Mills and also a former owner and operator of Lee and Shuford Rugs. He was a
lifelong member of Palm Tree United Methodist Church, where he served as church
treasurer for 30 consecutive years and was a former Sunday school teacher,
member of the Administrative Council and Men’s Chorus.
He was also a member of the Lawndale Town Council for 16 years and helped to
organize the Lawndale Improvement Community Club in 1982 and assisted with the
restoration of the old Piedmont Library. He was a charter member of the Upper
Cleveland Area Needs and Scoutmaster for Lawndale Troop No. 112 for more than 50
years and received the “District Award of Merit.”
He helped organize the Cleveland County Rose Society and was a member of the
American Rose Society. He was a champion rose grower and an American Rose
Society consultant. He was also a former board member for the Cleveland County
Council on Aging and a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development
Commission for 14 years, as well as a member of the Lawndale Masonic Lodge, the
Lawndale Lions Club and Woodmen of the World.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Williams Shuford; his parents, John
Martin Sr. and Essie Copland Shuford; his brother, Frank Shuford; and his
sister, Madge Shuford.
He is survived by daughter Barbara Shuford Wright of Kings Mountain;
granddaughter, Alicia Wright of Morganton; and granddaughter and husband
Michelle and Jerry James of Kingstree, S.C.
The funeral will be Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Palm Tree United Methodist Church
with the Revs. Michael Harrill and Merrill Perkins officiating. The body will be
placed in the church 30 minutes before the service. Burial will be in Palm Tree
United Methodist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Stamey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Palm Tree United Methodist Church New Fellowship Hall
Building Fund, 1157 West Stagecoach Trail, Lawndale, NC 28090.
