John R. Brinkley, Jr.

John R. Brinkley, Jr. November 30, 1919 – December 18, 2015 John R. Brinkley, Jr., of Wilson passed away Friday. A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Maplewood Cemetery, Wilson. The Rev. Dr. Billy Toler and Phil Farmer will officiate. The family will receive friends 3 – 5 p.m. Saturday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. Today we stand, salute and honor Mr. John R. Brinkley, Jr., known by many as “J.R.”, in his passing. “J.R.” was the son of John and Florence Brinkley of Wilson and Mr. Brinkley senior, worked for the City of Wilson as a police officer and later was with the fire department when he retired. His son, “J.R.” worked at the Plush Mill before entering the US Army on March 10, 1942. “J.R.” served in the European theater in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe until 1945 serving in the 7th Armored Division 844th Artillery, with half-tracks, tanks and 105 Howitzers, and sometimes was attached to General Patton’s spearhead operations as well as participating in the Battle of the Bulge under the command of General George S. Patton. He was awarded the American Theater Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater (EAMET) Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, as well as other medals. “J.R.” was honorably discharged at Fort Bragg, on November 2, 1945. After his Honorable discharge from the US Army he returned to Wilson and worked for a short time at the Plush Mill again and then went to work for Ed Brown at Brown Oil Co., Inc. on highway 301 where he worked for 37 years, retired, only to work for Brown Oil for an additional 5 ½ years at their Ward Blvd West mini-mart location. He was a member for 60 years of The American Legion Post 13 in Wilson. He married Daphne Gray Hathaway, daughter of Ervin and Dorothy Hathaway on August 9, 1942 in Dillon, South Carolina. There were no children from the marriage. They resided in Five Points and were members of the First Free Will Baptist Church where they were baptized on October 30, 1949 by the Reverend F.A. Rivenbark. Daphne preceded “J.R.” in death, passing away July 10, 2002. He is survived by several cousins; David Brinkley of Alta Loma, California, Anne Johnson of Wilson, Edna Parsons of Wilson, Billy Brinkley of Rocky Mount, Dorothy Whitley of Lucama, Brenda Fayard of Meansville, Georgia, and Albert ‘Todd’ Flowers of Atlantic Beach. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in “J.R”’s honor to the First Free Will Baptist Church, 4865 Nash Street NW, Wilson, NC 27896; The American Legion Post 13, 2035 US Hwy 301 S, Wilson, NC 27893, or to the Wilson County Humane Society, PO Box 7064, Wilson, NC 27895. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.