John William Gresham

John William Gresham November 2, 1929 – October 20, 2015 John William Gresham, 85, of Wilson passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2015. Born November 2, 1929 in Beulaville, he was the son of Amos Walter Gresham and Annie Louise Crawford Gresham. John graduated from Warsaw High School in 1947 and in 1951, from the University Of North Carolina School Of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the fraternity of RHO CHI. After graduation he came to Wilson and joined Needham Herring’s Drug Store which he purchased in 1959 and later purchased Fairview Pharmacy. In 1996 he retired, sold both stores, and worked as a relief pharmacist. After retirement he opened Tarheel Collectable, specializing in NASCAR memorabilia, coins, and sports cards. During his career he was a board member and treasurer of the Wilson Jaycees, was a trustee of the Wilson Elks Lodge, was on the Downtown Development Board Executive Committee, and was on the First United Methodist Church Board and the board of Trustees. John was instrumental in having the Imagination Station started in Wilson and served as the Vice President. He served on the Wilson County Board of Health for nine years and was chairman the last two years. John was appointed and he served on the North Carolina Commission for Heath Science until 2015. John’s great recreational love was duplicate bridge and he became a Life Master in 1970. As a numismatist he enjoyed collecting old coins and also Civil War memorabilia. John is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Janet Elms Gresham; his daughters, Janet Ayer Gresham and Catherine Gresham Newman and husband, J.W. Compton “Compie” Newman, and his grandchildren, Harrison Newman, John Newman, Catherine Ayer Gresham, and Margaret Gresham. He was preceded in death by his son, John William Gresham, Jr., and his parents. John’s funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, 100 West Green Street, Wilson. Interment will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Wilson. The Rev. Robert Bergland will officiate. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in John’s honor to the First United Methodist Church, Endowment Fund, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894 or to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.