John Needham Hackney, Jr

John Needham Hackney, Jr. September 17, 1922 -August 7, 2013

John N. Hackney, Jr., 90, passed away on August 7, 2013.   A native of Wilson, he was born on September 17, 1922 to John Needham Hackney and Mary Hunter Deans Hackney.

In 1937, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 6 at the First United Methodist Church, where he later served as Scoutmaster.   He graduated from Charles L. Coon High School in Wilson on May 29, 1940 and then attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.   World War II interrupted his studies and he proudly joined the United States Army and served as Captain of Infantry.   After an honorable discharge, he returned to North Carolina and on June 7, 1947 graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was also a member of Zeta Psi Fraternity.

He came home to Wilson to join his father at John Hackney Agency, an Independent Insurance Agency founded by his grandfather in 1895.   Active in insurance trade associations, he served as president of the North Carolina Association of Independent Agents Association in addition to president of the National Independent Agents Association.   He was also an active civic and church leader, having served on the board of trustees of First United Methodist Church, chair of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, and Wilson Jaycees president.

Always an avid history buff, he co-chaired the Greatest Generation Project, collecting the stories and materials of 268 World War II veterans from Wilson County.   This collection is now housed in the Wilson County Public Library, the academic libraries at Barton College, Wilson Community College and the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anne Bridgers Hackney; his children, John Needham Hackney III, Thomas Bridgers Hackney and wife, Susan King Hackney of Wilson, and Louise Hackney Reeves and husband, David Crosby Reeves of Hendersonville; his grandchildren, John Drew Hackney, Claire Corbett Hackney, Elizabeth Hackney Davies and husband, Joseph Alan Davies, Louise Anderson Hackney, Anne Hackney Beal and Robert Kent Beal, Jr., and one great grandchild, Frances Page Davies.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ernest Deans Hackney and his sister, Mary Hunter Hackney Brame.

A Celebration of his life will be held 2 p.m.   Saturday, August 10, at the First United Methodist Church, 100 Green Street, Wilson. A reception will immediately follow in the Asbury Hall. The Rev. Bob Bergland will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the John N. Hackney, Jr. Scholarship, Barton College, PO Box 5000, Wilson, NC   27893 or the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC   27894.

Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.