Pelham Jackson Mcmichael

Lenoir, NC - On Saturday, April 16, 2011 Pelham Jackson “Jack” McMichael’s spirit returned to his Heavenly Father, the Almighty God. Jack’s earthly remains will be laid to rest in the Estes Family Cemetery in Upton, NC on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 awaiting his resurrection at the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jack was born May 1, 1924, in a tent 17 miles outside Birmingham, Alabama. He was the son of the late Willis Jackson McMichael and the late Leila Emma Dawson McMichael of Alabama. He was preceded in death by his infant older brother, James McMichael; his first wife, the late Annie Lavelle “Val” Estes McMichael of Upton, NC; his older half-brother, Willis “Wilbur” J. McMichael of Florence, Alabama; brother-in-law, Edward Eugene Oliver of Greensboro, NC; and brother-in-law, Joseph Scott, Jr. of Marble Falls, Texas. Jack is survived by his wife, Billie Sue Curtis Barlow McMichael; his sisters Dorothy McMichael Oliver and Emily McMichael Scott; his daughters, Leila Melinda McMichael and her husband Andy R. Fairbanks, Jr., Rebecca Ann McMichael and her husband Juan Castillo-Hinojosa, and Margaret Jean McMichael Langley and her husband Lew; his son, Philip Jackson McMichael and his wife Brenda; his stepdaughter, Ann Barlow Gragg and her husband Mackie; his stepson, Richard D. Barlow and his wife Judy; his granddaughters, Nikki Michelle Marvin Neely, Wendy Spring Sipes Creswell and her husband Shane, and Erin Simmons; his grandson Philip Jason McMichael; and his great grandchildren, Joshua Jackson Cooke, Haven Lavelle Neely and Harmony Melinda Huffman. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and a vast circle of friends and acquaintances. Jack joined the US Navy on July 9, 1941. He flew as a combat air crewman in PBM’s and PBY’s during WWII, and also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His life was miraculously saved numerous times by God Almighty, for which he and his family were forever grateful. His last duty was as an instructor in Class B airplane mechanics school at Millington, TN, teaching all aspects of the R3350 engines. Jack completed 20 years active service in the Navy and retired as a Chief Petty Officer on April 1, 1963, spending ten years in the Naval Reserves after that. Jack served as Caldwell County’s Veterans’ Service Officer from 1966 to 1977. He tried to help every veteran and their dependents who came through his door. At the time of his death he was a member of the American Legion Post 29; VFW Post 5381; Disabled Veterans of America, Chapter 6; Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 60; The Retired Enlisted Association; Nat’l Association for Uniformed Services; The National Chief Petty Officers Association; and the PBY Catalina International Association, to name a few. He supported the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, and his name and picture are inscribed on their website. He is also memorialized at www.vpnavy.org on the U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons w PDF Printable Version