![]() He said often, “I tell everyone that there is plenty of time for sadness, and we need to live every day for doing better.” He will be remembered as a man of good humor, intelligence, integrity, and epic snoring. ![]() Stocker Scholarship for Agricultural Economics at the University of Tennessee. To date, this trust has helped put six family members through college. Being a strong advocate of education, he created a trust after his cancer diagnosis for descendants of his mother and father that would pay for any level of higher education they wished to pursue. His primary hobbies were playing the guitar, golfing, and tending to his herd of some 300 black angus cattle, all of which he knew by number. He received the North Carolina Pork Council’s Hall of Fame award in 2019, which is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, one reserved for outstanding lifetime achievement and contributions to the industry. He also served as President of the Duplin County Cattlemen’s Association and represented Duplin County as a director of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. He served on the Ag Alumni Council at the University of Tennessee, later serving on the Ag Development Board, and eventually chairing the board for two years. He was involved in the development of the North Carolina State Animal Response Team. He was elected to the board of directors of the National Pork Producers Council and served as chairman of the NPPC Swine Health Committee. He served as a member, appointed by the Governor, of the James Sprunt Community College Board of Trustees. He served on the North Carolina pseudorabies task force from its inception until the disease was eradicated. He was active in the North Carolina Pork Producers organization and served on various committees, including the budget committee and as chairman of their political action committee. He was a member of the board of directors for Harrells Christian Academy for twenty-five years. Over the years, he was a trusted advisor to many organizations. Serving as vice-president, executive vice-president and general manager, president, and vice-president of the board of directors, he helped the company expand to swine operations in eight states and engineer and manage the development of many cost-reducing technological production changes. In a tenure lasting 28 years, he reached the highest levels of management in one of the most successful agribusiness firms in recent history. After 13 and a half years with the organization, Wendell Murphy recruited him to work for Murphy Farms. In 1960, he began his career at Central Soya Company in Chattanooga, TN and ultimately held positions in Orangeburg, SC and Charlotte, NC as credit manager. He helped fund his education through cattle sales, barbering, and being a pool shark. In 1959, he received a degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). After completing high school in 1955, he became the first of his family to attend college. Their love was cemented on their senior trip when she came to his rescue after he got sick on an amusement ride, and the rest is history. He met his wife of 60 years, Betty Scott, while attending Sequatchie County High School in Dunlap, TN. They sold timber and raised chickens, hogs, and cattle grew apples, potatoes, beans, greens, and many other vegetables. They grew most of what they needed for survival and sold any excess. It was an idyllic 1,700-acre farm with rolling hills of green pastures, hardwood tree-covered mountains, a meandering creek, and mountain springs that must have been reminiscent of the Stockers’ Swiss origins. ![]() As a child, he worked on the family farm, referred to as the homeplace, atop the Cumberland Plateau. He was the middle child of three boys and had a twin brother that died at birth. Jim was born on Decemin Palmer, TN to Alfred and Norma Stocker. James (“Jim”) Earl Stocker, 82, of Kenansville, NC passed away on Decemat Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC after a twelve-year bout with colon cancer. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Grove Presbyterian Church, P. Murphy was also preceded in death by husband, Harry Murphy brothers, Ceness L. Murphy and wife, Amanda of Kenansville daughters, Gayle Bostic of Kenansville and Susan Kornegay and husband, Bill of Warsaw grandchildren, Christy Kornegay, Amber Kornegay, Robbie Bostic and Samuel Murphy great grandchildren, Chloe Bostic, Caroline Bostic and Cassie Bostic. A visitation will be held at 11:00am prior to the service also at the Church. Burial will follow in the Devotional Gardens. Murphy was born in Duplin County Januto the late Ceness Leon Taylor and Velma Mozingo Taylor.Ī funeral service will be held 12:00pm Tuesday, Januat Grove Presbyterian Church in Kenansville. Kenansville-Mary Gray Taylor Murphy, 88, of Kenansville passed away Friday, Januat Vidant Duplin.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |