James Shoffner, Sr.

BURLINGTON- Mr. James Richard Shoffner, Sr., age 95, of 1408 St. Marks Church Rd., passed away peacefully Monday, July 25, 2011, ten days short of his 96th birthday, on his farm original homeplace after several months of failing health. Born August 4, 1915, in Guilford County, to Tom and Nora Greeson Shoffner, Mr. Shoffner was a life-long member of Mt. Hope United Church of Christ and attended St. Mark's Church in Burlington after marrying his wife, Mildred Whittsell Shoffner in 1974. he and Mildred alternated weekends at each church so they could maintain their devotion to the churches they loved. He retired from Lorillard Tobacco Company as a master machinist and millwright and also retired from farming. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, step father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, brother and friend. He taught his children by way of example and living as a devoted Christian; using the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule as a true commitment to the way to live life. Mr. Shoffner was a Sunday School teacher of Men's Bible Class for several years, a leader of the Explorer Scouts of Mt. Hope church, served as a deacon, and served many years on the church cemetery committee. Mr. Shoffner was a mentor to his children, to younger boys and girls as well as many nieces and nephews; teaching the value of doing what is right, hard work, respect for your neighbor and property. Mr. Shoffner enjoyed farming, helping his neighbors, fixing farm equipment, and working in the cemetery at Mt. Hope Church. Being a man who loved working the land, he was a natural horticulturalist. Richard was blessed with very good health until age eighty-eight, still being able to enjoy yard work, growing giant tomatoes, vegetables and beautiful roses. In his younger days while still living in McLeansville, he would take produce into Greensboro and sell it or give it away to the "city" folks before checking in to work at Lorillard. They loved to see him drive up their street in his old red truck; the folks knew he had some good tasting vegetables, watermelons and cantaloupes! After moving to Burlington, he sold tomatoes to Stan's market on Church St. or just gave it away and shared his bountiful garden with neighbors. Even as he aged, he could still tell one how to work the land and care for nature. His heart was always with the outdoors and making good use of God's land. When he became unable to work and go outside, he enjoyed watching the red birds, blue birds, doves and all variety of birds in the yard. He had a pet squirrel that visited the window each day and also watched the deer that walked freely around the farm. He will be greatly missed but leaves a great legacy with lots of wisdom and love to his family and friends. In addition to his parents, Mr. Shoffner was preceded in death by his first wife of thirty-eight years, Edna Hamby Shoffner; sisters, Elizabeth S. Staley, Swannie S. Johnson, Georgia S. May and Maggie Lea S. Coble. Those left to cherish in his memory include his wife of thirty-six years, Mildred W. Shoffner of her daughter's home in Cary; children, Bernice Shoffner of Burlington, J.R. Shoffner and his wife, Joan, of McLeansville, Shelby Jean McClean and her husband, Jerry, of McLeansville; step children, Charles Rumbley and his wife, Patsy, of Key West, FL and Linda Daniels of Cary; grandchildren, Don Burroughs, Rick Shoffner, Danny Shoffner, Kim Shoffner, Deborah Shoffner, Jeff McClean, Christy Ross; step grandchildren, Keith Rumbley, Gina Rumbley, Cristin Connor and Caroline Mutters; great grandchildren, Thomas, Michael B., Jennifer, Michael S., Preston, Christopher, Leann, Danielle, Taylor, Holli, Katie, Callie, Bryton, Gina, Justin, Taylor, Jack, Gibson, Colin, Erika, Brianna, Elliott, Peyton, and Emma; and a great great grandchild, Kylee; and left with the wonderful memories of their love and long life together as siblings are brothers, Thomas Shoffner, Leonard Shoffner and his wife, Sara; sisters, Mazie Coulman, Osa McAdoo; brother-in-law, Paul Coble; and many, many caring and loving nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. The family wishes to thank Vicky Barnett and the Hospice staff and friend, Shirley Kime, for her special and caring attention given to Richard during the past few years. To Rev. Ben Bishop of St. Mark's Church for all your cheerful visits and stories. We wish to express a sincere appreciation to Dr. Javed Masoud and his staff for their positive attitude and "fun" times at the office visits. A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2:00 Thursday, July 28, 2011 at Mt. Hope UCC by the Rev. Lloyd Spencer and Rev. Ben Bishop. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory from 6-8 Wedneday evening and other times at home of his daughter, Shelby McClean, 4724 McLeansville Rd., McLeansville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215 or to Mt. Hope UCC, 2400 Mt. Hope Church Rd., Whitsett, NC 27377 or to St. Mark's Church, 1230 St. Mark's Church Rd., Burlington, NC 27215.