Obits – Mr. John McCall
Longtime Carthage businessman, Mr. John McCall of the Tanglewood Community and a partner in D.T. McCalls and Sons, died at 4:42 a.m. Sunday morning June 1, 2025 at the Pavilion Senior Living in South Carthage where he had made his home since January 9, 2023.
Mr. McCall was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. His funeral services were conducted on Thursday afternoon June 6th at 1 p.m. from First Baptist Church Carthage with his former pastor, Bro. Tim Frank officiating. Musical presence will be by the church pastor, Bro. Jim Wilburn accompanied by Mr. McCall’s daughter-in-law Crystal McCall. Burial will be beside his brother Dave, in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
Mr. McCall was the youngest of nine children, four daughters and five sons, of the late David Thomas (D.T.) McCall who died at the age of 85 in 1985 and Amy Barnett Manning McCall who died at the age of 77 in 1980 and was born John Edwin McCall in South Carthage on July 10, 1941.
The seven siblings preceding him in death were Frank Thomas McCall who died June 15, 2003 at the age of 81, Bro. Ray Barrett McCall who died February 2, 2008 at the age of 83, David Manning (Dave) McCall who died April 27, 2008 at the age of 70, Lois McCall McDonald who died September 14, 2009 at the age of 82, Mildred McCall Hix who died January 16, 2013 at the age of 80, Mary Nell McCall Hight who died August 7, 2022 at the age of 91 and Albert Burr (A. B. McCall who died September 13, 2023 at the age of 94.
Mr. McCall was a member of the 1959 graduating class at Smith County High School where he majored in science. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America his freshman and sophomore year and the freshman year served as vice-president. His senior year he served as the chorus president, played football under Coach Turney Ford, was in the “C” club and was voted most improved football athlete.
He continued his education at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Cumberland University in Lebanon and Belmont College in Nashville where he graduated with a degree in business in 1965.
On the first day of a summer chemistry class at Belmont, and where he met his lab partner and with whom he studied and who would become his future wife, the former Winnie Kay Farris, from Lawrence County. They were united in marriage at the Ramah Baptist Church in Leoma, Tennessee on June 5, 1965. John absolutely adored her and she was the love of his life. It was Kay who introduced John to the game of tennis.
The newly wedded couple moved back to Carthage where Mr. McCall joined the family business, D. T. McCall & Sons. He so enjoyed working with his brothers, A.B. and Dave. He had a great appreciation for the many employees and customers of “the store” and the employees and customers returned their appreciation to him for his kindness and gentle manner. He thoroughly enjoyed interacting with everyone with whom he came in contact with.
John often traveled to Nashville to do early morning commercials as an advertiser on the “Ralph Emery Show” on WSMV-TV. He was a beloved figure in the furniture and appliance business until his retirement in 2022.
Active in the Community, Mr. McCall was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Carthage where he had attended since childhood and where he had the distinct honor of serving as a Deacon for over forty-years and where together, he and Kay made many lifelong friends.
He loved his community, and greatly enjoyed the time he spent serving on the Board of Directors of the Smith County Bank.
John also valued education very highly. He received the award of the Phoenix form Cumberland University in 1980, and was honored to serve on the Board of Trustees for Belmont University for many years.
He and Kay and the family enjoyed traveling and visiting many countries all over the world.
He excelled at tennis, playing in many tournaments in both singles and doubles. He and Kay often played as a double team, and they enjoyed tennis together throughout their long years of marriage. They even had a regulation tennis court at heir Tanglewood Community home. He was an accomplished skier and took many trips with family and friends to the ski the slopes of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
John enjoyed reading poetry and studying the Scriptures.
He also loved music, having taught himself to play the piano by ear. While sitting at the piano he made many happy memories, playing and singing songs with his family and friends.
Surviving in addition to his wife Kay, with whom they would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on Friday June 5th, and who is a former teacher of high school French and English, are their two children, Julie Marie McCall Thompson and husband Scott of Spanish Fort, Alabama and John Justin (J. J.) McCall and wife Crystal Underhill McCall of the Tanglewood Community; three grandchildren, Paul Ross Thompson of Mobile, Alabama, Tanner McCall Thompson and wife Jewel of Mobile, Alabama, Ana Gabrielle Thompson of Spanish Fork, Alabama; sister, Ruth Jean McCall Garrett and husband Gary of Nashville; sister-in-law, Rebecca Hackett McCall of South Carthage.
The McCall family has requested memorials to either the First Baptist Church Carthage or First Light Community of Mobile, Alabama.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
