Obituary: John Thomas Langley
John Thomas Langley, Jr.
December 1, 1962 - October 3, 2023
John Thomas Langley, Jr. was a miracle and a legend. He is preceded in death by his parents John Thomas Langley, Sr. and Nancy Jane Procter Langley; and also, his great niece, Madeline Jane Cumbie.
John was not supposed to live after a boating accident at five years old that resulted in a seven-week coma at Duke Medical Center. Once he did survive, even then the doctors told his mother to put him in Caswell.
Mrs. Langley didn’t take that advice; instead, she turned the family home into a physical therapy environment. She never accepted the limitations society placed on John and neither did he. He learned to drive a car, he graduated from boarding school at Phelps High School in Malvern, PA, and he earned an A.A. Degree in Psychology, with an emphasis on Mental Health, from Lenoir Community College.
John spoke before the NC Senate advocating for people with disabilities. He loved his girlfriend, Donna Glover, for thirty years. John worked at Britthaven, Barnet Southern, and Neuse Enterprise. He was baptized, confirmed, and served as a Greeter and Usher at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. He also served as a volunteer at Mary's Kitchen. He was active in his Monday night Men's Bible Study and Wednesday morning Men's Prayer Group. He loved serving as Joseph in the yearly Perry Christmas Pageant. John was kind-hearted and generous with a great memory for details. He loved his family and especially loved holidays.
He is survived by his four sisters, Jane Langley Brothers, Madeline Louise Langley, Susan Langley Elliott, and Joy Langley Smith. Also, a special brother-in-law, Warren Brothers.
John is also survived by his beloved nieces and nephews: Langley Bass Cumbie, Emily Bass Shepard, Nancy Langley Bromberg, Samuel Quincy Bass III, Holman Clyde Bass, Jr., William Thomas Langley, Henry Bassett V, Elizabeth Langley Elliott, and Kathryn Procter Elliott.
His surviving great-nieces and great-nephews include: Emmajyn Marie Blair, Alan Lee Blair III, Mary Camden Elizabeth Cumbie, Michael David Cumbie, Jr, Emily Mercer Shepard, Addison Blake Jones, Bennett Thomas Cumbie, Beau Richmond Shepard, Holman Clyde Bass III, Margaret Clarke Bass, Gracelynn Mae Jones, and Beatrice Procter Jones.
The Langley family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Greendale Forest in Snow Hill and also 3HC in Goldsboro.
John’s Funeral will be held at 11 AM Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (800 Rountree Street, Kinston, NC) with interment in the St. Francis Garden of the church. Those attending are invited to join the family at a Reception immediately following the services in the Moseley Fellowship Hall of St. Mary’s.
Online condolences to the family may be expressed at www.taylor-tyson.com
