John H. McCormick

THE LIFE OF JOHN HERBERT MCCORMICK BEGAN IN THE SMALL TOWN OF CHESTER, SOUTH CAROLINA ON SEPTEMBER 21, HE WAS ONE OF 13 CHILDREN BORN TO THE LATE NELSON MCCORMICK AND NANCY McLILY (9 BOYS AND 4 GIRLS). HE PASSED INTO ETERNAL LIFE AND WENT TO HIS HEAVENLY HOME ON FEBRUARY 14, 2024, AT THE VA HOSPITAL. HE ASTONISHED THE HOSPITAL STAFF WITH HIS PURE GRIT, TENACITY, AND STRENGTH TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND BATTLE WITH THE BEST OF THEM AT THE TENDER AGE OF 96 YEARS YOUNG. JOHN MCCORMICK WAS EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OFTEN GETTING HONORS SCHOLASTICALLY, WAS A KEY PLAYER OF BOTH THE BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL TEAMS, AND ALSO ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THE SCHOOL CHOIR WHEN CALLED UPON. ALTHOUGH HE WAS OFFERED A FULL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, HE DECIDED TO FOLLOW IN HIS BROTHERS’ FOOTSTEPS AND JOIN THE AIR FORCE. WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY, HE WAS STRICKEN WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER AND GIVEN LITTLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. HOWEVER, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, GOD HAD OTHER PLANS. IN HIS EARLY 20’s. HE WAS HONOR ABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY. DESPITE ALL ODDS, HE RETURNED TO CIVILIAN LIFE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY AND IN THE UPBRINGING OF HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS AFTER 40 YEARS, HE PROUDLY RETIRED FROM BETHLEHEM STEEL. HOWEVER, THAT CERTAINLY DIDN’T MEAN HE RETIRED FROM LIFE. HE HAD SEVERAL STORIES AND INTERESTING MOMENTS THAT HE CHERISHED. JOHNNY HAD A TRUE PASSION FOR LIVING HIS BEST LIFE ON HIS OWN TERMS. HE HAD A REGIMEN THAT WORKED PERFECTLY FOR HIM FROM HOW HE ATE TO HOW HE MAINTAINED HIS HOUSEHOLD. HE ENJOYED THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE, SUCH AS TRASH -TALKING SHARING A COCKTAIL OR COLD BEER WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, BEING COMICAL, LAUGHING BOISTEROUSLY OR JUST SITTING AROUND IN HIS RECLINER WATCHING ING SPORTS, WESTERN, AND HIS FAVORITE LADY JUDGE JUDY. HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS 12 SIBLINGS 12 SIBLINGS (FLOSSIE, HATTIE MAE. ELOUISE, NANCY, ED, JC, JOE, LES, SAM, W.F, EZELL, & RAYMOND), 3 CHILDREN (SANDRA, WARREN, AND ROY MCCORMICK), NEPHEW (LESTER JR.) AND HIS LONG TIME FRIEND (VAN DYKE). HIS MEMORY WILL FOREVER LINGER IN THE HEARTS OF HIS REMAINING CHILDREN (ERIC CUTCHIN AND HELEN MCCORMICK), HIS GRANDSON (ALESSANDRO AKA “LIL BIG HEAD”), HIS SPECIAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS (PETE, RODERICK, RICHARD, SHIRLEY, AND ANNIE), BEST FRIEND, PRAYER WARRIOR AND AS-NEEDED CAREGIVER (ALBERTA CUTCHIN), AND A HOST OF MANY OTHER LOVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IN RECENT TIMES, HE SHARED THAT OVER THE YEARS, HE’D LEARNED NOT TO LET THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD AND LIFE IN GENERAL STAY IN ONE’S SPIRIT OR KEEP YOU DOWN TOO LONG, THAT GROWING OLDER IS A GIFT, FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT, AND REMEMBERING GOD IS A MUST.

Tributes

John H. McCormick

September 21, 1927 - February 14, 2024