John "Jack" F. Shuford

John Franklin Shuford "Jack", a practicing lawyer for over 60 years, died peacefully Friday, October 17th at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community at the age of 94. Born in Asheville on September 19, 1920, he was the son of the late William Ernest Shuford and Cornelia Johnson Fortune, prominent Asheville families who were instrumental in the founding and development of Asheville. After graduating from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1937, he completed his studies at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He received both his Bachelor of Arts and Law degrees and was student editor of the North Carolina Law Review from 1943-1944. Jack was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Caney Margaret Brown. She was his childhood sweetheart, whom he married in Asheville on September 12, 1942. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Robert Ernest Shuford and William Perry Shuford, sisters Mary Jane Shuford Pegram, Alice Cornelia Shuford, Elizabeth Shuford Nichols and Anna Shuford Moore. Upon returning from the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he began practicing law with George H. Wright under the firm name of Wright and Shuford. Jack was a man that the community could look to for leadership and direction. With his knowledge of municipal and state government and his interest in the history and future of Asheville and Buncombe County, he became highly involved in government, becoming a North Carolina State Senator and Mayor of Biltmore Forest. Jack was Chairman of the Buncombe County Hospital Authority, Director of Carolina Federal Savings and Loan Association and a Trustee of the Mountain Retreat Association. He was a member of the Buncombe County Sinking Fund Commission. His brother, the late William P. Shuford, also served on this Commission as Vice Chairman. He was Chairman of the Buncombe County Democratic organization for 11 years. He was also Chairman of the Buncombe County Charter Commission as well as Chairman of the Asheville-Buncombe Local Government Study Commission. Jack served as President of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Association, Trustee of Pack Memorial Library and also served on the local board of the Memory Assessment Clinic. He also enjoyed serving on the Salvation Army Board for many years. Jack was elected Chairman of the Western Division Board of Directors of Wachovia Bank and Trust Company in 1974, having been a member of its Board since 1964. Known for his outstanding honesty and integrity that identified him, he was also a man of strong family ties. Jack found great happiness within the immediate circles of his home. He especially enjoyed researching family history, and was a proud member of the National Society for the Sons of the American Revolution. Known in the community as Mr. Shuford, he was known to his family as Big Daddy or Uncle Jack. His favorite pastimes were fly fishing, time with his family at his South Mills River cabin, having breakfast every Saturday morning with his close friends for over 50 years, reading and spending time in the library due to his love of learning. He enjoyed many wonderful times in Sea Island, Georgia with his family, where he honeymooned with Caney Margaret in 1942 and where he spent many happy days in his later years as the guest of his great niece Jane Beadles and husband John Dunham. As a member of the Biltmore Forest Country Club, he frequently could be seen there with his many friends and family. He was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church. His great, great grandfather James Patton gave the land upon which the church was originally built. Jack is survived by two children, Caney Shuford Gunn "Nene", son-in-law Jim of Asheville and Libba Shuford Fields of Williamsburg, Virginia, granddaughters Caney Gunn Emmons and fiancée Mark Woollen of Charlotte and Whitney Elizabeth Fields of Angier, North Carolina, grandsons James Edwin Gunn of Charlotte and John Franklin Shuford Gunn and wife Kiki of San Francisco, great grandchildren Caney Margaret "Maggie" Emmons, Thomas Franklin Emmons, Claudia Catherine Louise Gunn and John Alexander Shuford Gunn as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23 at Riverside Cemetery with The Reverend E. Morgan Gardner officiating. Visitation will be held at the home of Nene and Jim Gunn, 48 Cedar Hill Drive, Biltmore Forest on Wednesday, October 22 from 3-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to John F. Shuford Memorial Fund at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801 or the Asheville Salvation Army, 204 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801. Groce Funeral Home, Lake Julian, is in charge of arrangements.