Father John Carlton Southern Jr.

December 14, 1946 - February 23, 2017

The Reverend John Carlton Southern, Jr., 70, of Asheville died Thursday, February 23, 2017. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC on December 14, 1946 to the late John Carlton Southern, Sr. and Elizabeth “Lib” Nail Southern. He was also preceded in death by his partner of 36 years, John Crawford. Father Southern was a graduate of C. A. Erwin High School, UNC-Chapel Hill and The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, New York. He was ordained Deacon in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Asheville, NC on June 6, 1974 and ordained as Priest in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Kings Mountain, NC on June 14, 1975. Over his career, Father Southern served many parishes, Trinity, King’s Mountain, NC, St. Andrew’s, Bessemer City, NC, St. Michael’s, Baton Rouge, LA and Trinity, Asheville, NC. He left full time parish work in 1998 to do Interim Ministry where he served Holy Communion, Ashe County, St. Luke’s, Salisbury, NC, Good Shepherd, Cashiers, NC, St. Luke’s, Boone, NC, Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount, NC and St. Luke’s, Lincolnton, NC. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Southern (Mary Ann) of New Bern, NC, their four children and their families. A funeral mass will be celebrated 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 4, 2017 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte Street with Father Brent Norris officiating. Interment will be in the Calvary Shrine Memorial Garden of St. Mary’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church or to the charity of one’s choice. Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.