John C. Golden Jr.

John C. Golden, Jr., age 79, passed away on Friday, January 29th.
John was born in Dania, FL to John C. Golden, Sr. and Elizabeth Burroughs Golden.

​He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, children Martha and John, daughter-in-law Lee, brother Kim (Adriana), sisters Beth (Chuck) and Debbie (Lance), three amazing grandchildren Ethan, Annalise and Kate and dear nieces and nephews.

John attended Duke University where he met Mary Ellen. After graduation he joined the Army Corps of Engineers and earned a Master’s degree from Harvard. Mary Ellen and John lived in Huntington, WV and Mount Pleasant, SC before moving to Wilmington, NC in 1977. John retired from the Corps at age 55. For the rest of his life he enjoyed making music and telling stories with many friends in Wilmington and Ocracoke. He sang for hospital patients with the Therapeutics music group weekly at NHRMC and supported local musicians and groups by organizing benefit concerts. He had a gift for getting people together to make music and sang with many good friends including the Hewlett’s Creek Boys, Mark Teachey, Catesby Jones, Geoff Morris, Martin Garrish, Jim Clare, Gary and Kitty Mitchell and Molasses Creek, Anne Haley, Kent Knorr, Eric Miller, Alex Lanier, Eric Bruton, Dave Bond, Randy Drew, Phil Bruschi, and many more. He wrote and performed songs about the Lost Colony and Cape Fear history with Rob Nathanson and told stories with Lloyd Wilson and Joyce Grear. 

John served on the Eagle Scout Board of Review and helped countless scouts achieve that honor. He was active for many years in the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear, the Friends of Fort Fisher and the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina. In past years he sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and worked with youth groups at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Wilmington.

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers who helped John during his battle with cancer including EMS, ER, hospital, Zimmer Cancer Center and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare personnel. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local hospice or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (formerly Hospice) 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 in memory of John.
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The family plans to hold a hootenanny to celebrate John’s life with his musician friends and family later when the pandemic allows. 

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