Mark Douglas Vinson

Mark Douglas Vinson went to Heaven on November 15, 2020. Mark was born on August 9, 1948, the son of Huston and Virginia Vinson. He grew up in the Millcreek Community near Roseboro with his younger brother, Charles and younger sister, Melba. In 1965 he graduated from Roseboro Salemburg High and attended Pembroke State University, graduating in 1970. He was drafted into the United States Army, serving as a Medic in Germany until he was honorably discharged in 1972. Upon leaving the army he moved to Kenansville and began a thirty-year career as a Juvenile Court Counselor where he touched the lives of countless youth and earned the respect of law enforcement officers, judges and attorneys. Mark served on the Kenansville Town Board for twenty years. He was a mason and member of the American Legion. He was a member of Kenansville Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a long-time teacher of the Senior Adult Sunday School class.

Mark was an enthusiastic athlete and an admirer of athletic excellence. In his younger days he played football, basketball, baseball and softball and was an avid golfer for over sixty years. While other may have been more talented than he, no one was more competitive, more dedicated, or more demanding of himself. Mark loved the NC State Wolfpack, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Yankees. If there was a game on, and he was near a television, Mark probably watched it.

Mark loved beach music, shagging, and the Williams Lake of his youth. He also loved classic country music, bluegrass, and southern gospel music. He was a great storyteller and known for his jokes. For the last several years his morning Facebook post gathered vast following. He loved his God, his country, his family, his friends, his church, Kenansville, and life.

Mark is predeceased by his mother and father and the love of his life, Del Holt. He is survived by his son, Chris, his brother and sister, and countless friends and admirers. Due to COVID restrictions he cannot have the going home service he deserves. His cremains will be interred at 2:00 PM on Saturday November 21, 2020 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, 985 NC 11, Pink Hill, NC. Attendance will be limited to family and few of his many friends. Masks and social distancing will be required. The family apologizes for this limited service and hopes to have a larger memorial service when COVID restrictions are relaxed. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations in Mark's name be made to Kenansville Baptist Church P. O. Box 865, Kenansville, NC 28349 or the Kenansville Branch of the Duplin County Public Library.