JOHN WILLIAM CHANCE SR.
Dec. 14, 1960-Jan. 1, 2018
John William Chance Sr., 57, Goldsboro, passed away Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, after a lengthy illness.
John was born in Wayne County Dec. 14, 1960, to the late John B. and Juanita Jackson Chance.
He graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1979.
John received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983 and his Master of Arts in education from East Carolina University in 1990.
John served as the executive director of the Wayne Opportunity Center Inc. in Goldsboro before he retired for health reasons.
He was always eager to assist consumers and families in any way possible to enhance their lives, whether it was employment, housing, transportation, food or clothing.
Prior to serving with the Wayne Opportunity Center, John had worked with the Wayne County Register of Deeds, O'Berry Center and with Skill Creations.
John was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, past exalted ruler of Goldsboro Elks Lodge, past president of the Goldsboro Jaycees, past president of Wayne County Chapter of the American Heart Association, national representative for Woodmen of the World and president of the Sunrise Kiwanis Club and was a member and held office in the following: Gateway Transit, Goldsboro Appearance Commission and Goldsboro Community Affairs Commission.
In 2006, John teamed with Nancy Delia and the Sunrise Kiwanis to form the Aktion Club, which was a club specifically for people with disabilities.
John has advocated for people with disabilities by being the past president of the Wayne County Mental Health Association and Treasurer for the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities.
He had always been involved in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
John and Sue have also served as guardians for others for more than 20 years.
Scouting played a large role in John's life. John served scouts in the Tuscarora Council in various capacities such as committee member, cub and scoutmaster, and he dedicated much of his adult life to training boys in scouting.
One of John's proudest achievements was receiving his Eagle Scout, and was pleased to see many other boys under his guidance achieve the rank of Eagle.
John received other awards, which included Order of the Arrow, Jaycee of the Year, Kiwanian of the Year, Boss of the Year (both the North Carolina National Guard and the Goldsboro Jaycees), Volunteer of the Year (Wayne County Mental Health Association and the Wayne County Heart Association), Honor Plaque from Woodmen of the World, Outstanding Young North Carolinian and the Mayor's Trophy for the Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
A service to celebrate John's life will be held Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, at noon at St. Paul United Methodist Church, with the Rev. James Harry and the Rev. Phyllis Vail officiating. Interment will follow in Roseboro Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at his home.
John is survived by his wife, Sue W. Chance; son, Will Chance of Greenville; daughter, Susan Kate Chance of the home; daughter, Corrie Deporter and husband, Brian, of Roseboro; and two grandsons, J.J. and Joseph Shandy.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 204 E. Chestnut St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530, or Wayne Opportunity Center, 619 S. George St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 3, 2018 8:05 AM