James Carson "J.C." York

RAMSEUR — On Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, James Carson (J.C.) York, 87, of Ramseur, NC, in blessed spirit, walked across the fields he harvested, and crossed over the creek on the wooden bridge he built with his hands, and followed the brightest stars through the clearest of night skies, where he was led by all of heavens angels, and welcomed by a heavenly stadium filled with souls of loved ones who watched and cheered him in his peace filled glory, as his soul was welcomed to eternal life by the Lord he loved and worshipped all his god given life.

J.C. was surrounded by family and love during his final days in the comforts of his home. Everyone was blessed to have time to share stories of life, to smile and laugh and cry tears and to come together to embrace the love J.C so beautifully shared with life.

J.C. was born May 17, 1934, In Ramseur, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Lela York of Ramseur, NC. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ervin York, Ray York, Wayne York and Larry York, of Ramseur, NC.

J.C. Is survived by his wife, Pansy Hughes York, of 63 years. Together, they inspired family and others to have what they had, because it was so real, with a solid foundation of devoted and faithful love and trust, companionship and friendship, and partnership.

J.C. Is survived by his daughter, Lisa York McMasters and her husband, Bruce McMasters of Ramseur, NC. And his son, James Christopher York and his wife, Natalie York of Oviedo, Florida.

J.C. Is survived by 5 grandchildren, Traci Jordan and her husband, Aaron; Caroline Bullard and her husband, Michael; Whittney Lamb and her husband, Noah; Christina Lela York; and Kathleen Dorothy Mae York.

J.C. Is survived by 7 Great Grandchildren, Brayden and Carson Jordan; Lily, Brooklyn, Layla and Blakelee Bullard; and Parker Lamb.

J.C. is survived by his brothers and sisters and their spouses, Kenny (brother) and Ersell York of Ramseur, NC; Joe (brother) and Nancy York of Asheboro, NC; Linda Moore (sister) of Graham, NC; Roger (brother) and Linda York of Ramseur, NC;  Pat King (sister) of Little River, SC; Gary (brother) and Mary York of Ramseur, NC.

J.C. Graduated from Ramseur High School in 1952.

He went on to serve in the United States Air Force from 1952-1956.

J.C. graduated from Embry Riddle International School of Aviation, in Miami, Florida, in 1957. He quickly became the most sought after Crop Duster, as he was one of the few who could maneuver and fly low enough over the crops to leave the crops visibly dusted.

J.C. Worked for Eveready of Asheboro, NC, for 37 years as a Maintenance Supervisor.

J.C. was a true farmer, who looked forward to waking up early and spending his days in the fields and pastures, tending to his harvests, planting large gardens of such delicious produce and veggies as corn, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, lettuce, radishes, cantaloupe, squash, onions and cucumbers, collards, and pumpkins and peppers.

Whether you knew J.C. or not, when you drove past his fields off of Hwy 64 East, you wanted to stop to admire the perfectly planted and carefully aligned perfections of his harvests. In fact, many wondered and even joked that J.C. perhaps lived on his tractor and in his fields! Because he was always out there when time and life permitted him to be. In his fields. Thinking about life and his family. Having conversations with God. Having good thoughts for life and others. And expressing his true talents in farmer's art.

J.C. kept his handsome physique and good health by living an active life. He hand chopped and piled all the wood he gathered from his land for his wood burning stove, piece by piece, as tall as a mountain, as he took great pride in making sure his family and home would never be cold in the winter.

J.C. and Pansy were members of Holly's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Ramseur, NC, for many years, where J.C. served as a deacon and as Chief Groundskeeper. His son, Chris, and his brother-in-law, Floyd Hughes, were his landscaping partners in mowing and weeding and tending to the church grounds and cemetery.

He kept a Bible in his car, in his bedroom and in his basement, and kept neatly handwritten notes beside each special passage, which will now be passed on as treasures and gifts to his family. J.C. was the kind of person you wanted to know and knew, and the kind of stranger you were always blessed to meet.

J.C. was born with more than a little Carolina Blue Blood in his veins and shared in every game’s moments over the phone or in person with his son, Chris. They traveled together on a trip of their lifetime to the Final Four in 2017 to Phoenix, Arizona, where and when the Tar Heels beat Gonzaga in the National Championship! Go Tar Heels!

J.C. loved his daughter, Lisa, and was more than grateful for all the help and love she gave to him and his wife Pansy over the years. With driving them to doctor appointments and helping with caring for their home, picking up groceries and prescriptions, making appointments, dropping off home-cooked meals, and checking in on or popping in to say hello, J.C. was always grateful for his daughter’s love and kindness. A blessed daughter.

J.C. spent years coaching and watching his son, Chris, play baseball. He built a batting cage behind their home where he and his son spent countless hours and years, working and bonding together as father and son, as coach and player. He was so proud of his son’s baseball talents and achievements.

J.C. and Pansy traveled to every single baseball game Chris played in through his younger years and all through his college years at Elon College, in Burlington, NC. J.C. was truly his son’s greatest coach, and fan.

J.C.'s beloved dog, Benji, a chihuahua, was always at or near his master’s feet and side and spent the last weeks of his master’s life by his side, protecting him, comforting him, loving him and holding round the clock vigil over his favorite person. Anyone visiting J.C. and Pansy had to first be approved by Benji.

J.C. loved meeting with friends regularly at the local cafe and diners for breakfast and was always seen around town visiting family and friends in their places of work and home. J.C. lived in a town where everybody knew his name, or at least knew of it.

J.C. was an avid book reader of war stories and history and anything sports related and he loved walking up his long gravel driveway to get the daily newspaper. The sports section was always the first pages he turned to.

J.C. loved sharing stories of life, and his life, and everyone loved to listen to his accounts of such moments in life. He was a man who did not prefer to stand out in a crowd, rather a man who wanted to be available to help anyone in the crowd.

It was never about status with J.C. He never bragged. He never judged. It was all about God, and his love for family and friends and life, and even strangers who passed by and through his life.

As J.C. would say, "God, we thank you for your blessings, as you provide us with your strength in our bodies and in our minds and nourish us with your love. In Your name, God, Amen."

The York family wants to thank Hospice of Randolph for their compassionate care for J.C. during his final days.

Funeral services for J.C. will be 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, at Holly's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Ramseur. Rev. Dwayne Lester and Rev. Tim Wolfe will officiate the services. Military Honors will be presented by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 1:30-2:45 p.m. on Sunday at Holly's Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, Ramseur.

Condolences may be made online at www.loflinfuneralservice.com.

Arrangements by Loflin Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Memorials may be made to Holly’s Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, 8003 Ferguson Rd., Ramseur, NC 27316 or Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.