Mr. Mayon Jerome ("MJ") Weeks, 92, of Fayetteville, diedThursday, October 9, 2014, in his home.

Mr. Weeks is survived by his wife of 73 years, DorothyHawley Weeks; son, Mayon, Jr. and wife, Mackie; daughter, Jane Weeks Gardiner,and husband, Keith; and daughter, Julie Weeks Rufenacht and husband, Brady; 9grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Weeks was a native of Sampson County, North Carolina,where he was the valedictorian of his high school class. He was a World War IIveteran, having served in the Army Signal Corps in the European Theatre. At theend of WWII, he moved his young family to Fayetteville where he began the firstpart of his career in advertising at the Fayetteville Observer. He served asAdvertising Director of the Fayetteville Observer before entering the realestate and construction field in 1961.

Throughout the next four decades, Mr. Weeks was a prominentfigure in the real estate and land development industry. He was the recipientof many local, statewide, and national awards related to real estate leadershipand construction innovation. He was a past president of the Fayetteville AreaHome Builders Association and was the recipient of their prestigious "Pillar ofthe Industry" award. He was a past president of the National Association ofBuilding Manufacturers.

He derived the most satisfaction from his involvement incivic and church affairs. He served as President of the Fayetteville Jaycees,was named "Jaycee of the Year," and was the recipient of the JayceeDistinguished Service Award. He served three terms on the Board of Directors ofthe Fayetteville Kiwanis Club. He was President of the Fayetteville Museum ofArt and President of the Downtown Fayetteville Association. He was therecipient of the Chamber of Commerce Realtor Cup, awarded for outstandingcommunity leadership.

Mr. Weeks led a successful drive to organize theFayetteville Area Industrial Development Corporation and served as its firstpresident. He was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Economic DevelopmentDivision of the Chamber of Commerce. He served as chairman of the FayettevilleBoard of Directors of Wachovia Bank and Trust company. In 1983, MethodistCollege named him the recipient of its "Entrepreneur of the Year."

In 1979, he spearheaded a successful drive to organizeFayetteville Progress, Inc., a private non-profit development corporation whosepurpose was to promote projects that brought civic improvements and improvedopportunities for the community. Most notable among their projects was the demolitionof the infamous "500 block" of Hay Street, the construction of the Medical ArtsBuilding, the construction of the 700Haymount project, and the successfulcampaign for Fayetteville's first "All American City" award.

Mr. Weeks was a founding member of the Fayetteville Academy,a former President of Highland Country Club, a founding member of the CotillionClub, and a member of Hay Street United Methodist Church.The children's wing of the Hay Street Church is named for Mr. and Mrs. Weeks inhonor of their leadership and service to the congregation.

In celebration of Mr. Weeks' life, a visitation will be heldin the Family Life Center of Hay Street United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on Sunday,October 12, followed by a service in the sanctuary at 3:00 pm. Intermentwill follow the church service at LafayetteMemorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hay Street UnitedMethodist Church.