John Edgar Prevette, III

John Edgar Prevette, III
November 4, 1978 – April 6, 2025

John Prevette, beloved husband, adventurer, engineer, ukulele strummer, and master of corny jokes, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 6, 2025, surrounded by love. He lived a life full of curiosity, kindness, and quiet bravery—and on his own terms.

Born in Smithfield, North Carolina, John carried the legacy of hard work and craftsmanship passed down through generations. He followed in the footsteps of his Uncle Tom Gooden and Granddaddy Stuart Gooden (deceased) to become a licensed surveyor—and later carved his own professional path by becoming a civil engineer. John joined Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) 12 years ago as an engineering technician, but he had his eyes set on more. Through sheer determination, he passed the exams on his first try and became a licensed engineer, mastering the art of water and sewer systems while quietly shaping the infrastructure that helped his community thrive. But John didn’t just build systems—he built people. 

He was married to the love of his life, Stacey, since 2007. Their marriage was filled with laughter, adventure, dancing (the foxtrot and hustle were John’s go-to moves at Roland’s Dance Studio), and unwavering partnership. They traveled, tackled house projects together, enjoyed theater and music, and leaned into the beauty of the everyday. If something needed fixing—anything from a bathroom remodel to replacing porch railings or building a fireplace mantle for Stacey—John would just look it up on YouTube and dive in. He tackled life the same way he tackled projects: fearlessly, joyfully, and with purpose.

John loved and enjoyed his family immensely, finding deep joy in the connections they shared. He held a particularly special bond with his little sister, Joy. The two of them had a language all their own—an unspoken rhythm of inside jokes, knowing glances, and shared laughter that only siblings truly understand. Their love for each other ran deep and steady, a constant through every stage of life. To John, family wasn't just important—it was sacred, and he never missed an opportunity to say "I love you" or to show up with his whole heart.

A lifelong member of the church, John had a rare gift for teaching. He poured his heart into children’s ministry, young adults, and new members, guiding others not with dogma, but with warmth, questions, and a deep love of truth. His hunger for God, for philosophy, for wisdom—it was unmatched. He never stopped learning, and he never stopped sharing what he learned with others.

John never missed a chance to enjoy life. Whether he was plucking away at Folsom Prison Blues at his weekly play-a-long with the Fayetteville Ukulele Club, flying a small airplane over the Carolina skies, guiding his sunfish sailboat over White Lake, diving into a sci-fi novel (Dune was his favorite), or mastering a Lego set gifted with love, he approached each moment with enthusiasm and wonder.

He had cancer, but it never had him. Even in his final chapter, John lived. He read books, he joked, he meditated, he took a helicopter flying lesson, he planned for the future, and he continued to be deeply present. His life was a masterclass in resilience, joy, and authenticity. He met death not with fear, but with grace. John’s deepest wish was that no one say he lost his battle with cancer—instead, he wanted to be remembered as someone who won at life.

John is survived by his wife Stacey Erin Prevette, his mother Susie Gooden Prevette, sister Joyce Prevette Brafford, grandmother Joyce Gooden, uncle Tom Gooden and his wife Sharon, aunt Donna Gooden Payne and her husband Mark, cousin Jonathon David Gooden, niece Harper Rae Brafford, nephew Mark Joseph Higgs, parents-in-law Joey and Diane Yelverton, his extended family, and the countless friends, colleagues, fellow musicians, and kind strangers whose lives were brighter for having known him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations in John’s memory: the eKids children’s ministry at Epicenter Church—a ministry John loved and helped grow with his time, his gifts, and his heart (https://epicenter.churchcenter.com/giving/to/john-prevette-memorial-ekids-fund)  http://epicenter.churchcenter.com/giving/to/john-prevette-memorial-ekids-fundor the Pancreatic and GI Oncology Fund at Duke Cancer Institute    http://www.dukecancerinstitute.org/give-duke-cancer-institute

And if you really want to honor John, do something joyful and present in his memory: try a new skill, play a silly song on an instrument you don’t know, talk to a stranger, or help someone who’s struggling. And if you feel so moved, raise a glass (or a ukulele) and strum a verse of Wagon Wheel—he’ll probably be singing harmony.

A celebration of John's life will be held at 11am on Wednesday April 16, 2025 at Epicenter Church,2512 Fort Bragg Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303

Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Edgar Prevette, III, please visit our floral store.