Vernon Hall Clemmons

Vernon Hall Clemmons, 85, of LaGrange, NC, formerly of Fayetteville, NC, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC.

Vernon was a graduate of Central High School and President of his Class of 1956. He took great pride in maintaining relationships with his classmates throughout the years. Vernon attended UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in business and was in the AFROTC program; however, college ended when he married his sweetheart Margaret Harrelson, a marriage from God which lasted for 60 years until she passed in 2017.  Shortly after their marriage, Vernon became employed with Gulf Oil Corporation in Fayetteville, and received the accolade of becoming one of the youngest plant supervisors in the history of Gulf Oil. He retired at age 51 as Plant Manager in Spartanburg, SC.

His corporate career ended and his daily commitment became to love and care for children. He was loved by and will be greatly missed by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His new work was for his Lord and Savior, and he volunteered in the Spartanburg School District. Over a 10-year period, he counseled over a thousand students who needed guidance both academically and spiritually. Vernon led most of the kids he had contact with to Jesus Christ. If they didn't have a Bible, Vernon made sure he got one for them. These children never forgot him which is evidence of the positive, impactful influence that Vernon, better known as Papa, had on all their lives.

Every person he came in touch with knew he was a Fisher of Men and led every person he could to Jesus Christ and quoted scriptures that supported his faith. Rev 3:8 In addition to his commitment to children, Vernon and Margaret labored tirelessly for over 20 years from Georgia to Virginia by serving the Church and God's people and sharing their testimony by conducting over 200 fish fries at their own expense with proceeds going to benefit God's work.

Vernon enjoyed Carolina sports and golf, and often boasted about his 198-yard par 3 hole-in-one with a 3 wood at the Plantation Club at Myrtle Beach. An avid lover of four-part harmony gospel music, he was a good bass singer and loved J.D. Sumner.

Vernon is preceded in death by: Margaret Harrelson Clemmons, wife; Catherine Clemmons Bennett, daughter; Henton Hall and Ina Mae Clemmons, father and mother; Betty and Buddy Walters, sister and brother-in-law; Tommy Clemmons, brother. He is survived by: Jerry and Sheila Clemmons, brother and sister-in-law; Brenda Clemmons, sister-in-law; Esther Lynn and Jon Hemphill, daughter and son-in-law; Chuck Bennett, son-in-law; Donna Marie and Mike Smart, daughter and son-in-law; Jessica Bennett and Matt Dunagin, granddaughter and fiancé; Chase and Sarabeth Bennett, grandson and wife; Chelsea Mercer and Nathan Infante, granddaughter and fiancé; Courtney and Dillon Outlaw, granddaughter and husband; Rosamae and Merriefaye Bennett, and Gracelyn Mercer, great-granddaughters.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 1pm to 2pm at Jernigan Warren Funeral Home with a funeral following at 2pm in the funeral home chapel followed by burial at Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations  to the Go Fund Me setup in memory of Vernon https://www.gofundme.com/f/vernon-clemmons  for the family to provide meaningful gifts to Pacolet Elementary School where Vernon volunteered and to Kitty Askins Hospice Center where Vernon passed peacefully.

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

Online condolences may be made to www.jerniganwarren.com.

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