John Israel Campbell

John Israel Campbell, Sr., 91, of Kannapolis died Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Atrium Health Cabarrus, after a period of declining health.

A graveside service will be held at Carolina Memorial Park on Thursday, December 12, at 12:00 PM noon with Rev. Ed Burns officiating. His family will receive friends at the grave after the committal.

John was born November 23, 1933, in Iredell Co. He was one of eight children born to the late Carl A. and Ethel Powell Campbell. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, John I. Campbell, Jr. and five siblings.

John was a lifelong Kannapolis area resident and member of The Message Community, formerly known as Jackson Park Pentecostal Church. He was educated in the local school system and went to work at an early age. John worked for many years for Cannon Mills Company, with most of those years being with the Mechanical Construction Department of the Machine Shop, retiring as a Foreman.

John was a musician at heart. He loved Bluegrass music and was self-taught at an early age to play many types of stringed instruments. He hosted many Friday night Bluegrass jam sessions in his home. He particularly enjoyed tinkering on old cars and various projects in his shop with his younger brother Preston. He was rarely seen without a cup of coffee in hand or one nearby.

His memory lives on in those he left behind, his wife of 73 years, Juanita Simpson Campbell, his daughters, Linda Kerr (Randy) of Mt. Ulla and Debbie Scott (Danny), his brother Preston Campbell (Nancy) and his sister, Peggy Linker (Ronnie), all of Kannapolis as well as four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations can be made in his name to Carolina Caring, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658 or to The Message Community, 1008 Moose Rd. Kannapolis, NC 28083