LANCASTER, SC – Mr. John Wall peacefully passed away early Sunday morning, October 25, 2026. He was born on June 6, 1937. The son of the late Duke and Mamie Compton Wall. He was the youngest of five sons. His brothers, Dennis, Lee, Billy and Walker, all preceded him in death. They were a close family of loud talkers who loved to laugh and loved the Lord.

When he was just four years old, he cried to go to Peru (pronounced PEE ru) Elementary School with his brothers. The teacher told his mother to let him come with them. She predicted he would get tired of it in a few days and decide to stay home. That never happened. In fact, that was the beginning of his lifelong love of education. He graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1954 when he was just 16 and already knew what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to be an Ag teacher, so he headed to Clemson College; it wouldn’t become a university until 1964. He told his daughter that he rode his thumb to Clemson. She couldn’t understand how that was possible until he explained that he was hitch-hiking. He did this every week from Spartanburg to Clemson and back because he kept his job at the Community Cash in Chesnee to help pay his way through school. He worked various odd jobs to make ends meet including delivering papers before daylight every morning and at the canteen during football games. Despite all of the hard work, he remembered his college days fondly and loved Clemson all of his life.

In 1958, he graduated and even though his nephews, Jimmy and Doug, jumped up and down in front of his car crying, “Don’t go, Uncle John! Don’t go, Uncle John!”-he moved to Lancaster for his first teaching job at Buford High School. He started attending Bethlehem Baptist Church, and that’s where he first saw Roberta Threatt. She was singing in the choir and noticed him staring at her. She quickly slipped out the back wanting nothing to do with him because she knew everyone in church was already pairing them together. When he asked her out for the first time, she said, “Well…” and before she could think of an excuse, he said, “I’ll pick you up at six.” and then walked away. She said that she figured she better get ready, so they started dating and six months later, they got engaged and had a church wedding in less than a year. They were married for 57 years and had two children.

John enjoyed teaching at Buford High where in addition to his agriculture classes, he managed the canteen at football games, sponsored the senior class each year and ran the cannery every summer. He did this happily for 13 years until after working in that hot cannery for an entire summer, the school district decided to defund the cannery program and refused to pay him, so he quit and started selling insurance. He was good at it because he loved meeting new people and could talk to anyone. He was doing pretty well in insurance until some people encouraged him to run for Superintendent of Education. At first he wasn’t interested, but they were persistent, and he did love being an educator. He realized later that because of his tenure in insurance, he got to know people all over Lancaster County and that made the difference in the election. Even though he only had a bachelor's degree, he won the election, so, in addition to learning a new job, he had to drive back and forth to Columbia three times a week to earn his masters from USC.

John was the Lancaster County Superintendent of Education for 8 years until he lost the election. Then he moved back home to Buford and was the principal for one year until Lee County came calling. They offered him the job of Superintendent of Education, and he claimed he tried to talk them out of it because he didn’t want to move. The county board met all of his demands, so he had no choice but to go to Bishopville. He served there for thirteen years. During that time, he served as the chairman of the PeeDee Educational Regional Center which consisted of a group of Superintendents from several lower state school districts. While in Bishopville, on the behalf of the students of Lee County Schools, he sued the State Department of Education over inequitable funding practices and won. He told his daughter that the state superintendent was glad he retired in 1995.

In 1997, he and Roberta moved back home to Buford and moved their letters back to Bethlehem Baptist Church. John enjoyed retirement. He devoted his time to his church, his gardens, his trips, his Masonic lodge and his Tigers. He discovered a new love for college girls’ basketball and got season tickets and attended all of their home games in addition to his football season tickets which he continued to enjoy until he was 86 years old with his nephew Jimmy.

John was forced to slow down only when Roberta’s Alzheimer's required that he stay home and care for her. Losing her in pieces before losing her finally in 2016 took a toll on him, and he was never able to resume his active lifestyle. The last decade of his life was spent visiting with Kitty and Jimmy, watching his granddaughters play volleyball and softball, and eventually staying at home. He was still content with his life and brought joy to all who visited him.

He is survived by his son, Cass, his daughter Karen and her husband Steve (his absolute undeniably favorite) his two granddaughters Bailey and Yancey (Dean and coming in January, little Weston Dean). He was the favorite uncle of many many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. Some of whom preceded him in death. We know that there is a huge celebration in heaven because John is being welcomed by his savior, his family and so many good friends. We love you and miss you Pawpaw, and until we meet again, GO TIGERS!

The Celebration of Life Funeral Service for John will be at 11:00am Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Bethlehem Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Patrick Blackmon and Rev. Jason Myers. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00am to 11:00am, one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Adult Program or to the Youth and Children Program at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1841 N Rocky River Rd Lancaster, SC 29720 or to the National FFA Foundation, National FFA Foundation, 6060 FFA Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46278 or online at https://ffa.givenow.stratuslive.com/ffadonate.