Obituary of John Fulton Pendergrass

John Fulton Pendergrass, age 67 of Chapel Hill, passed away early on the morning of February 5, 2016. Both family and friends will remember John for his spirit, off-beat wit, and deep caring for his fellow man. John was born to William Roper Pendergrass, Jr. and Jacqueline Fleet Pendergrass in Durham, NC on February 23, 1948, The oldest of three children, John grew up in Elon and later Burlington. He played football and basketball at Williams High School. After graduation, he attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he earned a B.A. degree in both English and International Studies. He met his wife of 45 years, Martha, in Ocean Drive Beach immediately after his freshman year. The couple eloped to Dillon, SC to marry in 1971. Following his undergraduate education, John acquired a J.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill Law School in 1974. After passing the bar exam, John gained employment with the State of North Carolina in Goldsboro as a Patients' Rights Advocate. Following his time in Goldsboro, he spent the majority of his career with the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, advocating on behalf of the rights of unemployed citizens. He was passionate about defending the rights of those who could not defend themselves. Following his retirement from the state, John opened his own law practice in which he provided a voice to thousands of unemployed throughout the state. John was full of life and enjoyed raising his three daughters. He coached middle school tennis for several years and was fondly known as the best and most unconventional Girl Scout troop leader. John was an avid Tarheel fan, as well as a founding member of Christ United Methodist Church of Chapel Hill. All who knew him recognized his zest for life and adventure. His most recent international expedition featured a trip around the world with his daughter, Laurie, where they bargained for Turkish rugs, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and navigated the Milford Sound on the south island of New Zealand. Last July, John competed in the Ernest Hemingway Look-A-Like Contest in Key West, Florida, and the summer prior, he attended his first Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife Martha and their three children, Melissa J. Pendergrass of Raleigh, NC, Laurie (Poochie) J. Pendergrass of Chapel Hill, and Ashley P. Frederick of Denver, CO, as well as his brother, William R. Pendergrass, III of Knoxville, Tennessee and his sister, Nancy Pendergrass Sharpe of Burlington, NC A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 4:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church at Southern Village, 800 Market Street in Chapel Hill. His ashes will be scattered at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (Homeless Shelter), 110 West Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 Arrangements for John Fulton Pendergrass are under the care of Walker's Funeral Service & Cremation, 120 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC