John Hemphill

KEWANEE – John Hemphill passed in peace on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the age of 87. His final days were spent in celebration of his loving wife, Clara’s birthday and enjoying the upcoming Christmas season, as he knew the true meaning of Christmas and its joy that he would one day have with his eternal life in heaven. 

A Celebration of his Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 3, at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Pastor Lawrence D. Anderson Sr. will officiate. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Humane Society.

He was born November 3, 1932 in Minter, MS, the son of Caroline Jackson Miller. He married Clara L. Davis on November 1, 1986 in Chicago. Survivors include his wife of Kewanee, a son, Charles Foster of Olive Branch, MS, two brothers, Mack Hemphill of Pompano Beach, FL and L.C. (Maxine) Jackson of Brookhaven, MS, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, a special niece, Doris Carolyn Washington and her three sons, Kevin, Terence and Jamal and two great nephews, Gavyn and Grayson and a host of nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his special friends; Tony (Lavona) Williams, Dee (Rod) DeValkenaere, Charlie (Diane) DeMay, the Ince family, Christine Boston and her son, Keagan and his Second Baptist Church family. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Matthew Miller and Nathanial Hemphill and two sisters, Mary Heard and Bessie Jackson. 

John was a steelworker and worked as a finisher at LTV Steel in Hennepin for 30 years until his retirement. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church and the U.S. Steelworkers Union. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed WWE and watching TV.

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