Celebrating the Life of Johnny Gurkin
Devoted Husband, Father, Papa J, Brother, Uncle and Friend
April 23, 1950 — May 14, 2026
A private graveside funeral service will be held at Whiteville Memorial Cemetery.
A service to celebrate Johnny’s life will be held Sunday May 31, 2026 at 3:30 pm at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn, NC. To help the family celebrate the joyous life Johnny lived, please bring a memory of when Johnny made you smile to share with those who loved him the most.
Johnny Gurkin, an upstanding and exceptionally kind man who left a lasting impression on everyone he met, passed away at age 76 after a courageous, fiercely fought battle with cancer. Born in Columbus County, North Carolina, Johnny was a devoted son, protective big brother and uncle, deeply loving husband, proud father, and doting “Papa J.”
Johnny grew up in Columbus County, graduated from Whiteville High School (Class of 1968), and attended a two-year program at Southeastern Community College. He also gave ten years of honorable service to his country as a member of the National Guard.
His professional career in banking and procurement was defined by integrity and diligence. Johnny started from the ground up in the print shop at Waccamaw Bank, transitioned to purchasing officer at United Carolina Bank, and became the Vice President of Procurement and Contracts at BB&T, a position he held with distinction until retiring in 2011. He was also a certified purchasing manager and a licensed real estate broker.
To know Johnny was to know a man who truly “never met a stranger.” He possessed a rare and magical gift for conversation, effortlessly drawing people in and holding them captive with his warm, friendly charm. He was a hard worker and a fierce competitor who loved to win, whether the challenge was a serious tennis match, a casual frame of bowling, a game of pool, or an intense round of cornhole, Monopoly, Canasta, or Spades. He even brought that same competitive spirit to a spontaneous arm-wrestling bout with his grandson Evan.
He was a lifelong North Carolina State University (NCSU) fan who took immense joy in sharing game days with his family and friends. Johnny loved the outdoors—finding freedom in hiking, boating, fishing, and gardening. Some of his happiest moments were spent with Anita, family and friends attending beach music concerts, shag dancing, walking along the shore, and watching the sunset.
In his last three years, Johnny faced a rare and aggressive form of mantle cell lymphoma. True to his character, he fought back, defying medical projections and outliving the odds by months. His unbreakable spirit and stubborn resolve remain an inspiration to all who loved him.
Survived By: His loving and devoted wife, Anita; his son, Dr. Brett Gurkin (Dr. Nadine Antonelli); his daughter, Jordan Lee (Connor Lee); his five precious grandchildren who adored their Papa J, Evan Gurkin, Anya Gurkin, Aurora Lee, Chloe and Noah Joseph; his beloved sister, Linda Faye Brulet; and his niece, Alexa B. Jackson (Dean Jackson) and their children.
Preceded in Death By: His father, Cecil Gurkin; his mother, Melba Gurkin; and his beloved sister, Debbie.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be directed to Lymphoma Research Foundations in memory of Johnny Gurkin.
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