Mr. John Arthur McKiver, Sr., age 67, of Aberdeen, North Carolina, died May 29, 2021, at FirstHealth/Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Celebration Of Life For 

Brother John Arthur McKiver, Sr.

Sunrise:  August 19, 1953 Sunset:  May 29, 2021

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Viewing:  10:30 AM – 12:00 Noon

Funeral Service:  12:00 Noon 

Pinebluff Fire Department 

580 South Walnut Street

Pinebluff, North Carolina

Pastor Sammie D. Simmons, Presiding 

Pastor James J. Anderson, Eulogist

Committal & Interment

Historical Sawmill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery

Bennettsville, South Carolina

Obituary

The Lord is my light and my salvation Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of Whom shall I be afraid.    Psalm 27:1 KJV 

Brother John Arthur McKiver, Sr. (Pa Boy, Horse), was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Willie and Isabell McKiver, and the late Mrs. Eva Mae Quick and Mr. John W. Purvis. He was born August 19, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina. 

John attended Marlboro County Public Schools, where he was a proud graduate of Bennettsville High School, Class of 1971. He was employed at Essex Wire Company approximately two years, and then later moved to Southern Pines, North Carolina.  While residing in Southern Pines, John was employed with the Southern Pines Fire Department, where he served in various capacities that led to the position of Deputy Chief.  For over thirty years, John provided faithful and committed service to the State of North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. He later gained employment with the Pinebluff Fire Department, Station # 71, serving for over twelve years, making history as Moore County’s first Black Fire Chief. He recently was the proud recipient of one of the state’s highest honors, The Order Of The Long Leaf Pine, which was Conferred by Governor Roy Cooper.  The award recognizes North Carolinians with a proven record of exemplary service. Unknowingly, John had something significant with the number 71; as it was the year of his graduation from high school, his football jersey number, and his Pinebluff Fire Station number. 

John was a faithful member of the Historical Sawmill Missionary Baptist Church.  During his tenure at HSMBC, he was a dedicated Chairman of the Trustee Board, assisted with the Youth Ministry program, a member of the Nurse’s Aide and Sawmill Missionary Circle #1, making this work while traveling home weekdays and weekends. His devoted purpose was Kingdom Advancement and Servanthood. John had a genuine love and care for people and always willing to support their needs, regardless of the cost or required time. All during the time of his illness, his saying was “One day at a time” and, “if I wake up in the morning,  it’s a blessed day”.  He was an avid and enthusiastic baseball player for the Kennedy Dodgers. John also played softball with numerous local and church organizations in North Carolina, and was always incredibly competitive with his brother, Ronald, to hit the furthest home run.

Those left to cherish fond memories of John, are his loving wife, Donna C. McKiver; his son, John A. McKiver, Jr. (Brittnay) of Chamblee, GA;  two daughters, Tarya Johnson (Shawn) of Pinebluff, NC, and Trenetta McKiver of Lawrenceville, GA; stepdaughter, Brittney McDonald of Charlotte, NC; stepson, Joey White of Charlotte; four brothers, James S. Quick (Cynthia) of Sumter, SC, Ronald Quick of Archdale, NC, Johnathan Purvis (Denise) of Bronx, NY, and Ricky Brooks of Newark, NJ; eight sisters, Gilda McQueen (John) of Dallas, TX, Linda Calhoun (Donald), Isabell Quick, and Janie Piear, all of Bennettsville, SC, Alzonia Cunningham of Brooklyn, NY, Lethonia McIntosh (David) of Dover, DE, Joanne Kent (Debro) of Matawan, NJ, and Tawanka Smith (James) of Bennettsville; five grandchildren, Giovanni McKiver, Johan Johnson, Darivea Bridges, Kenyari Preston, and Keentrae McKiver; three great-grandchildren, Ja’Cari, Ja’Rel, and Raylon; God sisters, Fontella Nelson and Sharrone Rorie (Jermiah) of High Point, NC; brothers-in-law, Joe McDonald (Mae) of Cheraw, SC, and Ronald McDonald (Barbara) of Pinebluff; a host of nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Jackie Council of Lakeview, NC, Karen Elaine Thompson of West End, NC, Shirley Allen of Southern Pines, NC, and Barbara Smith of Ann Arbor, MI; one aunt, Sarah Cannady; one uncle, Phillip Purvis; and many other relatives and dear friends.