John Douglas Haltom, Sr. passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2022, a day shy of his 75th birthday, following a courageous battle with multiple myeloma.
Born as the eldest son of Douglas Lee Haltom and Ruth Lee Haynes Haltom in Jackson, Tennessee, and brother to Edward Lacy Haltom and Bruce Bartley Haltom, John graduated from North Side High School in 1965 and then attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville, graduating in 1969. After graduation, John served in the Tennessee National Guard for seven years.
While at the University, John met the love of his life, Danice Mason. The two were married on January 16, 1971. After a brief stint in Atlanta, John and Danice moved back to Jackson in 1974 where John started a 40-year career with The Pictsweet Company, retiring as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
John was a dedicated, lifelong, and beloved member of Ararat Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for more than 40 years. He also served as the Sunday School Director for 25 years and more recently began teaching a Sunday School class for adults. Although he definitely possessed the Spiritual Gift of administration, he was a profound teacher that connected deeply with those in his class. John also loved his weekly Tuesday morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast.
For those that knew John, you knew that he put his relationship with Jesus Christ as the top priority in his life. Following his deep love for his Savior, John placed his family as the second most important part of his life. John and Danice had two children, Dr. John Douglas Haltom, Jr. (Beth) of Jackson and Mary Beth White (Dan) of Nashville. John supported his two children throughout their life. He encouraged them to be the best they could be with the talents God gave them and always believed in them. Following his retirement from The Pictsweet Company in 2014, John turned his attention to being the best “Pops” to his four grandchildren: Haynes (16), Miller (13), Luke (11) Haltom, and Madeline (5) White. Whether it was watching his oldest granddaughter play volleyball, watching and talking to his two grandsons about sports, taking his youngest granddaughter to the movie, or treating all of them to doughnuts at the local farmer’s market, Pops loved being Pops and the grandchildren loved their Pops.
Despite his illness, John did not allow it to control his life. He could be seen in the stands of whatever sports his grandchildren were playing, dining and socializing with his friends at super clubs, attending family functions and weekly Rotary meetings, walking at The Lift with his lifelong friend, traveling to Knoxville for football and basketball games, going to the Master’s Tournament in Augusta, watching his favorite sports teams, taking trips to the beach and the Tennessee River, and even trick or treating with his grandchildren.
While John will be deeply missed here on this Earth by his wife of fifty-one plus years, children and in-laws, grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, too many cousins to count, and friends, he is rejoicing in Heaven with his Heavenly Father.
SERVICE: A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, September 28, at 11:30 a.m. at Ararat Baptist Church with interment to follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, and again on Wednesday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Ararat Baptist Church.
Pallbearers to serve will be Bartley Haltom, Jon Murray Haltom, Todd Haltom, Ben Hays, Chris Henson, and Dan White.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ararat Baptist Church, 3608 Brownsville Highway, Jackson, Tennessee 38301.
Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Parkway Jackson, TN 38305
