Jackie Thomas Praytor

Jackie Thomas Praytor was promoted to Glory on January 11, 2024. We have no doubt that after he ran into his Savior’s arms, ‘Pops’ was grabbed into the biggest hug by his son, Jackie Lee Praytor (Natalie) and grandsons, Chandler and Chase Praytor, who were waiting for him.

Born on May 10, 1948, Jackie was the son of the late Willard Sherman (“Cap”) Praytor and Effie Hudson Praytor. As is tradition with the Praytor family to give EVERYONE nicknames, he earned his first nickname of “Stonewall” (for being so stubborn) early in life by his father. He was the younger brother to the late Barbara Taylor and Wade McElreath, and the best big brother and friend to his sister Kay Praytor Diamond (Larry). He considered Nancy’s brothers (Benny, Steve and Jeff Lewis) his own. He was blessed with too many precious cousins, nieces and nephews to name, but Ronnie McElreath (Cindy) and Angie Diamond Rodgers (Jamie) held very special places in his heart.

Jackie fell in love with Nancy Lewis Praytor, his high school sweetheart and soul mate, and they married in 1967. They were blessed with 56 years together and he NEVER missed giving her candy for Valentine’s Day…even the year he was in ICU. Along with Lee, they welcomed daughters Shannon (“Sister”, husband Kelly “Bubba”) and Brooke (“Bob”). Jackie and Nancy raised their family in church and a home with filled with love.

Jackie worked hard and spent most of his career working in several plants around the area before retiring from Wilsonart. He earned the nicknames of “Fatman” and “Coach” through his love of coaching youth basketball and baseball. He loved and was loved by the many kids he coached and still had relationships with many of them. Besides either knowing or being related to everyone in town, he also wasn’t afraid to advocate and speak up for funding and opportunities for the youth, which earned him the nickname of “unofficial Mayor of Fletcher”.

He would tell you that his greatest nickname, besides Dad/Daddy/Pops/Chief, was Papaw. He loved and was so proud of his grandchildren Sydney Allison Mode (“Pug”, husband Trevor), Kaiden Allison (“Little Man”), Kassidey Deveraux (“Babydoll“), and Allen and Nathan Case. He attended their school and sports events and could always be found “slipping them a little money” for good grades and hard work.

If you knew him, you knew that he loved music, Tarheel basketball, Braves baseball and carp fishing. If it was a pretty day and he was able, you knew you would find him at the carp lake in his beloved van. He loved mixing up {smelly} bait concoctions and fishing with his buddies. Many of those buddies pitched in to help with what he wasn’t physically able to do in his last years so he could be there doing what he loved; the family expresses heartfelt appreciation to all of them.

More importantly than fishing for carp, Jackie was a fisher of men. In May of 1975, he was under such conviction from the Lord that he hunted down the Rev. Roy Rector at Boiling Springs Baptist Church and found Victory in Jesus. He lived his faith in action and never hesitated to share it with anyone that would listen. He had a ministry of daily phone calls to friends, family and anyone in need to check on them and attending funerals/visitations to provide support to the family. And you KNOW he could always be counted on for a joke or story to give a laugh or comfort. He loved his Mills Gap Baptist Church family and worked hard in his roles to serve and support the church.

A celebration of Jackie’s life, including sharing of stories and memories, will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian in Arden. Visitation will be held from 1:30 – 3 PM; with the service at 3 PM and burial following at Shepherd Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mills Gap Baptist Church building fund in Jackie’s honor (PO Box 1502, Fletcher, NC 28732).