James "Jim" Hethcock Sr.

James Don (Jim) Hethcock, Sr was born on June 24, 1928 in High Point, North Carolina. In Jim’s early years, his family moved to North Wilkesboro, closer to the mountains, for new employment in the furniture industry.

Around the age of five years old, an infection left Jim nearly deaf. When he attended elementary school, he had to struggle with understanding what was taught. His supportive parents, Fred and Jennie, and his protective big brother Bob helped him navigate through the tough times when Jim had to wear large, bulky hearing aids. Even with hearing aids, he was never able to hear well. He compensated for this by becoming an excellent lip reader.

In college, Jim majored in accounting and this became his profession. Jim took a lip reading class at Pfeiffer College. He was so skilled at reading lips that he was asked to be the teaching assistant! He was determined not to let his handicap hold him back and finished a four year degree and even learned some Spanish.

In his early twenties, Jim became interested in a young lady named JoAnne Prevette, who was to become his lifelong marriage partner and the love of his life for 57 years. Jim and JoAnne were married at First United Methodist Church in North Wilkesboro, NC on June 20th 1957. In the fall of 1958 Jim and Joanne attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Charlotte NC and dedicated their lives to Christ. Jim had a desire to grow closer to God and was seeking the truth of the Bible.

Their only child Donn was born a few years later. After designing furniture for several years at Fred’s factory, Model Chair Co., Jim decided to take a job in 1961 at the NC State Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation in Raleigh, NC where Donn grew up and Jim and JoAnne lived most of their lives.

They went through some very difficult times together. Joanne narrowly survived cancer the year they moved and then in the early 70’s she became disabled from work and they struggled with her illness for nearly a decade when she suffered a massive trauma and then miraculously recovered to be able to walk again. Jim stood by her through many trials and never lost hope for her recovery, just as she helped him to hear. During the times when Jim became frustrated at his inability to hear, JoAnne would tell him “Jim, you have spiritual ears”, and this was so true. He held onto these words and they encouraged him throughout his life.

Jim looked for God’s truth beyond the boundary of traditional denominational lines. Jim and Joanne helped each other through issues of belief. Through several tests of faith, they both emerged humbled and better able to rely on the love of God.

Jim loved the Lord and had a special place in his heart for the Jewish roots of his faith. As the years went on, Jim grew even closer to the Lord and felt Jesus speaking to him on a daily basis. Closest to his heart were Jesus and his wife, JoAnne. After JoAnne passed away in 2015, Jim longed to be reunited with her in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

On May 09th 2019, the Lord performed a miracle restoring Jim’s hearing. Two nurses attending to him at the hospital testified much to their amazement that Jim was speaking normally with them without any hearing aids and even with his back turned towards them minutes before being peacefully welcomed into the Heavenly Kingdom at midnight on May 10th 2019 in the loving presence of his son Donn and grandson Jacob.

Jim is now enjoying the relationship with his Savior that he began on earth earlier in his life by listening with his spiritual ears. He is survived by his son Donn and Donn’s wife Lisa, residing in Colleyville, Texas and grandchildren Vanessa, who resides in San Antonio, Texas, Jacob and Deborah. Jim’s survived his brother Bob who died Feb 28th 1991 in High Point North Carolina. Their adapted sister and cousin Billie Oheim resides in Lafayette, Louisiana. His only niece Anne Hethcock Oren resides in Charles City, Virginia.

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James Don (Jim) Hethcock, Sr was born on June 24, 1928 in High Point, North Carolina to Fred Brevard and Jennie Rice Hethcock. In Jim’s early years, his family moved to North Wilkesboro, closer to the mountains, for new employment in the furniture industry. Jim became nearly deaf around five years old.

At Pfeiffer College in Misenheimer, North Carolina, Jim earned a Bachelor Degree in Accounting and this became his profession. Jim took a lip reading class at Pfeiffer College. He was so skilled at reading lips that he was asked to be the teaching assistant.

In his twenties, Jim became interested in a young lady named JoAnne Elizabeth Prevette, who was to become his lifelong marriage partner and the love of his life for 57 years. Jim and JoAnne were married at First United Methodist Church in North Wilkesboro, NC on June 20th 1957.

Their only child Donn was born a few years later. After designing furniture for several years at Fred’s factory, Model Chair Co., Jim decided to take a job in 1961 at the North Carolina State Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation in Raleigh, NC where Donn grew up and Jim and JoAnne lived most of their lives and retired. Jim was active in the Lion’s Club in Raleigh, North Carolina and was a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church. Jim and Joanne relocated to Grapevine, Texas in 2009 to be closer to their son, Donn and his family. They transferred their membership to First Baptist Church in Grapevine, Texas on June 28th 2009. Jim was also active at Adat Shalom Messianic Congregation in Dallas, Texas.

Closest to his heart were Jesus and his wife, JoAnne. After JoAnne passed away on January 13, 2015, Jim longed to be reunited with her in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On May 10, 2019, Jim was peacefully welcomed into the Heavenly Kingdom at midnight on May 10th 2019.

He is survived by his son Donn Jr. and Donn’s wife Lisa Marie and grandchildren Vanessa Eve, Jacob Andrew and Deborah Grace, and his only niece Anne Hethcock Oren. Jim survived his brother Robert (Bob) Brevard who died Feb 28th 1991. Jim is also survived by their adopted sister and cousin Billie Oheim.