John Hamilton Perkins Jr.

John Hamilton Perkins, Jr., 86, of Birmingham passed away on Friday, May 31, 2013. Mr. Perkins was born in Birmingham on August 26, 1926.   “Ham” moved to Mountain Brook in 1934 and attended the Lakeview School. As a teen, Mr. Perkins received the rank of Eagle Scout and went on to receive the Silver Palm. He attended Phillips High School and graduated from Marion Military Institute. After one year at the University of Alabama, he received an appointment to The United States Naval Academy. He graduated from Annapolis in 1949. Mr. Perkins served aboard the USS Okanogan during the Korean War, then serving on the USS Leyte in the Mediterranean Fleet. He was one of the three qualified Officers of the deck while serving on the USS North Hampton ECLC during the Korean War. Mr. Perkins entered the real estate business in 1954 and was president of Perkins Brothers Development Company and Perkins Realty. Mr. Perkins developed many subdivisions and homes throughout Mountain Brook, Birmingham, and Alabama. He was the fundraising and commissioning chairman of the nuclear submarine USS Birmingham (SS 695) and served under Admiral Thomas Moorer raising money for the USS Alabama (SSBN – 731).   He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia Mills Perkins, his father John Hamilton Perkins, Sr., and his brother, Mills Vann Perkins. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Marjorie Collins Perkins, and his sister Carol Perkins Poynor (Wilmer). He is also survived by his seven children, Dorothy Perkins White (Glenn), Linda Perkins King (Chip) John Hamilton Perkins III (Debbie), Marjorie Perkins Israel (Dick), Charles Belgrave Perkins, Melville Davis Perkins, and Nora Perkins Soprani (Filippo).  Mr. Perkins is also survived his grandchildren, Aubrey Wilson King (Sarah), Glenn David White, Jr., Hamilton Perkins King (Courtney), John William Noah White, Charles Steven King, Whitney Littrell Warwick, Caroline Carson Perkins, John Hamilton Perkins, IV, Daniel Bowron White, Marjorie Hope King, Clifford Colby Israel, Catherine Collins Israel, Julia Lee Soprani, Lorenzo Sergio Soprani, Shane Jordan Perkins, and Lillian Evelyn Perkins, and his great grandchildren, Aubrey Wilson King, V, and Hannah Daniels King.   Ham was a faithful member of South Highland Presbyterian Church for 58 years where he served as a Sunday school teacher and church historian. He instilled in his family his love of history and travel, and encouraged all to be students of the world. Ham was a dedicated and loyal servant to his Lord, his wife, his family, his friends and his country.   A family burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery on Monday, June 3, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. A memorial Service will follow at South Highland Presbyterian Church at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request all donations be made to South Highland Presbyterian Church or the Presbyterian Home for children.