John Wesley Blackard

John Wesley “Wes” Blackard went home to his Heavenly Father on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Wes was born June 19, 1932, in Southeast Guilford County, NC. His parents were Benton Shelton Blackard and Ethel Wade Blackard. His Maternal Grandparents were John Elby Wade and Phoebe Jones Wade of Guilford County, NC. His Paternal Grandparents were Peter Riley Blackard and Amanda Yeattes Blackard of Guilford County, NC. His parents were divorced three years after their marriage and his Father moved to Martinsville, VA and later married Era Bray Blackard.

Wes’s Grandfather John Elby Wade was a very successful Merchant and Landowner in Southeast Guilford County where he built and operated Wade Store for many years. Wes stayed with his grandfather and uncle, Johnny Wade, at the store during the day, while his mother worked at Blue Bell Overall Co. in Greensboro, NC.

Wes attended and was a 1950 graduate of Alamance High School in Southeast Guilford County, NC where he was a school bus driver and played on the baseball team as a catcher for four years. One of his teammates and first baseman was Howard Coble who later became a U.S. Congressman. Wes also joined a North Carolina National Guard Unit headquarters in Greensboro, NC and served from 1948 to 1956 where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He also attended King’s Business School located in Greensboro, NC in 1951.

While playing high school baseball, Wes met the love of his life, June Elizabeth Vernon, daughter of Henry H. and Ruth Baynes Vernon. Wes and June were married in 1952 and lived in Guilford County where their three sons, John A. Blackard, Joe W. Blackard and Jeffrey B. Blackard were born.

Wes worked as a Reading Knitting Machine Operator at Liberty Hosiery Mill in Liberty, NC for five years and then as an Automobile salesman for Harry D. Kellett Dodge Plymouth Inc. in Greensboro, NC. His sales manager was Joe Dust from St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1957 Wes and his family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he worked as a salesman for Murdoch Chevrolet, there he met and became friends with Fritzi Zivic, the ex-welter weight boxing champion of the world. Wes met the famous Mills Brothers Singers and several of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team including the quarterback, Bobby Layne. Later Wes worked as sales manager for Joe Dust Rambler, Haller Ford and Sendell Cadilliac Pontiac all in the Pittsburg area.

In 1960 Wes and his family moved to High Point, NC where he worked as sales manager for Neil Pontiac, English Ford Motor Sales, Thompson Ford, A & A Toyota and Scott Garten Buick GMC. In 1966 Wes and June built their home in the Cedarwood subdivision. In June of 1970 Wes became a member of the Numa F. Reid Masonic Lodge 344, High Point, NC and in September 1970 was qualified as a Master Mason. On January 31, 1999, Wes and June became members of Gate City Baptist Church, Jamestown, NC.

After 32 years in the automobile business, Wes left this business, and he and his wife became licensed real estate brokers, opening June Blackard Realty, Inc. They listed and sold real estate, developed subdivisions, built and sold homes for several years before retirement.

Wes is preceded in death by his parents; wife June Vernon Blackard and stepbrother Bob Reese.

He is survived by his sons; John A. Blackard, Joe W. Blackard and Jeffrey B. Blackard of Guilford County, NC, granddaughter Dr. Bonny Blackard Morris; great granddaughter Caroline Morris; great grandson James Morris of Richmond, VA; stepsister Dathne Blackard Barbour of Martinsville, VA and several cousins, nephews and nieces in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

Funeral will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel, 6000 West Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, NC with visitation one hour prior to service.

Committal will be at Guilford Memorial Park, with Military Honors provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel is honored to serve the Blackard family.