John Wesley Corey

John Wesley Corey, also known as John, J.W., Jay, and Granddaddy, was born on December 9th, 1929 in Statesboro, Georgia. He was the middle child of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Benjamin Corey and Ollie May Corey. He is predeceased by his loving older sister, Melrose Anderson and her husband Andy Anderson. He is survived by his beloved bride of 62 years, Charlotte Whitter Corey; his daughter, Melodie Corey Grice (Russell), daughter, Camala Corey Stringer (Bo); granddaughter, Kristen Grice Waugh (John), granddaughter, Emory Stringer Frostenson (Skip); grandson, Corey Grice, grandson, Brady Stringer; and great-granddaughter, Taylor Elyse Waugh. He is also survived by his baby brother, Cleveland Corey and his wife Peggy O’Steen Corey. J.W. was also blessed with many loving nieces, nephews, their families and friends.

J.W. graduated from Andrew Jackson High School where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. After high school he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Hawaii, where he played for the All Navy Championship Basketball Team. When he returned home he enrolled in Jacksonville Junior College where he met the love of his life, Charlotte (Binkie) Whitter. They married and moved to Tallahassee for J.W. to finish school at Florida State University. Upon graduation they returned to Jacksonville and he began his career with King Edward Cigars, now known as Swisher International, where he retired after 40 years.

J.W. was known as a hard worker and was a great provider, an amazing husband, father and grandfather. He never met a stranger and his positive attitude and zest for life radiated into every room he entered. He lived more life in 87 years than most people ever could. Raising two daughters taught him patience, a love of fashion, and more patience. His oldest and brightest, Melodie, was the love of his life…until Camala was born and became his favorite (or so she thought). After his first granddaughter, Kristen was born, everything changed. She had him wrapped around her finger, until Emory came along, who subsequently stole his heart. After many years of being outnumbered by all the women in his life, J.W. finally got his two grandsons, Corey and Brady, and they stole his heart forever ….that was until his sassy great-granddaughter, Taylor was born, and became a ray of sunshine in all of our lives and won it all.

The family will receive friends on Friday, March 10th from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida. The funeral service will begin at 1p.m. on Saturday, March 11th at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel.

Arrangements under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, Jacksonville, FL.