He was born on October 21, 1936 in Statesville, NC, the son of James Edwin and Olivia Goode Heafner. He graduated from North Mecklenburg High School and served for two years in the United States Navy. He attended North Carolina State and finished his undergraduate degree at Pfeiffer University in 1962 and his graduate degree from Duke Divinity School in 1964. He served United Methodist churches in Morganton, Landis, Greensboro, High Point, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, as well as serving for 5 years as Conference Coordinator of Youth Ministries and Director of Camp Tekoa. He retired in 1997 and lived in Harnett County, NC for 20 years before moving to Glenaire in 2016.
He is survived by his wife Martha Young Heafner, his daughter Anne Heafner Harrison and husband Rodney, his son John Patrick Heafner and wife Tina, four grandchildren – Logan, Daniel, John Patrick, Jr. and Laney, his brother Edwin Zaccheus and wife Wilma and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private service will be held in the near future with a public memorial to be held at a later date.
Donations in his memory may be made to Apex United Methodist Church.
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