Born to Elias Alford “Mac” and Erna McCormac in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 16, 1960, John was born again in July of 1971 at a summer Bible camp and grew up at Westminster Presbyterian Church. He learned to fish from his father and discovered his interest in architecture when he helped his father remodel their waterfront home. In high school he began to run cross-country and track. When it came time for him to choose a college to attend, he selected Auburn University for their outstanding Architecture program and the opportunity to be on their cross-country team. Unfortunately, his athletic career came to an end after just one season due to injuries he suffered from a car accident. In 1983, he graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn.
John worked briefly in Birmingham and then settled in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a time. There he learned to scuba dive and logged over 800 dives to be a certified Master Diver. In his search for a church family and a godly wife, the Lord graciously led him back to the Birmingham area. He married his beloved wife, Rhonda Payne, in January of 1999 and began working with Bailey-Corley & Associates (now CTSM Architects) – a firm specializing in church design and renovation projects. After years of working diligently he became a partner in 2003 and served as president from 2014 to 2019.
He counted his marriage and the raising of their three children his greatest privilege and blessing in life. He understood the responsibility he had to love his wife as Christ loved the church as well as lead his children to love and honor Christ more than anything in the world. He led his family well and took these responsibilities very seriously. At their local church, Liberty Baptist, he served as a teacher in adult Sunday School and in the Youth Group. Over the last two years, he joined alongside his wife, Rhonda, who felt a calling to grow in Christ and in their marriage through attending Biblical Counseling training courses. The Lord gave them a passion and desire to grow in knowledge of His Word together and point others back to the Gospel through the truth of scripture.
John is survived by his wife, Rhonda Payne McCormac; daughter, Laura Pressnell (Collier); son, Thomas Countess (Dana); daughter, Sarah Lynn McCormac; sisters Nancy Sanders, Susan Bennett, and Sara Holtz; mother-in-law Laura Payne Bates (Hub); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Elias and Erna McCormac; and his father-in-law, Clarence Payne.
Services to honor the life of John will be held at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, Alabama. Family will receive visitors at the church on Friday, June 28th, starting at 5:00 p.m. and will host a service in his honor on Saturday, June 29th, at 11:00 a.m. An additional service will be held in Dillon, South Carolina, at Reedy Creek Presbyterian Church on Monday, July 1st, at 11:00 a.m.
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”—Psalm 115:1
