James Donald Vernon

James Donald “Don” Vernon, 81, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, surrounded by his family.

A graveside service will be held at the Carter Family Cemetery on Wednesday January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM with Pastor Ronnie Jones officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Don Vernon was a lifelong resident of Rockingham County. He grew up on a tobacco farm in the Bethany community and he attended Bethany High School and graduated in 1963. Even though he came from a long line of farmers, he chose a different path. After his discharge from the US Army, he returned home and worked for several construction firms where he learned to operate heavy equipment. Don quickly learned that this was his calling. He joined the International Union of Operating Engineers in 1978 and was a dues-paying member until his death. As a member of the I.U.O.E., he was able to travel to many different states doing pipeline work. He even worked as far away as North Dakota. Don would often call home to tell his family there was snow or how cold it was or about what he had seen, places he had gone and people he had met. He always brought a rock from where he had been to his daughter Sherry.

In his free time, Don enjoyed hunting; duck and dove in particular. Once he got his limit so quickly on opening day of dove season, that his good friend Wayne Paschal and other men at church nicknamed him “Slaughter”. Don often told his children about his memories of rabbit and bird hunting with his father on their family farm and about growing up with his parents and three sisters. He always spoke of his life and the people in the Bethany community with fond nostalgia – it was always home to him. Don was also an avid race fan, especially dirt track racing and could tell you the location of every dirt track in North Carolina and within a 50-mile radius of every place he ever worked. He even got to know some of the racers and kept in touch with them after he returned home.

Don enjoyed spending time with family and friends, sometimes just sitting around the hot wood stove talking and sharing memories, or by mopping the floor with his opponents playing Rook. He loved to talk to people and he never met a stranger. He will always be remembered and will be sorely missed.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Jane Manley, Judy Middleton, Sybil Watkins and grandson, Wade Vernon.

Don is survived by his children, Scarlett Horton (David), Sean Vernon, Sherry Gatewood (Ashley); granddaughters, Katie Vernon, Kristine Haley (Nick), Georgia Marion and Ava Horton; as well as a large and loving group of extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Jude’s Children Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.