John Porter Paisley, Jr.

John Porter Paisley, Jr. (July 20, 1948 - February 12, 2026)

In Loving Memory of John Porter Paisley, Jr.

John Paisley, Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at his home in Burlington, North Carolina. John lived a life rooted in faith, service, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to his family.

Born in McLeansville, NC on July 20, 1948, to the late John and Eula Kiger Paisley, John carried forward the values instilled by his family throughout his life. He earned a business degree from Elon University in 1970 and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1973. He was married to the love of his life, Joyce, for more than 52 years. Together, they built a family which was his greatest joy and proudest accomplishment.

John practiced law in Alamance County for over 52 years, earning admission to all North Carolina Courts and the United States Supreme Court. He served the Alamance Bar Association in many roles, including President, and was known for his integrity and fairness.

Deeply committed to service, John gave generously of his time across many organizations. He served on the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, including as Chairman, always approaching decisions with thoughtfulness and compassion. His commitment extended to the Alamance County Board of Elections, North Carolina Board of Elections Chairman's Association, Alamance and Caswell Mental Health Board, and the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Certification Board, among others. John also worked to improve local schools through the PTA, serving as the Burlington City Schools PTA President and on numerous school committees. He was a member of civic groups such as the Civitans, Jaycees, Burlington Luncheon Club, Hospice, Elon College Alumni Board, and the Carolina Balloon Association.

Faith and family remained at the center of his life. John loved coaching his children’s sports teams, teaching Sunday School, and encouraging a sense of adventure and community. A longtime hot air balloon pilot, he cherished the thrill of lift-off and shared this passion widely. With his crew of family and friends, each flight added to his collection of cow pasture landings and other funny stories. He spent many weekends teaching students, flying for charities, or simply ballooning for fun to give others an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sights. He was happiest when helping people and lived by the principle of “leaving things better than you find them”, which he learned from his parents, grandparents, and the Boy Scouts Eagle Scout program.

Beyond his service, John enjoyed cheering on Wake Forest, sharing a good “dad joke,” and never missed a chance for a Gunsmoke episode or movie night with his grandchildren. His quick wit, warmth, and generosity will be fondly remembered.

John’s light lives on in the lives he touched and the stories shared by family and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and brother, Robert Thomas Paisley. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his four children: Janet Paisley, Susan Paisley Hedrick (Joe), John Porter Paisley III (Marcia), and Elizabeth A. Paisley (Spalding); his brother, Ronald James Paisley (Kathy); seven grandchildren: Emily, Brian, Jackson, Paisley, Tijn, Fenna, and Millie; and three great-grandchildren: Noah, Daniel, and Adalyn.

The funeral service to celebrate the life of John will be held at 11:00am Friday, February 20, 2026 at Graham Presbyterian Church with the burial to follow at Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Thursday evening at Lowe Funeral Home & Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, the family graciously requests memorials to be made to Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, 300 Knox Road, McLeansville, NC 27301.