John
John Winburn Lassiter
d. May 27, 2017
John Winburn Lassiter passed away after a short illness Saturday May 27, 2017 at Hospice Savannah, Inc.
John was born November 14, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia to the late John Wesley Lassiter and Ada Carter Lassiter. John spent spent most of his youth living and moving throughout the southeast where his father was employed in highway construction. After graduation from high school in Newberry, South Carolina, he served in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific arena. After the war he attended Newberry College graduating with a bachelor's degree in music. He was involved in various campus activities but his love was performing with the Newberry College Dance Band in which he played trumpet.
John returned to Savannah in 1950 where his music career continued when he organized and directed the John Lassiter Orchestra which at the time was considered one of Savannah's finest dance orchestras. John had a long and rewarding career in the Property and Casualty Insurance industry during which he served as vice president with two of Savannah's leading insurance agencies. His last position was with Remer Lane Insurance where he formally retired at age 91.
Upon returning to Savannah he became involved in many civic and fraternal activities in which he participated throughout his life. He was past president of the Savannah Jaycees and the 5th Region Jaycees and the state president of the Georgia Jaycees. In addition he served as national community development chairman of the United States Jaycees, was past state commander of the Georgia Jaycees Rebel Corps, a member of the Board of Directors of the Savannah Jaycee Foundation, and was a senator in the Junior Chamber of Commerce International Senate. John was a past president of the Kiwanis Club of metropolitan Savannah and past director of both the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah area Chamber of Commerce. He joined the American Legion in 1947 and at the time of his death had been a member of George K. Gannem, Post #184 for 70 years.
In 1954 John entered the Masons where he was raised a Master Mason in Ancient Landmark Lodge #231 (F&M) and was an emeritus member of the Scottish Rite Bodies. John was Potentate of Alee Shriners in 1985 and for several years served as representative to the Imperial Shrine of North America, was past captain of the Alee Patrol Unit and past president of the Cabiri. John was made an honorary member of the Alee Shriners Mobile Unit, Director's Staff and Oriental Band, and several Shrine Centers throughout the southeastern United States. He was a charter member of the Tybee Lite Shrine Club, Tybee Island, Georgia, and founder and director of the Alee Shriners' Alee Kats Dixieland jazz band that performed at shrine functions and in several St. Patrick's Day parades.
John was an active member of Wilmington Island Methodist Church and participated in a number of church activities as long as he was able. He loved fishing and boating, reading, music and sports. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, Dorothy Brown Lassiter. He is survived by two sons, Michael N. Lassiter (Lori) of Guyton, Georgia, Donald W. Lassiter (Jodi) of Chandler, AZ and four daughters, Carla L. McKenzie (Bill), Cherryvale, KS, Belinda S. Estabrook, Savannah, GA, Jan S. Cantrell (Jack), Savannah, GA and Zan S. Miller (Rusty) Claxton, GA, four grandsons, four granddaughters, four great grandsons, and five great granddaughters.
Funeral Services: 11 am Friday June 2, 2017 at Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Hillcrest Abbey Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be before the service from 10:00am to 11:00am.
Remembrances in celebration of John's life may be made to Alee Shriner's Morris Slotin Fund, Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, or to Hospice of Savannah.
Active Pallbearers: Michael N. Lassiter, Donald W. Lassiter, Brett K. Estabrook, Jack O. Cantrell, Jr., Benjamin L. Cantrell and R. Burke Miller
Honorary Pallbearers: Alee Shrine Patrol and Cabiri members
Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Chapel
(formally Fairhaven Funeral Home)
912-927-1999
www.bakermccullough.com
John was born November 14, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia to the late John Wesley Lassiter and Ada Carter Lassiter. John spent spent most of his youth living and moving throughout the southeast where his father was employed in highway construction. After graduation from high school in Newberry, South Carolina, he served in the United States Navy during World War II in the South Pacific arena. After the war he attended Newberry College graduating with a bachelor's degree in music. He was involved in various campus activities but his love was performing with the Newberry College Dance Band in which he played trumpet.
John returned to Savannah in 1950 where his music career continued when he organized and directed the John Lassiter Orchestra which at the time was considered one of Savannah's finest dance orchestras. John had a long and rewarding career in the Property and Casualty Insurance industry during which he served as vice president with two of Savannah's leading insurance agencies. His last position was with Remer Lane Insurance where he formally retired at age 91.
Upon returning to Savannah he became involved in many civic and fraternal activities in which he participated throughout his life. He was past president of the Savannah Jaycees and the 5th Region Jaycees and the state president of the Georgia Jaycees. In addition he served as national community development chairman of the United States Jaycees, was past state commander of the Georgia Jaycees Rebel Corps, a member of the Board of Directors of the Savannah Jaycee Foundation, and was a senator in the Junior Chamber of Commerce International Senate. John was a past president of the Kiwanis Club of metropolitan Savannah and past director of both the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah area Chamber of Commerce. He joined the American Legion in 1947 and at the time of his death had been a member of George K. Gannem, Post #184 for 70 years.
In 1954 John entered the Masons where he was raised a Master Mason in Ancient Landmark Lodge #231 (F&M) and was an emeritus member of the Scottish Rite Bodies. John was Potentate of Alee Shriners in 1985 and for several years served as representative to the Imperial Shrine of North America, was past captain of the Alee Patrol Unit and past president of the Cabiri. John was made an honorary member of the Alee Shriners Mobile Unit, Director's Staff and Oriental Band, and several Shrine Centers throughout the southeastern United States. He was a charter member of the Tybee Lite Shrine Club, Tybee Island, Georgia, and founder and director of the Alee Shriners' Alee Kats Dixieland jazz band that performed at shrine functions and in several St. Patrick's Day parades.
John was an active member of Wilmington Island Methodist Church and participated in a number of church activities as long as he was able. He loved fishing and boating, reading, music and sports. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, Dorothy Brown Lassiter. He is survived by two sons, Michael N. Lassiter (Lori) of Guyton, Georgia, Donald W. Lassiter (Jodi) of Chandler, AZ and four daughters, Carla L. McKenzie (Bill), Cherryvale, KS, Belinda S. Estabrook, Savannah, GA, Jan S. Cantrell (Jack), Savannah, GA and Zan S. Miller (Rusty) Claxton, GA, four grandsons, four granddaughters, four great grandsons, and five great granddaughters.
Funeral Services: 11 am Friday June 2, 2017 at Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Hillcrest Abbey Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be before the service from 10:00am to 11:00am.
Remembrances in celebration of John's life may be made to Alee Shriner's Morris Slotin Fund, Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, or to Hospice of Savannah.
Active Pallbearers: Michael N. Lassiter, Donald W. Lassiter, Brett K. Estabrook, Jack O. Cantrell, Jr., Benjamin L. Cantrell and R. Burke Miller
Honorary Pallbearers: Alee Shrine Patrol and Cabiri members
Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Chapel
(formally Fairhaven Funeral Home)
912-927-1999
www.bakermccullough.com
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