Philip "John" C. McEachern Sr.

Philip John McEachern Sr, 82, passed away May 4, 2023, in his home in Tallahassee, FL, after a long battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rev. Beverley McEachern and longtime partner Linda Palmer. John Sr. was born April 8, 1941, in Valdosta GA, to Lavalette Waldron McEachern and Philip Stuart McEachern. As a teenager John moved with his family to Tallahassee, FL where he graduated from Leon High School in 1959. He received a football scholarship to The University of Georgia, where he played as a starting offensive and defensive end (he later wrote a biography with details about his experience as a UGA football player entitled, “It’s Always First Down”). After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1963, he married his high school sweetheart Reverend Beverley Conner McEachern, to whom he was married for 44 years until her death in 2007. They have two children: Conner McEachern Nicinski and John McEachern, Jr. The family moved from Georgia to Alexandria, Virginia in 1976 during Rev. McEachern’s studies at Virginia Theological Seminary. All the while John was working at General Electric Credit Co. (now GE Capital) – he stayed at General Electric for 27 years as Regional Vice President for leisure products. Never retiring, for the past 23 years, he has been the owner and president of McEachern Real Estate Development Services (REDS). The family settled in Columbus, GA where John served as President of Georgia Federal Bank and President of Homestead Mortgage. John loved spending weekends in a small house they built on St. George Island and spending time with his family, traveling, playing golf, and UGA football. John has served previously as board member of the Muscogee County School District, founding member of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, member of the Georgia Football Letterman’s Club and “Wally’s Boys” under Coach Wally Butts; charter member of the Chattahoochee River Club, and member of the Rotary Club, Country Club of Columbus, and Capital City Country Club. He was honored at this year’s Georgia Football Letterman’s Breakfast as one of five recipients of the 2023 Georgia Football Letterman’s John Rauch Award. He is survived by his brother, Robert McEachern (Claudia); daughter, Conner McEachern Nicinski (Dennis); son, John McEachern, Jr. (Holly); grandchildren, Jack, AnneMarie, Lilly, Henry, Katherine and Jackie; and several nieces and nephews. John’s ashes will be interred at Bulldog Haven at Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens, GA on June 17, 2023. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com)

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Philip "John" C. McEachern Sr.

April 8, 1941 - May 4, 2023