John “Johnny” Waters, 85, passed away November 24, 2020, at his home in Emerald Isle, NC.

A memorial service will be held by the family at a future date to be announced, at Emerald Isle Baptist Church with Pastor Freddy Braswell officiating.

Born in Norfolk, VA, on March 3, 1935, he grew up in Norfolk and then Richmond, VA, where he attended Thomas Jefferson High School. After graduating from Hampden-Sydney College (VA) in 1958, he taught high school history in Richmond, where he met his wife, Sally.  Married in 1964, they moved to Hampden-Sydney soon thereafter, where he worked in several capacities, first as Registrar and then Director of Admissions, until retiring as the Director of Alumni Affairs in 1998, a role in which he will be long remembered for his work ethic, friendliness, and love of the college.  He also served as a volunteer on the board of Southside Community Hospital and the United Way of Prince Edward County.

He stayed busy during his twenty-two years of retirement in Emerald Isle.  He transitioned from being an avid runner and tennis player to developing a fondness for golf. Along with Sally, he was a dedicated volunteer for many years in the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Program. They were also actively involved in NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Johnny and Sally taught NAMI's signature Family To Family class for many years for those whose relatives suffered from mental illness, as well as leading a support group in Jacksonville.  Johnny loved to travel and loved to visit new places, but mainly he loved meeting new people. Making and sustaining friendships was Johnny's true vocation.

Johnny is preceded in death by wife Sally and brother William.  He is survived by sons John H. Waters IV of Washington, DC and Edmund Todd Waters of Emerald Isle, brother Robert Waters and wife Dale of Roanoke, VA; brother Richard Waters and wife Susan of Richmond, VA; sister-in-law Donna Waters of Cornelius, NC; sister-in-law Ann Ward and husband Bob of Chapel Hill, NC; nieces Katie Dickey and husband Will, Cathy Stanley and husband Shawn, and Mary Beth Neckowitz and husband Josh; and nephews Craig Waters and wife Cyndi, David Waters and husband Will, Mark Waters and wife Cindy, Parker Waters and wife Kim, and Richard Waters and wife Cindy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Johnny’s honor to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 309 W Millbrook Rd., Ste. 121, Raleigh, NC 27609-4394.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.