John Richardson Haworth, Sr., 98, passed away on April 26, 2025 in Colfax, NC. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Martha Wells Haworth; his parents, Chester Haworth, Sr. and Sara Haworth; his sister and two brothers-in-law, Dr. Eldora Terrell (Gene) and Rawley Young.

He is survived by his children: John Haworth, Jr. (Will Barrus) of High Point, NC; Dr. Charles Haworth (Christel) of Fayetteville, NC; and Catherine Matthews (Steven) of Burlington, NC. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Nathaniel Matthews (Caroline), Nicholas Matthews (Madison), Connor Haworth, Christian Haworth, and Curran Haworth, and had the joy of meeting his great-granddaughter, McKinley Matthews. John is also survived by siblings William Haworth (Shirley), Dr. Chester Haworth (Brenda), and Margaret Young, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces.

John joined the U.S. Navy in 1945, completing basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He was stationed at Camp Shelton in Little Creek, Norfolk, VA (1945–46) and served in the Naval Reserves until 1950. In 2010, he proudly took part in the Triad Flight of Honor for WWII veterans.

He graduated from Guilford College in 1947 and remained actively involved as president and director of the Alumni Association, president of the Quaker Club, and member of the Board of Visitors. He was inducted into the Guilford College Athletic Hall of Fame, received the Alumni Excellence Award in 1982, and was a member of the Francis T. King Society.

John earned his law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1950, the same year he was admitted to the North Carolina Bar and the U.S. District Court for all three NC districts. He was later admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He began practicing law with his cousin, Byron Haworth, later established his own firm, Haworth, Riggs, Kuhn, and Haworth, and eventually served as of counsel with Morgan, Herring, Morgan, Green, and Rosenblutt, LLP.

He was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, the NC Academy of Trial Lawyers (now NC Advocates for Justice), the American Judicature Society (Director, 1980–82), and the Lawyers-Pilots Bar Association. Within the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), he served as president (1979–80), chaired several committees, and served on the Board of Governors. As part of the American Bar Association, he was a delegate for the NCBA. He served on the Pro Bono Committee and the Dispute Resolution Section. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Life Member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. In 1993, he was inducted into the NCBA General Practice Hall of Fame. The John R. Haworth Liberty Fund was established in his honor in 2011. He retired after 66 years in practice.

John served his community in numerous ways: on the High Point City Council (1953–59), as director of the High Point Chamber of Commerce (1961–63), president of UNC Law’s Alumni Association (1985–86), and president of the High Point Historical Society (1986–87). He was also president of the High Point Kiwanis Club (1990), a recipient of the Hixson Fellow Award for Service (1995), and a Lifetime Member of both the local and international Kiwanis organizations. A devoted member of Springfield Friends Meeting, he served as presiding clerk, trustee, Ministry and Counsel member, and a Sunday School teacher. He was also a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Oasis Shrine.

John had many passions. He loved flying single-engine planes, a hobby he shared with Martha. Both earned private licenses, instrument ratings, and commercial licenses. They also enjoyed dancing with the Debonair Dance Club of High Point. John loved playing bridge and golf, cheering for his Tar Heels, and playing Bingo with friends at River Landing. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and the community.

Special thanks to John’s caregivers from Griswold Home Care (Greensboro, NC) and Trellis Supportive Care (Winston-Salem, NC) for their compassion and professionalism.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 2, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at River Landing at Sandy Ridge, 1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, NC (Multipurpose Room).

Funeral service will be Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Springfield Friends Meeting, 555 East Springfield Road, High Point, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Springfield Friends Meeting (Capital Improvement Fund), 555 East Springfield Road, High Point, NC, 27263.