Jesse Ronald McLaurin

Jesse Ronald “Ronnie” McLaurin, age 74, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024 at home.   

Ronnie was born June 22, 1949 in Fayetteville, NC to Jesse Franklin McLaurin and Mary Brafford McLaurin. 

Ronnie’s family moved from Fayetteville when he was young to a small community called Pittman Grove.  Ronnie and his family became members of Pittman grove Baptist Church.  This is where Ronnie accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized in Sparkle Berry Creek, near the church.

When Ronnie was a sophomore in high school, his family moved back to an area called Eastover in West Fayetteville.  Eastover was where the McLaurin family “clan” was raised and owned hundreds of acres of farmland.  Ronnie graduated from Central High School in Eastover in 1968.  After graduation, he enlisted in the Army National Guard for 6 years.

In 1967, Ronnie met his wife to be, Judy Kennedy.  They were married on July 18, 1970 at Lafayette Baptist church in Fayetteville, NC., where they attended until 2012.  Ronnie and Judy were married for 53 ½ years.  He loved her and spoiled her every day of their life together.   East Maryville Baptist Church, Maryville, TN became their church after they moved to Maryville.  They have loved us and blessed us with all of their prayers over the last few years.  EMBC has shown us the love of our Savior and how He has been carrying Ronnie through the good and the bad times during the last 4 years that he had cancer.

In 1975, Ronnie started working for Seaboard Coastline Railroad which later changed its name to CSX Transportation Railroad.  He worked 35 years with the railroad.  He retired in 2010.  He worked as a Trainman, then became a Conductor until his retirement.

Ronnie loved traveling with his wife who worked for US Airways.  They were able to travel to different states and many countries.  He also enjoyed camping in tents and his motorhome.  Ronnie loved going to Myrtle Beach to fish and having fun in the sun with his wife.  After moving to Maryville, Ronnie fell in love with the mountains and riding through Cades Cove in his car or on his bicycle.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Franklin and Mary Brafford McLaurin. Survived by his wife, Judy Kennedy McLaurin; his kitty furbaby, Ally, who has been his little soulmate through his 4 years with cancer until the very end when the Lord took Ronnie home; brother, Michael McLaurin; sisters, Linda (Paul) Combs and Mary Ann (Tammy) Cannon; brothers-in-law, Ron (Reba) Kennedy and Don (Edith) Kennedy; nephews, Connor Cannon, Michael (Jenn) Kennedy and children, Keira, Landon, and Lola, David (Ani) Kennedy and children Tyler, and Sami; nieces, Cherie Combs (Rob) Mercer and children Cole and Mallory, Amy Combs (Shannon) Powell and daughter Hailey, Raquel (William) Roy and children Carson, Paxton, and Jada, Melody (Sante) Harrah and son Camden. 

The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Lafayette Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC. A Celebration of Life to follow at 11:30 AM.  Interment will be held at Lafayette Memorial Park West at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers you are welcome to make a donation to Lafayette Baptist Church, 501 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304 or UT Medical Center Hospice Services, 4435 Valley View Drive, Suite 104, Knoxville, TN 37917.