April 15, 2022, 80, Raleigh –

William Jackson Alphin (Jack), 80, of Raleigh passed away from cancer on April 15, 2022

Jack was the youngest of a big farm family, born in Summerlin’s Crossroads, Duplin County, NC to Fred Alphin and Clara Dail Alphin. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings Norma Rae Summerlin (Clayton), Viola Winstead (Cecil), Sallie Ruth Greenwood, Donnell Cobb Alphin, Peggy Swinson and Fred Alphin, Jr. He is survived by his sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Linda Carol Best Alphin who he met at a tobacco tying ‘party’. Also surviving are their two children, William Jackson Alphin Jr. and Melanie Carol Chunn; grandchildren Zoe, Sophia, and Jackson Chunn; siblings Reevis Stancil Alphin (Barbara), Oliver Wendell Alphin (Eva), Linda Alphin Smith; in-laws Mary Alphin, Glenn Alphin, Bobby Best (Cathy), Nelson Best (Debbie), Douglas Best (Joyce) and Wilma Best Taylor and numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from James Kenan High School ‘60, Jack made short work of his undergraduate work in Business Admin at UNC, graduating in ‘63 before launching a 30 year career with IBM in Research Triangle Park. Jack had an entire second career operating his own commercial real estate company, which suited his lifelong love of all things entrepreneurial. He loved an opportunity to sell – almost anything including grills, bucket coolers, bulbs, brooms, hand-fed birds, watches, peanuts, ice cream – as long as it was for a good cause. And he loved to advocate, serving on boards including United Arts, Raleigh Little Theater, SafeChild and Coastal Credit Union. He served for multiple terms on Wake County Planning Commission, chairing for several years. He raised funds for many causes including Wreaths Across America, seeing that every grave at the National Cemetery in Raleigh had a wreath each December, and United Arts, creating their popular “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” series. Jack raised the money for and was instrumental in getting the first American flags hung along Fayetteville St. in downtown Raleigh. His church home is Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, where he has served as a Deacon and an Elder. For his entire adult life, he served in civic clubs including Jaycees, Lions, Exchange, and Optimist clubs. Pre-pandemic, on most Wednesday afternoons you could find him calling bingo at Morningside Assisted Living facility, taking along a silver dollar for the first winner of the day and always a silver dollar for anyone celebrating a birthday that week. Jack freely doled out silver dollars, $2 bills and years ago, McDonald Bucks. Jack loved to cook and eat barbeque and steamed oysters. He held a reverence for Angus Barn, loved a hotdog from Roast Grill, and pork brains with eggs from Pam’s where he often met with various groups including Hillyer’s CMF.

Having grown up on a farm, he loved nurturing animals, especially birds. He had his own backyard aviary for many years, breeding an array of birds. He cultivated a large vegetable garden for a time, and added to the landscape of his yards with plants he nurtured from cuttings and seedlings.

Over the years, Jack and Linda enjoyed travelling, visiting all 50 states, and over 50 countries on 6 continents. Jack loved life, his family (especially his grandkids), friends, community, church, country, live theater, NC Symphony, politics, Topsail Island and the UNC Tarheels.

A graveside service will be held at the Alphin Family Cemetery, 2091 Summerlin Crossroad Rd., Mt. Olive NC, Tuesday, April 19, 2PM

A memorial service will be held at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC, Friday, April 22, 1PM.

In Lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated:
The Clara Dail Alphin Benevolence Fund, Rooty Branch Freewill Baptist Church, C/O Cathy Rouse 1835 Red Hill Rd., Albertson Rd., NC 28508
The Local Benevolence Fund, Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603.
The Fred Alphin Family Scholarship Fund, University of Mt. Olive, 634 Henderson St., Mt. Olive NC 28365

Arrangements by Tyndall Funeral Home, Mt. Olive NC