November 24, 1952 - January 15, 2024
On January 15th 2024 at the age of 71 John went home to be with the Lord after battling a brief illness. John was born in Charleston, SC to John Winton and Marjorie Brown Upchurch.
John graduated from Southeast Bulloch High School in 1972 and later went on to graduate from Georgia Southern University with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating, John began a long career at Mingledorff’s which he cherished. His coworkers and customers will always remember his dry sense of humor.
In 1980 John married the love of his life and they went on to raise three sons whom John loved more than anything. John retired from Mingledorff’s August of 2020 and started his second full time career as an avid outdoorsman, handyman, and excellent baker. John loved to fish and hunt as well as tinker with his lawn mowers work on projects in his shop and bake treats for his friends and family. John loved his family and was probably the best father anyone could wish to have.
John was preceded in death by his parents John Winton and Marjorie Brown Upchurch, a close cousin Steven Brown, and his special uncle Donald Brown, all of Stilson.
Surviving are a loving wife, Denise Sandlin Upchurch, three sons, Travis (Katlyn) Upchurch, Seth (Mallory) Upchurch, and Garrett (Caroline) Upchurch, all of Stilson, his two namesake grandsons, John Marks and Hixon Lee Upchurch, two loving sisters, Linda (Ed) O’Dowd of Stilson, and Helen (Tony) Albiniak of Myrtle Beach, SC, and a brother, David (Pam) Upchurch of Stilson. Also surviving are a beloved niece, several nephews, and a large number of cousins whom he loved dearly.
The family will receive visitors on Wednesday from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro.
The funeral will be held on Thursday at 11:00am at Old Fellowship Baptist Church with Rev. Janet Odegaard.
Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Forehand, Jim Forehand, Bill Forehand, Clark Groover, Ray Davis, and David Upchurch.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Gator Bay Hunting Club and his coworkers at Mingledorff’s.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. John Hixson Upchurch please visit our Sympathy Store.
