J. Vernon Golightly, 92, of Morganton died Saturday, January 4, 2014. Vernon was born May 9, 1921 in Burke County to the late William Alexander Golightly and Mary Florence Singleton Golightly. In addition to his parents, Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, Melba Sydney Oxford Golightly; brothers, Lester and Kenneth Golightly and sisters, Evelyn Abee and Elma Clontz. He was a 1939 graduate of Morganton High School where he played football and earned "Most Valuable Player" his senior year. He attended Wake Forest College on a football scholarship. Vernon was a US Army Staff Sgt. in World War II serving in the European theater and earned the Combat Infantry Badge. In 1946 he founded Oxford Iron Works on East Union Street. During this time, Vernon also taught at North Carolina School for the Deaf retiring from there after 30 years. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir for over 60 years. An avid archer and hunter he founded Burke Bowmen and also won many archery awards.
Vernon is survived by his son, Douglas Vernon Golightly and his wife, Barbara of Wilmington, NC; daughter, Debbie Golightly Buff and her friend, Joe K. Byrd, Jr. of Morganton; grandchildren, Jamie G. Matthews and her husband, Sean, Sydney Buff, Corbin Golightly, and Greg Golightly; great-grandchildren, Marya, Rachel and Mary Matthews; brother, Elbert Golightly and his wife, Frances of Morganton; brother-in-law, Vester Clontz of Morganton; and long time co-worker, Darryl Pruitt. The funeral was held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at Grace Episcopal Church with The Rev. Gary Parker, The Rev. Bruce Walker, and The Rev. Scott Oxford officiating. Burial followed at Forest Hill Cemetery with military honors conducted by the NC National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center was in charge of arrangements.