John Cushing, Sr. Obituary

John Elliott Cushing, Sr., 83, of Travelers Rest, SC, peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Agape Hospice Care, at Upstate Community House after an extended illness. He was born February 17, 1942, in Casa Grande, AZ. He began his formal education in Memphis, TN and graduated from Messick High School in 1960. He spent his professional career as an educator with advanced degrees in Psychology and Child Development from Memphis State University, and George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN. Jack was honest, ethical, and knowledgeable during his career working and advocating for children, first at his job at Smallwood School in Chattanooga, TN, second, as an administrator and grant writer with Anderson, SC School District 5, and finally as an Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel and Accountability with Greenville SC County Schools, retiring in 1999. With his dry sense of humor, he liked a good joke. He loved to travel and enjoyed boating on Lake Hartwell. He rejoiced when it snowed and adored his Shar-pei named Snuffles, a surprise retirement gift from his staff. He was a 50 year member of the Sierra Club, a life member of Phi Delta Kappa, an educational fraternity, and a life member of Mayflower Society through William Bradford. He was generous with many other charities. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda; three children, Julia of Easley, SC, Christina Walker (John L.) of Travelers Rest, SC, and John Jr. (Leigh) of Waxhaw, NC; sister, Mary Lou of Memphis, TN; brother, David of Sonoma, CA; nephew, J. Fuqua (Stacey) and niece, Dena Fuqua Robinson (Bryan), both of FL; six grandchildren, Dawson, William, and Blair Walker and Matthew, Katherine, and Charlotte Cushing; grandniece, Lexi Moss (Matt); and an extended family of cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elliott Morse Cushing and Marcella Dawson Cushing; and a sister, Carol Cushing Fuqua. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by visiting www.stjude.org/donate or the charity of your choice in John Cushing's memory. A graveside service will be held at a later date with inurnment in Memphis Memorial Gardens, Bartlett, TN. Services provided by Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Greenville, SC. Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of John with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".