J. Ralph McFayden

James Ralph McFayden, 82, of Ellerbe, passed away on Friday, April 4,2008, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mr. McFayden was born December 15, 1925, in Richmond County, NC, a son of the late Colon Alexander and Etta Freeman McFayden. He graduated from Ellerbe High School, class of 1942, entered Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, in the fall of 1942, where he was Cadet Captain in the ROTC. His education was interrupted for two years. In 1943, on his 18th birthday, he joined the Armed Forces as a Flying Cadet. During this time he was stationed on Tinian Island in the South Pacific and was a sergeant in the 58th Bomb Wing, 444th Bomb Group, 677th Squadron of the 20th Air Force. He was a tail gunner on “The Talie Ho”, a B-29 Superfortress and flew thirteen combat missions over Japan. After the war, he flew POW supply missions. He returned to Presbyterian College and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in December 1947. He married Dorothy Phillips in February 1948. He was a lifelong member of Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church where he has served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and a member of the choir. In 1950 he founded Ellerbe Poultry Company, Inc., and was president until 1979 when Ellerbe Poultry merged with White Poultry Company. He served as Senior Vice President of White Poultry Farms, Inc., until 1985. At that time he bought out his partners and sold the company to Perdue Farms. He was associated with various agri-business companies along the Eastern Seaboard, both as an investor and as a member of the board of directors. In 1979 he founded Systems Planning, Inc., a financial consulting and planning business. His sister, Mary Jean McFadyen, preceded him in death in 1989. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Phillips McFayden, of the home, a son, James Ralph McFayden, Jr., and wife Laura Tinsley McFayden of Wilmington, two daughters, Elizabeth McFayden Bryant and husband Austin of Ellerbe, Christine McFayden Klein and husband Jeffery of Atlanta, Ga, grandchildren, Patrick Bryant of Holden Beach, Alex Bryant of Charlotte, Pierson Klein and Paxton Klein both of Atlanta, Ga. Also surviving are four brothers, Colon McFayden, Harold McFayden, Williard McFayden and Robert McFayden all of Ellerbe, and a sister Lillian Sherrill of Ellerbe. A service to celebrate the life of Mr. McFayden will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, from Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Alexander officiating. Private interment will be held in Ellerbe Cemetery with military honors. The family will see friends from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at Carter Funeral Home in Ellerbe and at other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Community Home Care & Hospice, 1015 Fayetteville Rd., Rockingham, NC 28379 or the 58th Bomb Wing Memorial, New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, 36 Perimeter Rd., Windsor Locks, CT 06096.