WILMINGTON — John Cleves Symmes, 93, died on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Lower Cape Fear Life Center. He was born on March 26,1928 to the late Eliza Davis Symmes and Cleves Montgomery Symmes. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Symmes Bridgman.
He was a proud graduate of New Hanover High School class of 1946, and attended The Citadel and in later years, UNCW. Mr. Symmes was a quarterback for the football team at NHHS. He served as a medic in the US Army from 1951 – 1953 in the Korean War and received the Purple Heart, Combat Medal Badge and a Battle Star for his service. In 1949 he worked on the first paving project of the Alaska Highway.
Mr. Symmes was an insurance agent for many years and later a manager with RL Polk & Co. and a representative with City Publishing Company. He held many civic offices including Commander of the American Legion Post 10, Grand Chef de Gare of NC 40 AND 8 and chairman of the Post 10 Baseball League. In addition, he was a member of the Wilmington City Council from 1963 to 1975 and was elected mayor of Wilmington in 1972. He also served two years on the NC League of Municipalities Board. He was a third-generation member of St. James Episcopal Church and was active in Wilmington Kiwanis, Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Cape Fear Museum and Wilmington Civitan Club.
Mr. Symmes is survived by his wife, Anna (Nancy) Munro Symmes, his sister Lyla Symmes Lockhart, nieces Mary (Molly) Bridgman Roush, Emily Davis Bridgman, Amy Lockhart Welday (David) and his nephew Phillip Bruce Lockhart (Carol); his stepdaughters Nancy Hurst Griffin (Warren) and Carolyn Hurst de Haro, great-nephews John Marshall Beatty (Adrienne) and Robert John Roush (Katie), David (Jeana), Darren (Sarah) and Jason (Lindsay) Welday and their children.
There will be a service in the St. Francis Garden of St. James Church at 2:00 pm Friday, January 14, 2022.
Memorials can be made to St. James Episcopal Church or a charity of one’s choice.
The family would like to extend our gratitude to Karen Glenn, for caring for John as lovingly as she would her own family for many devoted years.
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
