John Washington Kemp, Jr., 88, met his Maker on May 3, 2026. He was a devoted husband of the highest degree, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who will be remembered for his kindness, fun loving persona, and genuine interest in anyone in his presence. He lived life large not only for himself but for others as well.

 Born April 16, 1938 on Penn Street in Edgefield, South Carolina, John was the son of John Washington Kemp, Sr. and Lena Long Kemp. He was a graduate of Edgefield High School and Furman University with majors in English and History. He willingly shared his knowledge of history and never missed an opportunity to ensure that the King’s English was used correctly. He was a colorful storyteller captivating his audiences with knowledge and wit. Following college, John returned to Edgefield and taught school, led Boy Scouts and coached football. He married the love of his life Virginia Burton of Trenton, South Carolina (which John referred to as “Trenun”). They were married 64 wonder-filled years, started a family and built a successful business. John and Virginia were known for their exceptional collection of English and Early American furniture. This business venture led them to building relationships far and wide as they traveled the Southeastern United States and Europe collecting fine pieces of high-quality, style and craftmanship.

 John’s legacy continues through his family: elder son John Kemp III (Sarah) and their sons, Johnathan (Maggie) and Bradley; and younger son Charles (Michelle), including their older son Jakob (Samantha), younger son Caleb (Marlee) and daughter Dorothy Kate. He had two great-grandsons, Shepherd and Stetson, sons of Jakob. He was predeceased by his parents, wife, and three half-sisters: Maysie, Ruth, and Mildred. From an early age, John sported a large frame and even larger personality. His intellect and boldness landed him a job as Edgefield’s “Boy Mayor” at age 30. Since then, he has always been a man about town. He was quite engaging to all, and he liked to leave them “smiling or scratching their heads”. In true John Kemp fashion, he even wrote a short obituary for himself many years ago, scrawled on a piece of stationary from The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. He proclaimed his love for God, family and country. As one former minister said, “John is a Renaissance Man”, for indeed his interests lay in many areas.

 Being outside in God’s creation was John’s way of connecting to all things real and true. It is there that he would draw close to God as he prepared his Sunday school lesson from the front porch of his 1838 log house. That log house embodied John’s soul — a place that represented his vision, his generosity and how he created a sense of community. A family friend said: “All he put into the log house was about others.” Above all, John was a man of faith and always strived to let God’s love shine through him to others. His 88 years of traversing the countryside left a wake of countless people touched. The woods of Edgefield County will feel much smaller without him roaming them.

 The family would like to thank a previous caregiver, Jackie Culbreath, as well as Dr. Buddy Turner (deceased), Dr. George Rainsford, and Dr. Tami Massey for their loving care over the years. Also, the family extends heartfelt gratitude to Enhabit Hospice for their compassionate care over the last few months. A visitation will be held at the residence of John and Virginia Kemp on Friday, May 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A celebration of John’s life will be held at Edgefield First Baptist Church (212 Church Street, Edgefield, South Carolina) on Saturday, May 9, at 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Edgefield First Baptist Church.

May the treasured memories of John Washington Kemp, Jr. bring comfort to all who knew and loved him.