Ret. MSGT James Norman Prevatt
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Ret. MSGT James Norman Prevatt, 89, formerly of Vander, NC, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 18, 2022, at WakeMed Raleigh Campus in Raleigh, NC. A veteran who served during the wars in Korea and Vietnam, Jim proudly served his country for 20 years. A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, his boundless enthusiasm for life will live on in each person who knew him.
Jim was born December 16, 1932, in Raft Swamp township in Robeson County, NC, to the late Ernest and Monnie Prevatte. Born just before Christmas, the tiny red-haired pink-and-white baby was nicknamed "Candy" by his grandmother. The name stuck until he named himself "James Norman" after a respected Robeson County physician sometime around the age of four or five.
Growing up in a large farming family during the Great Depression, Jim and his siblings worked extra jobs. Jim and several of his brothers caddied for the local golf courses in the Lumberton area, which is how he learned to play golf at a young age. He was able to resume his love for that game in retirement, frequently enjoying a round with his brothers.
Jim attended Philadelphus High School in Red Springs, NC. During the early 1950s at the start of the war in Korea, Jim and several high-school friends made a pact to enlist instead of waiting to be drafted. Only Jim and one other person showed up on the designated day. Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force and was placed on active duty on January 3, 1951. Somehow in the vast amounts of paperwork involved, the government decided that Jim's last name was spelled without the final "e". This is a source of amusement within the family to this day.
During his 20 years of service, Jim worked in the Aerospace Medical Service as an Aeromedical Technician. In 1957, Jim completed his GED while serving.
Jim served at numerous posts around the United States and the world, including the 464th Tactical Hospital and 4459th USAF Dispensary at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina; 835th Tactical Hospital at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and 4500th USAF Hospital at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Other assignments included the 160th USAF Hospital, APO 929 in Japan, and the 347th Troop Carrier Squadron in Saigon.
Among his awards, Jim earned the Aerial Achievement Medal, Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and 3 Bronze Army Loops, and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.
Jim retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 1971, and was a self-employed barber at the Stedman Barber Shop until his second retirement in 1993.
Jim met Peggy Averitt on June 15, 1955, her first day of work at Fort Bragg. They were co-workers and friends for years before they were married. Rumor has it that Jim married Peggy because of her chocolate pie recipe. Every time Peggy made the pies, for a special occasion or no occasion at all, the entire family waited for him to declare enthusiastically that the pies were "GOOD" or "right tasty" or similar praise.
Jim and Peggy were married on November 20, 1961. They had a wedding supper of barbecue sandwiches and chocolate cake. The wedding took place a few days before Jim deployed to Vietnam. By the time Jim and Peggy were married one year, they had spent more days apart than together, but his family deployed with him to McConnell and Langley.
Jim enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, vegetable gardening, and trips to the beach with his family. He enjoyed good food and good fellowship with family and friends, and always enjoyed telling or hearing a funny story. He also had a hidden talent of a great singing voice. Family members got to enjoy that voice when he sang along with a Jim Reeves 8-track tape while driving his infamous lime-green truck.
In addition to his parents, Jim was also preceded in death by his brothers, David Prevatte, Alton Prevatte, Truett Prevatte, Bill Prevatte and Wilbur Prevatte; and his sisters, Martha Prevatte, Glenda Prevatte Hardin, Mildred Prevatte and Ruth Prevatte.
He leaves to cherish all the wonderful memories his loving wife of 60 years, Peggy Prevatt of Raleigh (formerly of Vander); children, Cathy Prevatt and husband Greg Pelton, Jamie Prevatt, and James Prevatt, Jr. and wife Jennifer, all of Raleigh, NC; and grandchildren, Kyle Pelton of Melbourne, FL and Moira Pelton of Redmond, WA; and many much-loved nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff of WakeMed Raleigh Campus and WakeMed North Hospital for their care during Jim's recent illness. The family also wishes to thank the staff of the Fayetteville and Durham VA Medical Centers and the staff of Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg for their care over the years.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, March 25, 2022 at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, NC.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Butler Funeral Home in Stedman, NC.
If you wish to make a donation, the family requests that you support The Salvation Army or your favorite wildlife or veterans charity.
Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 6535 Clinton Road, Stedman, NC 28391.