Jonathan Vickers

On July 6, 2018, the Lord promoted Jonathan "Jon" Karl Vickers to His Heavenly choir. Born in Winston-Salem on July 5, 1945 to the late Karl Smith Vickers, Jr and Jo Petree Vickers. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Ellen Vickers Holzgrefe and her husband, Fritz Holzgrefe, II. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Deana McInnis Vickers. Surviving him are his cherished family. Daughters: Tiffany Vickers Davis of Birmingham, AL and Nicole Vickers-Hymowitz of Matawan, NJ. Grandchildren: Samantha, Charlotte and Nikolas Vickers-Hymowitz of Matawan, NJ and Garrett Davis of Birmingham, AL. He is also survived by a niece, Regis Holzgrefe Watson (Jim) of Naperville, IL and a nephew, Fritz Holzgrefe, III (Mary Jo) of Milton, GA. along with great nieces and great nephews and special cousin, Bill Petree (Katherine) of Winston-Salem. Upon marrying Deana, Jon inherited his second mother, Martha Hogan McInnis, "Mama Mac" of Ellerbe, NC whom he loved very dearly and who predeceased him. Surviving are brothers-in-law James McInnis of Charlotte, NC and Wayne McInnis (Nedra) of Ellerbe, NC, sister-in-law Lillian Covington of Ellerbe, NC and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
In his youth, Jon participated as a Boy Scout, earning Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow, Brotherhood and God and Country. A member of the last five-year class (Grades 8 - 12) at Reynolds High School, Jon graduated in 1963. High school launched Jon into music. He played french horn throughout his years at Reynolds HS and with the Virginia Tech (VPI) Highty Tighties in Blacksburg, VA. where he studied electrical engineering as a member of the US Air Force ROTC. After further course work at Guilford College, he served 5-1/2 years in the US Air Force doing intelligence work in Germany. At the conclusion of his Air Force service in 1973, Jon returned to Winston-Salem and began a 21-year career at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company in the Engineering Department. He worked in machine control design, taught the technician training program, supported the corporate World Headquarters Facility and assisted the corporate board. Upon the closure of the Winston-Salem Corporate World Headquarters, he finished his career in RJ Reynolds corporate data communications and in process control hardware and software development. Interested in the sound/stage arena, Jon and a friend formed a small company in high school to manage all performing arts programs. While at VPI, as the engineer at the VPI radio station, he was in charge of the stage and sound work for performances at the University. Having a passionate interest in singing Barbershop Quartet Harmony, Jon was in his first quartet, "The Teen Tones", at the age of 15. All of this followed him through his entire life as he went on to join the International Barbershop Harmony Society in 1975. His first registered quartet, "Blue Ribbon Edition", was celebrated as District Champions and International competitors. He also sang in "Voiceterous" quartet and in the Seniors Quartet, "Village Green", placing 7th in Worldwide Senior Competition in 2009. His most recent quartet, "Sound Counsel", has been together for twelve years. As a 44-year member of the Winston-Salem chapter and chorus, "Triad Harmony Express" (formerly "The Auctioneers"), Jon held many leadership positions multiple times. He was a co-founder of The Association of eXtreme Quartet Harmony Brigades movement which has become a worldwide endeavor promoting individual excellence in the craft since 1993. The Barbershop Harmony music world enjoys a fraternity, a family experience, which reaches far beyond mere friendship. Loving brothers in the hundreds from all over the world have reached out to him during his illness. Jon had an innate desire to help those in difficult situations and was especially drawn toward those who lacked the resources, health, education, talent, or mobility to help themselves. Those with disabilities, illnesses, or senility, and youth of all stripes were beacons to his powerful desire to try to help - even when his own health was severely compromised. He helped countless family, friends, neighbors, and many aspects of the Barbershop arena. With a song in his heart and a big smile, Jon loved to be telling a joke or "singing a tag" more than most anything. He shared this joy with his quartets and choruses with elderly citizens, hospitals, children and Singing Valentines. His faith and the music in his heart sustained him through this illness.
Beyond music, Jon served 17 years as a GS-12 Communications Officer for the "National Disaster Medical System". A Celebration of Life and Song Service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2018, with Rev. R. Craig Ford and Rev. Jeremy Pegram officiating. A private family inurnment service will follow in the church columbarium. The family will receive friends in the auditorium following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Triad Harmony Express, c/o Robert Alexander, 1040 Longreen Drive, Kernersville, NC 27284; Harmony Foundation, Inc., 110 - 7th Avenue North, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37203 or to Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Special thanks to the oncology staff at Derrick Davis Cancer Center and to the staff at Kate B Reynolds Hospice and Palliative Care for their excellent and compassionate care for Jon.

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