John Drexell Gregory left us suddenly and all too soon on the morning of January 14, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara (Hills) Gregory, daughter Kathy Schwartz and her husband Jim Schwartz of Ridgewood, NJ, his daughter Kelly Shumate and her husband Alan Shumate of Midlothian VA, his son Brian Gregory and his wife Randi Gregory of Midlothian, VA his five beautiful and loving granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Kiera, & Megan Schwartz, Peyton & Noah Shumate, and his companion and best friend Duffer.

His was a life of love and achievement beginning in Jersey City on August 4, 1947. He graduated Ridgefield Park, NJ before matriculating to Fairleigh Dickinson University. After completing his undergraduate degree, he studied for and received his Master’s Degree from John Jay College. With an ever-present sense of duty, John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army before achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After the army, John worked for NYPD’s Dept. of Investigation before serving his country yet again in the Secret Service for 24 years in several capacities including the Joint Terrorist Task Force, Counterfeit Squad, Special Agent for White House Access, & Inspector. John was part of the rescue efforts after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. After serving as the VP of Security for Master Card International, John was again called into service to head up the Federal Air Marshalls for Newark International Airport. John was also a servant to the communities he lived in as an officer for the Special Police Force in Haworth, NJ and as a Volunteer Firefighter for the St. James Fire Department. Besides his wife and family, John had three other well-known loves in his life; golf, dogs, & the NY Yankees.

John Gregory was the patriarch of his family and all looked to him as a beacon of wisdom and few made critical decisions in their lives without first consulting him. Called home to God, he leaves behind a great many that will miss him dearly, but also take some comfort in that they have been bestowed a great blessing to have had their lives intertwine with such an inspirational, beloved, and truly great man.

A celebration of Life will be conducted at 11:00 am Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in the chapel of Brunswick Funeral Service, Southport/Oak Island. Burial will be in George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery, Paramus, NJ.
Memorials may be directed to St. James Fire and Ambulance, 3628 St. James Drive, Southport, NC 28461.