Dr. Jesse Caldwell Fisher Jr., born in Concord on June 2, 1931, went to his maker Feb. 9, 2014. He was the son of the late Jesse Caldwell Fisher Sr. and Jane Powell Fisher.
Dr. Fisher attended Davidson College as an undergraduate, and Duke University, where he received a masters degree in economics. After serving two years, as an officer in the U.S. Army, he completed his doctoral program in economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Fisher, served as chairman of the committee that secured Southeastern Community College for Columbus County. He was a charter member of both the Charlotte Oratorio Society and the Southeastern Oratorio Society. He was a bass soloist in both organizations. Music has been a thread throughout his life.
Before assuming the business responsibilities and development of his family’s 138 year old company, J. L. Powell & Company, Inc., he taught economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Davidson College. Dr. Fisher, was a founder of Beachwood Golf Club and served as a director. He also served as a director of Shadow Moss Golf Plantation in Charleston, as well as several miniature golf courses in Daytona Beach, Fla. Dr. Fisher also served as a director of Peoples Savings & Loan and WHQR radio station both in Wilmington. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Whiteville and a former member of the Cape Fear Club of Wilmington.
A graveside service will be held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Whiteville Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Phillip Bryant with the French Protestant Huguenot Church and Dr. Larry Cook officiating. A celebration luncheon of Dr. Fisher’s life will be held at his home following the service. McKenzie Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gaye Sanders Fisher; two sons, Jesse Powell Fisher and his fiancé’, Lori, and John Spurgeon Fisher and his wife, Lisa; and three grandchildren, Jesse Powell Fisher Jr., Cameron Bishop Fisher and George Sanders Fisher.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southeastern Oratorio Society, c/o Dr. James Craigie, 3655 Mitchell Street, Loris, S.C. 29569 or the French Protestant Huguenot Church, 44 Queen Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401.