James Philip Feagin, 68, died on January 26th, 2022 at Pardee Memorial Hospital. A native and lifelong resident of Hendersonville and proud Tarheel, he was a graduate of Hendersonville High School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and UNC’s School of Pharmacy.
Like his grandfather, father, and uncle, Jim served the Hendersonville community for many years as a pharmacist, beginning with the family business Jackson Pharmacy. His compassion and care for people in his hometown persisted after his decades-long career ended. He never stopped giving his time and knowledge to those most in need working with the Free Clinics, even as he waged his own battle with cancer over the final years of his life.
Affectionately known to friends and family as “Pops,” he was an avid reader, student of history, and a football fan. He loved watching his Tarheels play basketball, cooking, classic movies, the Beatles, and breakfasts with friends at Pop’s Diner. Above all, Jim deeply loved his six children and five grandchildren; they were the light of his life, and he always put them first.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Feagin, Jr., his mother, Martha Hodges Feagin, and his special former father-in-law, Charles Blankenship. He is survived by daughter Rachael Feagin Tovey and her husband, Robert Tovey; daughter Valerie Feagin Reed and her husband, Jim Reed; daughter Stephanie Feagin; daughter Karen Feagin and her spouse, Aaron Fritschner; son Tim Feagin; son Stephen Feagin and his wife, Rebecca Vitale; and his grandchildren Mason, Lucas, Natalie, Owen, and Fiona; brother Eugene Feagin, III, and his wife, Anna Feagin; sister Anne Feagin Donahoo and her husband Robert Donahoo; his much-loved former mother-in-law Lorraine Blankenship; and a larger fellowship of extended family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and patients.
A visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at Jackson Funeral Service, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. All guests are respectfully requested to wear masks in order to protect the health of those in attendance and the larger community; masks will be provided to those who do not have them. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Free Clinics (https://www.thefreeclinics.org).
The family plans to hold a celebration of Pops’s life in Hendersonville this spring, closer to the date of what would have been his 69th birthday. They will share details with family and friends once plans are confirmed.
