Albert John Cavenaugh, Jr. of Wallace died unexpectedly as the result of a traffic accident on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

AJ was born in Wallace on April 10, 1931, the only child of the late Edith Covington and Albert John Cavenaugh. He was graduated from Wallace High School and North Carolina State University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He served as an army lieutenant for two years before joining the architectural firm of Hawkins & Rice in Raleigh. Upon the death of his father in 1967, AJ left his career in Raleigh to return to his home town of Wallace to assist his mother in the management of their third generation family business, Cavenaugh Jewelers.

He was a lifelong member of Wallace United Methodist Church where he sang in the chancel choir until the end. He was diligent in changing the paraments at the appropriate times during the year and made sure the offering plates received a weekly polish. AJ currently served as chairman of the Memorial Committee. He often designed floral arrangements for the Sunday worship service and other church events. He also served as church treasurer for many years.

AJ was a dedicated community helper having served his town through the years in many capacities. He was a board member of both The Thelma Dingus Bryant Friends of the Library and the Wallace Revitalization Association. He was an active member of the Wallace Lion's Club. At the time of his death he was serving on the Wallace Historic District Commission. Most recently, AJ was training to become a volunteer at "Blessings in Store", a Duplin Christian Outreach Ministry thrift store. He was a man who stayed busy, meant well and was always doing a good deed.

Of all his pleasures in life nothing delighted him more than international travels, especially visits to the city of London and the surrounding countryside. He enjoyed traveling with family and friends, and was almost always the volunteer tour guide, a job he excelled in.

He loved his family and friends with all his heart, never failing to keep in touch, to offer help, to show compassion. AJ is survived by first cousins Harriet Lanier Farrior, Trudy McDaniel Fisher, Erchey Leo Lanier, Jr. and Elizabeth Fussell Sykes, in addition to many other family members and a legion of dear friends.

Burial will be held on Friday, June 17, 3:00 PM, Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery followed by a 4:00 PM memorial service and visitation at Wallace United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Wallace United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 303 South College Street, Wallace, NC 28466.

To sign the guest book, go to www.padgettfuneralhome.com.

A service of Padgett Funeral and Cremation Services, Wallace.