John Floyd McPhaul

Command Sergeant Major John Floyd McPhaul was born to the late Neal McPhaul and Aratha Sellers McPhaul on May 5, 1926 in Red Springs, NC. Known to the family as "Floyd," he departed this life on Friday, January 6, 2017 in Baltimore, MD.

John's childhood set him up for a lifetime of discipline and dedication. Raised on a farm with his seven siblings, his family were sharecroppers who knew the value of a dollar and the benefit of hard work. These early years gave John the rough hands and warm heart that made him both disciplined and giving.

Shortly after World War II, John followed his brother Neal and enlisted in the US Army. With an outstanding career spanning thirty years at home and abroad, John reached the rank of Command Sergeant Major, traveled to many countries, took college courses, and developed a specialization in radar technology he used while serving in Korea.

John separated honorably from the US Army in 1980 and quickly transitioned from military service to real estate, becoming a realtor at Otis Warren Real Estate Services in Baltimore, Maryland. A valued member of the firm for several decades, John became Director of Operations and earned many distinctions such as Certified Residential Broker (CRB), and Graduate of the Realtor's Institute (GRI).

John's commitment to the community included membership in local organizations such as the Liberty Road Business Association, Lochearn Improvement Association, and chairman of the Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore's Community Outreach Action Committee. A faithful member of Epworth United Methodist Chapel in Baltimore, John attended services as long as his health allowed.

John's family life was as rich as his professional one. John married Geraldine Newby, and from that union John McPhaul II was born. John also had two daughters, Gwendolyn McPhaul Short (Caesar Short) and Kia Davis. The patriarch of the family for many years, John's generosity to his children, siblings, nieces, and nephews were unmatched. Each Thanksgiving brought 40 relatives to John's house, were John could be found slow-cooking hams or smoking whole turkeys. John never missed an annual family reunion in Red Springs or his beloved sister Maryland's Friday Fish Fry. His summer cookouts in Baltimore were so famous that members of the business community fought over invitations.

John's quick smile, integrity, natural intelligence, and generous spirit made him a pillar of the community. His life's work was to protect and improve the lives of others. By the family he loved and the communities he served, he will be deeply missed.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine McPhaul, and his seven siblings. John is survived by his three children, Gwendolyn McPhaul Short of Washington, DC, John F. McPhaul II of Baltimore, Maryland, and Kia Davis of Dubai, UAE as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

 Service Information