John Mercer Thorp, Sr., of Rocky Mount, passed away July 19, 2017. He was born on August 6, 1930 in Rocky Mount, the son of the late Lewis Sumner Thorp and Routh Speed Mercer Thorp. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, and mother of his children, Cynthia Mahler Thorp, his two brothers, Lewis Sumner Thorp and Seabury Daniel Thorp and his son William Mahler Thorp.

He is survived by his second wife, Rogers Williams Thorp; his son John Mercer Thorp, Jr. and his wife Joe Carol Wrape Thorp of Chapel Hill; his daughter Helen Porter Thorp of Greensboro, and his daughter in law Lindsay Sloan Thorp of Chapel Hill; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; numerous step children, grand-children, and a great grand-daughter.

Services were held Sunday, July 23, 2017 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount with the Rev. Juliana Lindenberg officiating. Burial followed at Pineview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rocky Mount Pregnancy Care Center, 400 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 or to the Church of the Good Shepard, 231 N Church Street 27804.

Arrangements by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Rocky Mount.