Robert Jack Higdon

Robert Jack Higdon, 89, of Greenville, South Carolina, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 7, 2025.

Jack was born on July 28, 1935 in Campbell County, Tennessee. He was the third of six children born to Carl and Iona Higdon; and he had the privilege of being raised alongside two additional cousins who were as close to him as his brothers and sister. He grew up in a wonderful and vibrant home and always loved and remembered the people and beautiful valley where he grew up.

Jack attended LaFollette High School where he was a member of the school’s first-ever undefeated football team (11-0), outscoring their opponents 432-57 across the season. After graduation from high school, Jack began his collegiate studies at the University of Tennessee; he later transferred to East Tennessee State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1958. Following graduation, he entered the Naval Officers Candidate School where he studied engineering, gunnery, leadership and warfare. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in December of 1958. He completed cryptographic school in Newport, Rhode Island, and sonar school in Key West, Florida, before being assigned to the Project Mercury Astronaut Recovery Team and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Base in Barbados, British West Indies.

In August of 1959, Jack returned home to LaFollette to marry his high school sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby. Immediately after their marriage Jack and Liz returned to Barbados where they began their life together while Jack served in the Navy and participated in the recovery of the United States’ first astronauts.

During the fall of 1960, Jack was assigned to the staff of the Commander Oceanographic Systems for the Atlantic fleet in Norfolk, Virginia. He also continued with the astronaut recovery program and participated in the recovery of Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Scott Carpenter and others following their flights. His original 40-month tour of duty was extended to 46 months when the Russians built the Berlin Wall. He attained the rank of Lieutenant prior to his release from the Navy in June of 1962.

Following his naval service, Jack and Liz returned to East Tennessee where Jack accepted a position as a chemist with the American Enka Company in Morristown. During their time in Morristown, both of their sons were born, in 1963 and 1966 respectively. Jack moved through a series of positions with the company and reached the level of Departmental Superintendent. He spent his time with his growing family, serving in various roles within his church - most notably as the teacher of high school boys in Sunday School – and he was an avid golfer. He also pursued a postgraduate degree through East Tennessee State University.

In 1970, American Enka asked Jack to take on a textile sales position in Greensboro, North Carolina. During the next thirteen years, while his sons moved through elementary, junior high and high school, Jack moved through various sales positions, serving some of the world’s largest and most significant knitters and textile producers. He became a vocal advocate for the textile industry in the United States and for the staff and employees who worked so hard to produce quality, American-made goods. He was on the road regularly as he developed a loyal and trusting group of customers who came to be many of his closest friends and who relied on him because of his expertise, knowledge and his integrity.

During this time in Greensboro, Jack also served the Lord faithfully through the Friendly Avenue Baptist Church where he was Sunday School Secretary, Chairman of the Preschool and Child Care Committee, and as he continued to mentor and shepherd children and their families. In many of these roles he and Liz served together.

In 1983, following the acquisition of American Enka by BASF, Jack became the Director of Technical Services for all of the company’s textile business and moved to Asheville, North Carolina. He was also selected to serve on the Board of Directors of INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serving hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered materials industry to achieve business growth.

During this period of time, both of his sons received undergraduate degrees from Wake Forest University and his oldest son graduated from the law school there as well. Jack and Liz were often seen on the campus entertaining their sons’ friends at various events. This began a lifelong commitment to Wake Forest and to many hours of cheering the Demon Deacons to victory on the football field, the basketball court or the baseball field. Jack was also active in the First Baptist Church of Asheville and served in various roles there.

In 1989 Jack was transferred to Williamsburg, Virginia to serve as the Director of BASF’s Rayon and Acrylics business. He was then moved to BASF’s division headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina where he served as Director of the company’s Polyester Business Unit. That division was later sold to a newly formed company, Intercontinental Polymers, Inc, and Jack joined that company as its Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He was later made senior vice president.

While living in Charlotte, Jack and Liz became extremely involved in the ministry of the Providence Baptist Church. He served as a Deacon, was a leader in their Sunday School class and he served faithfully in the afterschool tutoring program the church maintained for children with academic challenges in the local community. This ministry became one of the great loves of Jack’s life and he was so honored when a fund in his and Liz’s name was set up to support the work of this ministry.

During his time in Charlotte, Jack’s two grandsons, Clay and Matt, were born. And, over the last 27 years, he has thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them, participating in their development and sharing his deep love for and steady faith in the Lord with them.

After about 10 years with Intercontinental Polymers, Jack retired from work and, in 2015, he and Liz relocated to Greenville, South Carolina and built a wonderful life. They spent time with their growing family, developed a wonderful circle of great friends, became active in the ministry of the First Baptist Church and in the Seminar-Corder Sunday School class.

Jack is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Liz, as well as his sons Robert Jack Higdon, Jr. (Corinne) of Cary, North Carolina, and John Shelby Higdon (Jill) of Greenville, South Carolina, as well as his two grandsons, Robert Claiborne Higdon of Cary, North Carolina and Matthew Smith Higdon (and fiancée, Avery King) of Raleigh, North Carolina, his brothers/cousins William (Bill) Cox (Syondra) of Marco Island, Florida, Jerry Higdon (Becky) of Dacula, Georgia, Ronnie Higdon (Peggye) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Samuel Higdon (Pam) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, as well as many much loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother C.B. Higdon (Barbara), his sister Vera Jo Henegar (Howard), and his cousin/brother Charles Cox (June), as well as his much-loved mother and father-in-law, Roma and Carrie Shelby, also of LaFollette.

Jack’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of Prisma Greenville Memorial Hospital and the McCall Hospice House of Greenville for their kind and loving care during his final illness.

A graveside service will be held for Jack at Woodlawn Cemetery in LaFollette, Tennessee. Walters Funeral Home of LaFollette, TN is honored to be serving the family of Robert Jack Higdon with local arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a contribution to either the McCall Hospice House of Greenville, 1836 W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, South Carolina 29680, or to the Liz and Jack Higdon Education Fund, which benefits the After School Tutoring Program, at the Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211.