John Robert Freeman, Jr., 78 of Eden went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at UNC Rockingham Health Care after a long battle with melanoma.

A funeral service will be held at 3 pm Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Boone & Cooke, Inc. Funeral Home Chapel.  Entombment will follow in Overlook Mausoleum with military honors provided by the Rockingham County Veterans Honor Guard and the North Carolina National Guard.  The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 pm on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Boone & Cooke, Inc. Funeral Home and other times at the residence.

John was born in Rockingham County on February 8, 1942, the son of John Robert Freeman, Sr. and Susie Elizabeth Rierson Freeman, both deceased.  He was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, where he was a Sergeant SPC 5.  He was retired from Fieldcrest Mills.

"Buddy" as he was called, was a wonderful man that was loved dearly, is missed, and will always be cherished.  His loving wife Carolyn "Sweet" of 55 years, his devoted daughters, grandchildren and loved ones will miss his witty personality, his big heart and larger-than-life personality.

Buddy was passionate about farming, beekeeping, and caring for his chickens.  Although it is hard to say goodbye, his new path will take him to a wonderful place free of pain where he will be socializing and enriching heaven's gardens with his prize-winning tomatoes.