John Francis Hexamer

John Francis Hexamer — known simply as John to all who loved him — passed away on May 5, 2026, at the age of 73. Born on September 8, 1952, in Anderson, Indiana, John lived a life defined by hard work, genuine warmth, and an unwavering commitment to the people and communities he called his own. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, a faithful friend, and a man who made every room better for having walked into it. He stood up, shook your hand, and asked how you were doing — and that was enough to know exactly who he was. A Life Well Traveled John's journey began in Anderson, Indiana, and took him across several communities over the course of his life — including Middletown, Indiana, Augusta, Georgia, and ultimately North Augusta, South Carolina, where he put down his deepest roots, built his home, and gave the best of himself to the community around him. He pursued his education with characteristic determination, spending time studying abroad in England, studying for two years at Ball State University, and graduating from the University of South Carolina Aiken. Before embarking on his professional life, John was drafted into the United States Army, where he served honorably from 1972 to 1974. He answered that call with the same quiet dignity and sense of duty that would come to define everything he did. His Work & His Word Returning to civilian life, John built a professional career as a supervisor and salesman at Electrical Equipment Company, including a significant tenure with Shaw Industries. He was known as a man whose handshake meant something — dependable, driven, and fiercely loyal to the people he worked alongside. The integrity he brought to his professional life was not something he left at the office. It followed him into his home, his friendships, and his community — and it never wavered. A Man of His Community If John believed anything deeply, it was that a community is only as strong as the people willing to show up for it. And John showed up — consistently, enthusiastically, and without hesitation. He was a proud and active member of the Rotary Club of Augusta, where he served as President from 2004 to 2005, a tenure that took him as far as Osaka, Japan, to represent his club at the Rotary International Presidential Conference. He was a dedicated volunteer with North Augusta 2000 and gave generously of his time and energy to the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta — an institution he deeply believed in and one that was a true reflection of his love for his community. In every role he took on, John led not by title, but by example. The Man in the Room Those who knew John knew his laugh before they knew much else about him. Warm, contagious, and impossible to forget, it had a way of making any room feel like exactly the right place to be. He was the kind of man who rose to his feet when someone walked in, extended his hand, looked them in the eye, and asked — genuinely asked — how they were doing. He made people feel seen. He made people feel welcome. That was not something he worked at. That was simply who he was. John believed in loyalty. He believed in hard work. He believed in compassion and in the quiet, steady act of serving others — not for recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. He passed those values on to his children not through words alone, but through the way he lived every single day. Above all else, John valued his wife, his family, and his friendships, and he never once let any of them doubt it. The Life He Loved Beyond his work and his service, John was a man who knew how to live — and who made sure those around him did too. He was an artist, a fisherman, a golfer, and a devoted cultivator of bonsai trees. He loved playing pool, playing euchre, traveling, and getting his hands in the dirt. He took regular walks along the Greenway, finding in those quiet miles the same peace and simplicity he sought in everything he loved. He appreciated a fine meal at a good restaurant, the pleasure of good company around a table, and the particular satisfaction of a day spent doing exactly what he loved. Life, for John, was something to be savored. John had a special gift with growing things. Friends and neighbors knew that a struggling plant was never beyond saving in John's hands. He had a way of receiving whatever was wilting or forgotten, giving it his time and attention, and returning it to life. It was, in many ways, a reflection of who he was — someone who saw potential where others saw none, and who never turned away something that simply needed a little care. A Father Remembered Two memories, offered by those who loved him most, speak more clearly than any words to the kind of father John was. His daughter Susan recalls the quiet ritual of sitting on her father's lap as a young child, reading the Sunday comics together — an ordinary moment made extraordinary by the warmth and safety she felt in his presence. His son Nathan remembers early mornings out on the water fishing with his dad, followed by a stop at the 13th Street Waffle House on the way home — simple, unhurried time together that neither of them ever forgot. John wanted to be remembered as a hardworking family man. In that, he succeeded completely. His Family John is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Vicki Hexamer, whom he married on June 16, 1973, in Porter, Indiana. Together they built a life, a family, and a home that always had room for one more. He is also survived by his son, Nathan Hexamer, and his wife, Brandy; his daughter, Susan Schiff, and her husband, Bill; his sister, Rose Parks, and her husband, Conwill; his sister-in-law, Joanie Hexamer; his grandchildren, Spencer Hexamer and his wife, Allison, Timber Hexamer and his wife, Brittany, Bellah Hexamer, Troy Leseueur, Skylar Schiff, Charlotte Schiff, and Beck Schiff; and his great-grandchildren, Hadley Hexamer, Anna Claire Carter, Indie Hexamer, and Hudson Scott. He was preceded in death by his father, Francis Hexamer; his mother, Eileen Hexamer; and his brother, Mike Hexamer — each of whom shaped the man he became and now welcome him home. John was also deeply blessed by the enduring friendships of Mary Ann and Eric Marriott, Peggy and Peter Bertasi, and Ken and Sylvia Smith — people who walked alongside him through life and enriched it in ways that will not be forgotten. A man of Christian faith, John lived his beliefs not in proclamation, but in practice — in the way he served, the way he loved, and the way he never once failed to show up for the people who needed him. His faith was quiet, steady, and evident in everything he did. Services Visitation will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., with a memorial service to follow, at Posey's Funeral Directors in North Augusta, South Carolina. Family and friends are warmly invited to continue the celebration of John's life at a drop-in gathering at the Hexamer home following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta, South Carolina — a cause John held close to his heart and one that will carry his spirit forward.

John Francis Hexamer

September 8, 1952 - May 5, 2026