John M. McWhorter, Sr. attended Jackson School from 1931 to 1942. In 1942 he left school to enter the United States Marine Corp attaining the rank of E-6. He participated in Guadalcanal, and Cape Gloucester, Palau, Korea. McWhorter received a Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific American Theater Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the UN Medal. He remained in the Marine Corp until 1963 and retired. He then went to work for the NC Department of Correction until 1987 and retired from there.
McWhorter and his wife Betty have three children -- John M. McWhorter, Jr, Eula Bernice Wilson and Olin Wesley McWhorter. He also has one grandchild.