John Frank Gregory III

John Frank Gregory, III, born April 21, 1946, in Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on February 28, 2026. The only child of the late John Frank Gregory, Jr. and Eva Jean Hicks, John grew up in Dayton and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. He was deeply proud of his family’s history, including his grandfather’s role as an attorney in the landmark Scopes Monkey Trial.

John’s life was rich with curiosity, creativity, and connection. He served with honor in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, an experience that shaped his sense of duty and resilience. After returning home, he attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he graduated in 1974 and became a devoted member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

His professional life reflected his deep appreciation for culture and global relationships. John worked for the State of Tennessee, ultimately serving as Director of Asian Development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. In that role, he built strong working relationships with several Tennessee governors—many of whom he later considered friends—and helped strengthen the state’s international ties.

John’s passions were as varied as they were vibrant. He loved gardening, Asian culture, food, and art, and he nurtured a lifelong fascination with fashion design—one of his few regrets was not pursuing that dream professionally. His artistic spirit found expression in his paintings, many of which still hang in the homes of friends who cherished both the artwork and the man behind it.

In January 2026, John celebrated 40 years of sobriety, a milestone that reflected his strength, humility, and commitment to helping others. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2014, he became a beloved presence in the local recovery community as well as in the city’s theatre and arts circles. A devoted admirer of Tennessee Williams, John brought a sense of drama, humor, and insight to every room he entered.

Those who knew him will remember his kind, gentle drawl, which often softened the edges of his acerbic wit and quick, perceptive mind. He had a gift for making connections—between ideas, people, and cultures—that others might have missed. His generosity was boundless, whether he was offering his time, his talents, or simply his company.

John is survived by the family of choice he built over decades—friends in Florida, Tennessee, and around the world who loved him deeply and will miss him profoundly.