John A. Felton Memorial Scholarship

By donating to the John A. Felton Memorial Scholarship, you are honoring John by empowering the next generation of leaders who, like him, will leave a lasting impact on their communities. All donations will be used for scholarships to incoming college students with a parent living with chronic illness or have lost a parent due to chronic illness. We recognize the financial hardship caused by medical expenses relating to chronic illness and wish to mitigate this limiting factor in a student's decisions to attend higher education. John lost his own mother, Doris (28), to Hodgkin's lymphoma when he was 11 years old. Before her passing, she instilled in him the importance of college education. Through John’s adulthood and multi-year battle with cancer, he committed himself to the educational development of the youth in his life, going as far as paying neighborhood kids for their good grades, revising college essays, pushing friends to choose more challenging majors, and buying school supplies for those in need.

Who Was John A. Felton?

Born on October 25, 1959, in Edenton, North Carolina, John Allen Felton was admired in his community for his charismatic personality, leadership, and work ethic as his class president and captain of multiple varsity sports. With a life story that spans from the football fields of East Carolina University to the halls of the United States Department of Justice, John's journey was nothing short of remarkable. His indomitable spirit was shaped by overcoming adversity from a young age, particularly with the passing of his mother and living on welfare with his grandmother. Despite the hurdles, John emerged as an individual committed to his Michigan and North Carolina communities, supporting students at Saline High School for a time as an administrator, and the betterment of society through law enforcement and fraternity. Sadly, he passed into eternal life on September 7, 2023, survived by his three children and loving wife.

Why This Scholarship?

John was a lifelong learner who encouraged others to chase academic and professional excellence. He believed in the transformative power of education and how it could open doors for those willing to walk through them. That's why we are establishing the John A. Felton Memorial Scholarship Foundation. This foundation aims to honor his commitment to fostering opportunities for those who face adversity, particularly incoming college students.

John himself was an outstanding student and athlete, and he knew the importance of education in creating life opportunities. He was passionate about the achievements of those he mentored and loved. This scholarship seeks to empower young minds to reach their fullest potential, even when the odds are stacked against them.

Why Your Support Matters

John was a man who gave his all to his community, whether that was through his role in law enforcement or his countless hours spent volunteering and advising in various capacities. The reality is, there are countless young people with vast potential but limited opportunities. Your financial support will make an immediate and impactful difference. It will enable deserving students to pursue educational paths that might otherwise remain out of reach.

Your contribution will serve as an investment not just in individual lives, but also in the betterment of our community as a whole. The scholars we support today will be the leaders, innovators, and mentors of tomorrow. Your support will honor John's legacy by continuing the cycle of community educational uplifting he so passionately believed in.