John Thomas Burch Mason Jr.

John Mason was born in Chicago, IL and grew up in Skokie, attending Niles West Township High School and later moving to Birmingham, AL where he attended UAB. He was a very generous person, volunteering in his younger years with Habitat for Humanity and donating to various charities he was passionate about, especially St. Joseph's Indian School. John was baptized as an adult and joined St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the early 2000s. John loved the Lord and knew that he was loved back. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Lerlene Johnson, and his uncle, Ronald Mims. He is survived by his son Micah, his wife Rebecca, his mother Sue, his sister Holly, his brothers -in-law Calvin and Thomas, and several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. John was a true renaissance man, having not only diverse talents and skills but also highly diverse interests. He was a lifelong learner, eager to absorb new knowledge and eager to share it with others. John's wife and son referred to him as "their Google" since he could give you a correct answer to nearly any question you could ask. John was as equally fascinated by history as he was by science, literature, comedy, cooking, music, gardening, film history, and more. John had a lifelong love of the cinema that was unmatched. He could tell you the name of any actor and list nearly every film they'd been in upon request. In 2000, John first met his wife, Rebecca, due to their mutual love of movies. In his younger years, they regularly attended Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival, which was an annual joy of theirs. They loved discussing cinematic themes, lighting, and editing at length, a passion that John passed on to their son Micah, educating him at an early age on classics such as Frankenstein and many beloved musicals. John enjoyed a great variety of music, including hard rock, old country, classical, opera, and heavy metal, and if you gave him a phrase, he could easily make a song out of it. He found value and enjoyment in almost any art form known to man. John loved humor and storytelling. He attended the Jonesborough Storytelling Festival and many performances at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival with his mother, Sue. He especially loved taking his son Micah to the Georgia Renaissance Fair, laughing at the c omedy skits and sharing fried mac & cheese on a stick. John was a true foodie who loved sharing a meal with friends and family. Being a Chicago guy, he loved a good deep-dish pizza, not to mention Lebanese, Italian, Mexican, and Asian food alike. He loved having friends over for backyard cookouts, Dungeons & Dragons, board games, and movie nights. The qualities that John should be remembered for most are his fierce love for his family, his commitment to friendship, and his lovable sense of humor. He relished being silly and loved to laugh, especially with his son. It was a known fact that once you entered the Mason home you should prepare for many puns and plays-on-words as John and his family loved both. Not only was John a loving husband to his wife and devoted caregiver to his mother and previous relatives, but he was also, in his son Micah's words, "the best Da." John’s celebration of life will be held at the Church at Brook Hills at 4:00 pm on Sunday, January 22nd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s memory to St. Joseph’s Indian School.

John Thomas Burch Mason Jr.

February 3, 1968 - January 6, 2023