James Redden “J.R.” Wordsworth passed away Friday, April 25, 2014. He was born February 19, 1921 in Edgecombe County at Leggett, NC, to the late James R. and Alice J. Wordsworth. J.R. was a member of Williams Primitive Baptist Church in Leggett. He served his country in the US Navy during World War II. J.R. was also the owner and operator of JR’s Steakhouse in Rocky Mount and began a successful Rocky Mount-based family-owned business which has since become known as MBM Corporation. J.R. was preceded in death by his wife, Elgie M. Wordsworth, and his son Kenneth Wordsworth, brother, James “Dalton” Wordsworth, and sisters, Annie Mae W. Joyner, Lena W. Whitehead, Matilda M. Wordsworth, Marjorie W. Quincy, Bertha W. Breedlove, and Carrie Wordsworth. J.R. is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Karen Wordsworth, Jerry and Jane Wordsworth, Steve and Elaine Wordsworth; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Leonard Daughtridge and daughter-in-law, Susan W. Janko; dear friend Judy Cooke; grandchildren, Kimberly, Brian, Jason, Joshua, Brice, Rachel, and Krystle Wordsworth, Amy Wordsworth Edwards, Dawn Wordsworth Wade, Erin, Chase, Kenslee, and Connor Daughtridge; great grandchildren, Brayden, Chandler, and Foster Edwards, Baylor and Kennedy Wordsworth, Kassie and Kiersten Wade, Nathan Murphy and Saylor Poston. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for deserving students pursuing a career in hospitality management has been established in memory of J.R. and Elgie Wordsworth at East Carolina University. Checks should be made payable to “The ECU Foundation” and mailed to ECU Office of University Development, Greenville Centre, Room 1107, 2200 South Charles Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27858-9817. Obituary information provided by Cornerstones.