WILMINGTON — John Barnes “J.B.” Hinnant Jr., 86, passed away Thursday, March 4, 2021. J.B. was born in Wilmington April 19, 1934, to John Barnes Hinnant Sr. and Viola McMillan Hinnant. In his early years, he was known as Johnny, and later in life, as J.B. J.B. grew up in the Sea Gate community and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1954. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. After the war, he owned and operated Hinnant Construction Company, sometimes known as RDJ Construction (named after his children Renae, Denise & John). He built many commercial properties in and around the Wilmington area and was part of the revitalization of downtown Wilmington. He worked on several buildings during the early days of downtown’s renaissance, and his influence on historic preservation standards for commercial construction are still in use today. He was a member of Winter Park Baptist Church, and a former member of the Masons and Shriners.