John Hosea Kerr III (February 28, 1936 – May 24, 2015) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing constituents in Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Kerr grew up in Warrenton, North Carolina. He received his bachelor's degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his law degree from University of North Carolina School of Law. An attorney from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Kerr served eight terms in the state Senate. Previously, he served three terms in the state House. In 2007, Kerr announced that he would not seek re-election in 2008. He was succeeded in office by Don Davis. Kerr died in 2015. Kerr's grandfather, John H. Kerr, served in the United States House of Representatives. Kerr's father, John H. Kerr Jr., was a state legislator and one-time Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.