Jay V. Wise

Jay V. Wise, 92, passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at home in Winston-Salem, NC. He was born in Cabarrus County to the late William and Mollie Wise on June 24, 1930, the youngest of four brothers. He grew up in Kannapolis, NC where he graduated from Cannon High School and met his high school sweetheart, Barbara Turner. Jay continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving his BA Degree in Education in 1952, and MA Degree in 1953. Jay and Barbara were married on September 13, 1953. They would share almost 68 years together prior to her passing.

After serving in the US Army from 1954-1956, he and Barbara made their permanent home in Winston-Salem, raising their 3 children, Steven, Sandra, and Karen. Jay began his teaching career and continued his education at UNC to complete his Advanced Graduate Study Degree in Educational Administration. He began his first principal position at Brunson Elementary School. His career led him to Wiley Middle School where he served as principal for 22 years before transferring to Northwest Middle School where he officially retired. Those who worked with him would tell you he was a legend in the school system. He was truly interested in people. His heart was big. You were important to him.

Jay embraced challenge and commitment, and will be remembered as the man who never missed an opportunity to be involved. He touched countless lives in the community and was a lifelong member of Augsburg Lutheran Church where his involvement was endless. His church family was very important to him and he treasured the friends and memories he made through the years. Jay loved church music and was a tenor in the church choir. He never missed an opportunity to serve in any capacity. If it was happening, Jay Wise was a part of it.

It goes without saying that Jay had a special bond with each one of his grandchildren. He was so proud of them, and shared his pride with anyone he met. There are so many memories he made with them that they will hold forever. They loved their “Pappa.”

If anyone knows Jay Wise, you know you will never meet another Tar Heel like him. He was so proud to be a Tar Heel. He looked forward to giving out his personalized Tar Heel pens and basketball calendars each year to his Tar Heel friends. He was proud to show off his “Carolina Room” filled with memorabilia, lots of it. His favorite times were spent on the campus at UNC-Chapel Hill. He enjoyed bringing friends to football games. Jay loved all sports, but we would also have to mention his beloved Yankees. Going to Spring Training was an annual event, and his Yankee friends and family would accompany him. We all could not help but think of Jay Wise when the Tar Heels or the Yankees are mentioned.

The family would like to thank Trellis Supportive Care for their compassionate care given to Jay in his final months. We would also like to thank his caregivers Gail, Ingrid, Luis, Amanda, Grace, and Tanya who loved him and took such good care of him so he could remain at home where he wanted to be.

Jay is predeceased by his wife, Barbara, and son, Steven. He is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Sandra and Johnny Suggs of Clemmons, NC, and Karen and Robin Helms of Huntersville, NC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Taylor Stamey (Nathan) of Asheville, NC, Jake Helms (Sheila) of Charlotte, NC, Megan Suggs of Raleigh, NC, and Kelsey Robinson (Garrett) of Pfafftown, NC, and his first great-grandchild, Reynolds Jay Robinson.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Augsburg Lutheran Church, 845 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. There will be a reception immediately following the service in the Family Life Center. Entombment will take place at Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons, NC.

In lieu of flowers, it is the family’s wish to honor Jay’s memory through memorial donations to Augsburg Lutheran Church, 845 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or to a charity of your choice in his name.