Verna Jane Porter

Verna (Jackie) Jane Porter was born at home in Harriman, Tennessee on October 22, 1934. She was raised by her parents, Hubert and Pauline Schubert, along with her brother, Tom, and two sisters, Bobbie and Cheryl.

At an early age, her family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where she attended school and graduated from Sumner High School. She met the love of her life, Ralph Dewey Porter, while living in High Point, North Carolina. They were married when Jackie was 17 and had two children, Patsy and Rick. They had three granddaughters, one great-grandson, and four great-granddaughters.

Jackie and Ralph moved to Southern California in 1955 and remained there until the early 1990’s. After retiring, they returned to Newbern, Tennessee where they lived approximately 20 years. They shared 57 years of love and laughter together before her husband went to be with the Lord in May 2009. In 2012, Jackie returned back to Monrovia, CA.

She started her first career in 1955 at Day and Night Manufacturing as a mail girl. Through her hard work and dedication, she quickly advanced to a supervisor position. Jackie made many lasting friendships during her time there. She left Day and Night in 1977 and embarked on her second career path. After completing her schooling at Rio Hondo College, she began her second career as a nurse in 1982. Jackie was a wonderful, compassionate, and caring nurse to all of her patients and thoroughly enjoyed her time working at Westminster Gardens in Duarte, CA. To Jackie, nursing wasn’t just a job. She emphasized that nursing was her calling and what God had intended for her. This was evident through the way that she treated her patients. She cared about each person wholeheartedly, as if they were her own family. She carried on the memory of each one of her patients, remembering their spirits through the memories she kept in her heart. She was well-respected and well-loved throughout her nursing career, building lifelong friendships through her time there.

Jackie was very active in Mt. Tirzah Baptist Church in Newbern, Tennessee. She was well loved and had many friends within her church and community. She touched the lives of many people with her witty sense of humor, kind heart, and gentle soul. Jackie was quick to help others out whenever needed and will undoubtedly be remembered for her selflessness.

Jackie was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother, two sisters, and the love of her life, Ralph. They are now together again in Heaven. Left to cherish her precious memory is her daughter, Patsy, son, Rick, granddaughters Christie, Kimberly, and Ashley, great-grandchildren Sean, Emma, Cassidie, Madeline, and Mackenzie, and a host of brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be greatly missed.