Jean Fant Gilbert, 91, passed away on February 17, 2016 after a long period of declining health at Sharon Towers in Charlotte, N.C. She was a Charlotte native, the daughter of the late Lila Bannister and Grady A. Fant.
Jean was a graduate of Central High School and Queens College, where she earned a BA Degree in Education in 1947. She taught 2nd and 3rd grades at Berryhill Elementary School and Wesley Heights Elementary School for a number of years before leaving teaching to raise her three sons. A life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, Jean served selflessly there in many lay positions, and particularly enjoyed her duties as Sunday school pianist and curator of the church historical archives. Jean loved people, always being a positive and supportive influence to those she knew. She had a passion for music, reading, gardening and travel, but most of all, she loved entertaining and being with her family and friends. Jean lived life with an enthusiastic and optimistic spirit that endeared her to all, and she will be greatly missed by those who had the privilege of knowing her.
Jean is survived by the love of her life and her devoted husband of sixty-seven years, John (“Jack”) Kendall Gilbert, Jr., and their three sons and their wives - Gary M. and Elizabeth A. Gilbert of Charlotte, David L. and Jean G. Gilbert of Greenville, S.C. and Timothy W. and Janet G. Gilbert of Charlotte, as well as seven grandchildren - Kendall Gilbert-Cox and her husband Michael E. Cox, Geoffrey Gilbert, Chelsea and Benjamin Gilbert, and Michael, Brian and Stephen Gilbert. Jean is also survived by her sister, Norma Lynn Fant Higgins. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Marion Fant Williams.
A Funeral service to honor Jean’s life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, February 20, 2016 in the Chapel of Harry & Bryant Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will precede the service from 1:00-1:45 PM. Jean will be laid to rest in Elmwood Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Sharon Towers and the caregivers of Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region for their dedicated service to Jean. The family would also like to thank Betty Gilbert Kirby for her loving support.
Memorials in Jean’s honor may be given to the First United Methodist Church Foundation, 501 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Proverbs 31: 29).
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