Jessie Elizabeth Murray Piner, of Wilmington, born on September 24, 1914 In Kirkland. “Mammy” as she was affectionally called by her family, went to her Heavenly home on September 18, 2012, just 6 days shy of her 98th birthday .
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ottie R. Piner on January 4, 1995. She was the last of her large family of eleven children born to Robert Chancy Murray Sr. and Laura Virginia Kelly Murray, “Papa and Mama”.
“Mammy” experienced the hard life on a farm, helping her Dad do many chores while her two sisters chose to stay in the house with their Mother. She was very involved with her large family which eventually contained eleven children. We remember her siblings and celebrate their lives also; Alma(George), Evelyn (Charles), Sadie (Hampton), Eva (Sud), Robert Jr.(Emma), Ben(Clarice), George(Margaret), John”Buck”(Margaree),Mary(Marion), Betty (Hoodley).
Her family was very close, meeting each Sunday with our Grandmother for many years until her death. Jessie drove the horses to town, later driving the Model T and later riding the train to take the produce to market with Papa. She worked during WWII at Camp Davis in finger printing expert, she was a homemaker until Mike and Dan graduated and enlisted in the Army and the Air Force. She then worked as a Ward Clerk for 20 years at James Walker Memorial Hospital and the new present hospital, which became New Hanover Regional Hospital until her retirement and continued to work at Atlantic Seafood as a bookkeeper for many years.
“Mammy” was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for herself and her family, creating costumes for productions in church also working at a local clothing factory. She was an avid gardener, and only gave that up in the last 6 years, Needless to say she had a “Green thumb” supplying her earth’s bounty to family and friends. She was well known as the “Collard Queen” skillfully earning the title from seedling to serving.
Jessie and Ottie were members of Hampstead Baptist Church, Then Temple Baptist Church, and when Temple Baptist Church began Scotts Hill Baptist Church as a mission, Jessie and Ottie moved their membership to Scotts Hill Baptist Church and worked tirelessly to organize and build up the membership. They made many friends at Scotts Hill during these years.
She is survived by her sons, Michael R. Piner (Jean), Daniel R Piner (Rowena); grandchildren, Cindy Jones (Roger), Wendy Roscoe (Steve), Michael Piner Jr.(Angie), Dale Piner (Carole) , Robin Fleming (Dwayne), ReBecca Poole(Tyler), Cammie Neill, Danny Piner, Gurney Hufham(Joy), Kenneth Hufham(Debbie), David Hufham(Kathy), Mack Hufham (Debbie); 30 great grandchild, 6 great-great grandchildren and 3 sisters in law, Emma Murray, Margaret Murray and Clarice Murray.
Visitation will be from 1:00pm to 2:00pm on Friday September 21, 2012 at the Scott Hill Baptist Church fellowship Hall. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday September 21, 2012 with Rev. Phil Ortego officiating. Graveside Service will follow at Prospect Cemetery.
Active Pallbearers will be Joe Smith Jr., David Howard, Robert Murray III, Ben Murray Jr., Buddy Sneeden and George Murray. Honorary Pallbearers will be Fred Murray, Bob Howard, Garry King, Jeffery Sneeden, Bucky Murray and Phillip Murray.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice or Scotts Hill Baptist Church.
The staff of Coble Ward –Smith Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jessie Murray Piner.
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