Jessie Wethington Kessler

Jessie Wethington Kessler died at Fitzgerald Health Care Center at Arbor Acres Triad United Methodist Home on November 26, 2008. Jessie was born on March 20, 1915, in Grifton, NC to Henry and Mabel Wethington. Jessie attended Atlantic Christian College (now named Barton College) in Wilson, NC and graduated in 1934. During those Great Depression years, her father paid her college tuition with garden produce and farm products. During her senior year at Atlantic Christian College, she was voted Best All-Around Student and received The Coggins Cup for that honor. At that time the honored student kept the Coggins Cup for only a year and then gave it back. In later years the honored student received a replica of the Cup to keep. In 2002, when Jessie was 87 years old, Barton College President Jim Hemby traveled to the Methodist Home to present Jessie with her own belated Coggins Cup. It is the only one of its kind, engraved on one side with, ""Atlantic Christian College Faculty Cup, Best All-Around Student 1934."" In 1936, during her first year of teaching at Pink Hill School in North Carolina, Jessie met her husband, Lawrence Weldon Kessler, a newly ordained minister who was serving the Pink Hill Presbyterian Church. Lawrence and Jessie married on May 1, 1937. During their marriage they had three children: Martha, Susan and Fred. Lawrence and Jessie combined their preaching and teaching careers for happy years at Caswell Presbyterian Church in Atkinson, NC; William and Mary Hart Presbyterian Church in Leggett, NC; Timber Ridge ""Old Stone"" Presbyterian Church near Lexington, VA; Burgaw Presbyterian Church in Burgaw, NC; and Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church near Broadway, NC. Jessie taught elementary grades in Penderlea, NC; Fairfield, VA; Wilmington, NC; Burgaw, NC; and Broadway, NC. During her teaching years she was honored to be a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. Jessie earned a Master's Degree in Education from East Carolina University in 1962. After Lawrence died in 1980, Jessie moved to The Triad United Methodist Home (Arbor Acres) in Winston-Salem, NC. She enjoyed being part of the early founding years of Arbor Acres and served as President of the Resident Council. She enjoyed being active in all phases of retirement life there, especially as a charter member of the music group, The Sharps and Flats and in drama productions written by David Piner, Executive Director of Arbor Acres. When Arbor Acres celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2005, Jessie was one of three original residents still living there. She is survived by Bill and Martha Goodman of Lynchburg, VA; Wesley and Susan Temple of Hopewell, VA; and Fred and Arlene Kessler of Mt. Pleasant, NC. She is also survived by Richard, Martha and William Goodman of Portsmouth, VA; Fred and Jessica Ridge of Greensboro, NC; Koren Kessler of Chapel Hill, NC; Ryan, Blair and Michael Prentice of Charlotte, NC; Andrew, Annie, Evan and Caroline Prentice of Huntersville, NC; and Matt, Lauren, Slade and Asa Dean of Mocksville, NC. Jessie's sisters, Chris and Hope, and brother Paul died before she did, but her sister, Nannie Smith, and sister, Raye Woodcock survive her. She is also survived by loving nieces and nephews whom she loved and enjoyed. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Broadway, NC on Friday, November 28. A funeral service conducted by Reverend Doug Houston will follow at 11 a.m. in the church with burial following at Mt. Pisgah.

Memorials:
To the donor's favorite charity

Cemetery:
Church Graveyard

Visitation:
10:00am - 11:00am on November 28, 2008 at Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church

Service:
Service at 11:00am on November 28, 2008 at Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church