Mary Fern Jessup

Mary Fern Gravitt Jessup, originally of Pilot Mountain, died on April 4, 2019.  Mary Fern lived to a ripe old age of 95.  She spent her last years at Priddy Manor Assisted Living in King, NC.  Mary Fern was born to Alice Mooney and Robert Thomas Gravitt in Pilot Mountain, NC on June 21, 1923.  Mary Fern graduated from Nancy Reynolds High School when there were only eleven grades.  She and her husband, Boyd R. Jessup were married 57 years.  She enjoyed 25+ happy years as a realtor in Winston-Salem.  She served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the Winston-Salem Board of Realtors.  After retiring, she and her husband moved to King, NC to enjoy a less hectic life and to be closer to family.  They were members of First Baptist Church of King, where they enjoyed the Seniors Bible Study Group.   Mary Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and two sisters, Jean G. Rowan and Betty G. Soriano.  Boyd and Mary Fern were blessed with three children who survive: Sybil Jessup Ensley Breece of Fayetteville, Lynn Boyd Jessup (Glenda) of Winston-Salem and Pilot Mountain, and Cynthia Ann Jessup Shropshire of Taylors, SC; six grandchildren: Ethan G. Ensley (Jenny) of Winter Park, FL; Eric W. Ensley (Valerie) of Lima, Peru, Robert W. Breece III of Fayetteville, Jennifer L. Jessup Clayton (Kevin) of Wake Forest, Sara A. Shropshire Bartley (Paul) of Greer, SC, and Samuel D. Shropshire (Michelle) of Peoria, IL; nine great-grandchildren: C. Lauren Ensley, Hayden A. Ensley; Diego Ensley, Santiago Ensley, Sebastian Ensley; Caden J. Clayton, Jesselyn N. Clayton; Andrew J. Bartley, and Samuel E. Bartley.  She is also survived by her sister, Marian G. Nunn (J. Bailey).  A memorial service will be conducted 3:00 pm Monday, April 8, at Brim’s Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Gerald Jones officiating.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brim’s Grove Baptist Church, 3509 Hwy 268 East, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041.