Ralph Alexander Jessup

Ralph Alexander Jessup, age 95, died May 22, 2010 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home of Winston-Salem, NC. He was born in Stokes County, NC on November 8, 1914, to the late William Alexander Jessup and Lula Rhodes Jessup. He was also preceded in death by his only sibling, William Curtis Jessup. On December 26, 1936, Ralph Alexander Jessup married Ola Mae Priddy, who preceded him into eternal peace, after 64 years together. One of his fondest memories was his wedding day when he walked through the lobby of the Patrick Henry Hotel in Roanoke, VA, with a shoebox packed full of home cooked food under one arm and his beautiful new bride on the other arm. Among those left to cherish the memories of a man who always tried to live his life in a way that would please God, bless and encourage all with whom he came in contact, are his two daughters, Susan Carol Jessup of Winston-Salem, Nancy Jessup Silvis and her husband, Doug, of Thomasville, Georgia. Also left with fond memories are his niece, Barbara Jessup Taylor and her husband, David, of Winston-Salem. Three grandchildren survive and remember the loving wisdom passed along by their Granddaddy. Timothy Michael Silvis and his wife, Kate, of Atlanta, Georgia, Kimberly Darlene Silvis and Todd Everett Silvis of Athens, Georgia. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren of Atlanta, Georgia. Willa Craig Silvis, who had the blessing last year, at age three, of visiting her Great-Granddaddy and Alexander Michael Silvis, who at age eighteen months has not gotten to meet him, but bears his middle name as a lifelong tribute to his Great-Granddaddy. Ralph Alexander Jessup was a hard worker and a man of positive motivational skills for his entire life. His family moved so many times during his early years to find work as sharecroppers, that he was unable to get a school diploma. However, throughout life, his common sense and determination to learn found him passing tests for jobs and achieving promotions that college graduates could not accomplish. In 1943 he was drafted into the United States Army but was honorably discharged for medical reasons. Upon discharge he began a successful time with Tom's Peanuts and bought land and built a simple house for his parents to enjoy the rest of their lives in Ridgeway, VA. He then bought land and built a house for himself and his wife in Martinsville, VA. He was sought after as an auctioneer, who kept his audience involved and entertained. After becoming an employee of the United States Postal Service in 1948, he was loved by his mail route patrons. It was not uncommon to see a line of children and dogs following him on his mail route. Being courteous and showing respect and kindness to others was a trait that shone brightly throughout his life. Later, Ralph Jessup became a realtor and was always honest, positive and innovative in his successful sales techniques. He served as chairman of several committees for The Martinsville-Henry County Board of Realtors. Even with his busy work schedule in Martinsville, VA, he made time for his family. He was the PTA President at Joseph Martin Elementary School while his daughter, Nancy, attended there. He was also a Sunday School teacher for the high school boys at the Martinsville First Baptist Church where the boys enjoyed his class because he didn't lecture on the Bible, but taught the Bible in a way they could apply it to their everyday life decisions. In 1965, he moved his family to Fort Lauderdale, FL, so that his daughter, Susan, could get an excellent education at a school for the hearing impaired after having the measles as a baby. There he had to give up being a realtor and auctioneer and return to the US Postal Service where he continued to use his cheerful personality and people skills as a desk clerk. Fort Lauderdale was very different from Martinsville but, as always, he worked and provided for his family with a positive attitude and a smile. Upon retiring in 1981 from the Postal Service, Ralph Jessup moved back to Winston-Salem with his wife and daughter, Susan. There he became active at Becks Baptist Church and enjoyed being a greeter and filling in as a Sunday School teacher to the Men's Class. He also enjoyed going to Peters Creek Baptist Church for Homecoming Sunday Services and attending the Rhodes Family Reunions. As a man of vision, hope, strong character and love for Jesus Christ, Ralph Jessup has left a rich legacy to all who have known him. He lived his life in such a way as to think of others and not only himself; to include others in conversation and to encourage others by positively reinforcing their good points. John 15 where the Bible instructs us ""to love one another as I have loved you"" was a favorite chapter of his. As long as he had the strength to talk, he would inquire about the welfare of others. Thank you for leaving us this rich inheritance of what is truly important in life. The family wishes to thank Mr. Paul Burton, whom Daddy called his guardian angel, for his untiring and valuable friendship. We also would like to thank those who cared for him at Forest Heights Assisted Living and all the compassionate Hospice caregivers. Services are on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 2 o'clock p.m. at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, 305 Bethania-Rural Hall Road, Rural Hall, NC 27045. The family will receive friends at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home in Rural Hall from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Dr. Ray Hamilton will officiate with the Reverends John Frye and Terry Ragsdale assisting. Interment will be at Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 6561 NC 8 Hwy N, Lawsonville, NC . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Singletary Oncology Center, 116 Mimosa Drive, Thomasville, GA 31792, where his daughter, Nancy, received cancer treatments or to The Rhodes Family Restoration & Memorial, Inc., c/o Olivia R. Montgomery, Treasurer, P.O. Box 356, Germanton, NC 27019-0356. Online special memories and condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Memorials:
The Singletary Oncology Center, 116 Mimosa Drive, Thomasville, GA 31792 OR The Rhodes Family Restoration & Memorial, Inc., c/o Olivia R. Montgomery, Treasurer, P.O. Box 356, Germanton, NC 27019-0356

Cemetery:
Peters Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

Visitation:
01:00pm - 02:00pm on May 23, 2010 at Rural Hall Chapel

Service:
Service at 02:00pm on May 23, 2010 at Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel