SIMON JESSEE JR.
March 16, 1923-March 24, 2011
Steward Simon Jessee Jr., 87, passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2011, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center surrounded by his family. He will be remembered as a Christian gentleman.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 28, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with Dr. Glenn Phillips officiating. Interment will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday following the service at Seymour Funeral Home.
Simon was born in Wise County, Va., on March 26, 1923, to the late Steward Simon Jessee Sr. and Pearl Adeline Hutchinson Jessee. He came to Goldsboro in December of 1952 with Brown and Bigelow, a specialty advertising firm whom he worked with for 52 years winning the Sales Club along the way and finally being elected to the company sales "Hall of Fame."
Simon was a member of the Goldsboro Jaycees for six years, winning four of the spark plug achievement awards. He was given the "Key Man Award" when the membership was 100. Simon also was awarded the "Distinguished Service Award." He joined the Goldsboro Civitan Club in March of 1953 and was a member of the club for 58 years with 51 years of perfect attendance. Simon served the club by being president, deputy governor, lieutenant, lieutenant governor and state secretary-treasurer. He was recently given the life member award, which was the first, and he was the only member awarded a life membership in the Goldsboro Civitan Club. He was also a member of Goldsboro Masonic Lodge No. 634 A.F. & A.M. for more than 60 years and recently received his 60-year pin.
Simon was a member of the First Baptist Church for more than 60 years serving more than 60 years in various capacities. He was an ordained deacon, Sunday school director for 15 years and was secretary of the Sunday school for more than 43 years as well as served in many other capacities. He was active in the choir, being a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Men's Fellowship Choir, Quartet in the Fellowship Choir and a charter member of the Silver Singers, which was a senior citizens choir, and the Silver Singers hand bell choir.
Simon is survived by his daughters, Hope Roberts and Voyad Davis of Goldsboro and Judith Jessee of Goldsboro; and his grandson, William F. Tilley IV. He is also survived by his sisters, Lucy J. Hopkins of Shelbyville, Tenn., Peggy P. Piedmonte of Shelbyville, Tenn. and Dorothy S. Powers of Wise, Va.; and a special nephew, Paul Allen Hopkins of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 125 S. John St., Goldsboro, NC 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 27, 2011 10:53 AM