Ann Jay

“Martha Ann Elkins Jay died, surrounded by family, at Moses Cone hospital on August 27, 2025. Ann was born in Greensboro on February 2,1948, the 3rd of 5 daughters, to Lyndon and Martie Elkins. Her Daddy called her “Little Annie Rooney”.

Raised and educated in Greensboro, Ann graduated from Notre Dame High School and UNCG with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. She had a very successful career as a systems analyst for Blue Bell and Burlington Industries followed by moving to Sanford, NC to do the same for Coty and Pfizer Inc. In 1989, Ann married her high school classmate, Don Jay, and they moved to Henderson, NC where she enjoyed a career as a realtor for over 20 years. They also purchased a Lake house on Kerr Lake where they could be found on most weekends. She and Don moved back home to Greensboro in 2020.

Originally, she was a member of Saint Benedict Catholic Church and attended St Pius X when it was built in the late 1950s. As a young adult she was a member of St. Pius X and St. Paul's in Greensboro. Where ever Ann lived, she was an active member of her community, be it religious, non-denominational or non-profit. Ann and Don spent many hours working with the needy in Henderson through Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) and in their parish there in many capacities including as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, ushers and as leaders in teaching classes to those new to the Catholic faith.

Ann collected teddy bears of every size and style and was generous to share a bear or two as well as her arts and crafts with her nieces and nephews and continued this with the next generation of babies.

She was also a dog lover, six in all, especially the ‘Aussies’ and her sweet Jack and Jill are missing her now.

Ann was the “quintessential” Carolina Girl. From Manteo to Murphy and points in between, she loved this state. For twenty-five years in a row she traveled to the Outer Banks enjoying the eclectic communities between Duck to Hatteras to Ocracoke and those in between.

Survivors include her husband, Don, and sisters Jude Donovan, Nancy Abrams (Ed) and Beth Renwick (Jack), as well as nieces and nephews, Julie Knabenshue, Mark Donovan, Kate Topolnicki, Tripp Abrams, Courtney Abrams, Ashley Dryzga, Robin Riehemann and Susie DeBardi. She is also survived by numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her infant sister, Kay.

A Mass of Celebration will be held on Tuesday, September 9 at 1:30 pm at St Benedict Catholic Church, 109 West Smith Street, Greensboro. Don, Jude, Nancy and Beth will greet friends and relatives at the entrance to St Benedicts prior to the service. A reception will follow at the home of Nancy and Ed Abrams.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks with gratitude that memorials in Ann’s name be made to Peacehaven Farm, 1458 NC 61 Whitsett, NC 27377, “prettyinpinkfoundation.org” (foundation for breast cancer survivors) or The COPD Foundation (https://www.copdfoundation.org/)

Annie will be remembered for her “beautiful personality.”