Jean Byrd Kerr

Jean Byrd Kerr joyfully flew into the arms of Jesus Sunday morning August 19 about 12:19am and spent her most favorite day of the week, Sunday, in her first real face to face worship service to the ONE she had longed to be with!  Her first Sunday in heaven had to be  the best moment of her life as she joined her husband of 57 years, WJ Kerr( Bill), daughter Margaret Ruth Gray(Peggy), Mother Annie Wheeler Byrd and father Vaughn Byrd!  The Byrd siblings were there to greet her: Wheeler Byrd, William Byrd, Wylantha Pierce, Anne Hall, Mariah Eubanks Minges, Marian Vick Wise, and Miriam Brown!  So many lovely Aunts, Uncles and cousins were all there to welcome her home!  I can only imagine!

Jean's surviving children and grandchildren are: Deborah Kerr Rucker, Cape Carteret, NC. Her daughter Jean Pauline Rucker Johns and husband Chris reside in Emerald Isle area with daughter Ava; daughter Caitlin Johns and son Julian Johns reside in Emerald Isle, daughter Janie Johns of Lexington, KY, son CJ Johns of Raleigh NC; Daughter Cynthia Rucker Squires and husband Steve live in Newport, NC. They have two sons Steven Douglas Squires and wife Kelly of Raleigh, and son Reid Squires and wife Micah of Montrose, TX; Daughter Merideth Rucker Page and husband Gregg live in Raleigh, where children Hilary Ohlwein, Erin Norris, Christian and Alexandra Page, also, reside.

Judith Kerr Freeman and husband Worthington H Freeman live in Myrtle Beach, SC.  They have a daughter, Cheri Freeman Simone and her husband Roy Simone, who live in Katy, Texas with daughter Cara Hope Tomlinson; daughter Claiborne Tomlinson lives in New York City, NY;  son Chad in Corpus Christi, Texas and son Chase attending University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. Daughter, Hope Freeman Philbrick and husband Richard Philbrick, reside in Nashville, TN with son Nick Philbrick; son Brandon and wife Jasmine Philbrick reside in Austin, TX; daughter, Brittany Philbrick lives in Dallas, TX and daughter, Nancy Philbrick lives in Roanoke Rapids, NC.  Son Bradley Freeman resides in Midlothian, VA with wife Chris, daughter Julia Freeman, and son Colin Freeman; son Alex Freeman, attends Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA.

Willie James Kerr is a retired resident of Wilmington and has a son Casey James Kerr of Wilmington,daughter Courtney Kerr of Greenville NC,  son Kelly Payne of Raleigh NC and daughter Kaitlin Kerr residing in PA!  One grandson and one granddaughter!

Jeans deceased daughter, Margaret Kerr Gray died of brain cancer August 7, 2015 but is survived by her husband, David Gray, a daughter Angela Thompson and husband Stuart Thompson of Raleigh, and their two daughters, Rheannan Thompson who is attending Western Carolina University and Autumn Thompson attending ; a son Kristian Grimes and his wife, Rosie, and daughter Carolina Grace, the first and only great, great grand child of Jean's; Peggy's son Jonathan Gray serves in the Navy and is living in Maryland with wife Brooke and son Travis;  a daughter, Rebecca Gray Lent and husband Ron live in Wilmington!

Jean had many special nieces and nephews who she loved and prayed for and who gave her such joy with their visits while in Trinity Grove! She had a full life, but was fulfilled much serving with her church family in many different capacities throughout her life in Raleigh and then in Wilmington at Calvary Baptist Church where she enjoyed the Young At Heart ministry(YAH) and choir performances and travels.  With many grandchildren and great grandchildren, her life was full of memories and stories  and her children are so thankful for her gift of making sure they knew Jesus as their Lord and the gift of prayer over all of them!  Her most important legacy she ever wanted, was for all of her children and grandchildren to be strong in their faith so she could have them in eternity with her!  So she will be there to welcome us all in with a smile and a hug!  We will miss her while we are here!

The family will receive friends on Friday from 1 until 2 PM followed by a funeral service at 2 PM at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel.

Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.

Reverend Stephen A. Hopkins will be officiating at the service.

In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to Calvary Christian School, 423 N 23rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28405