Wallace Lee Jernigan

Wallace Lee Jernigan, 85, of Wade passed away on Wednesday July 19, 2023, at Bethesda Health Care Facility in Eastover. Wallace was born at home in Godwin on August 21, 1937, to the late Fletcher Lee and Bettie Wooten Jernigan and was the sixth of eight children.

After graduating from Central High School in 1955 he went on to receive his Bachelor's Degree from Elon College and later achieved his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He valued education and continued to gain knowledge throughout his life.

Wallace was a lifelong educator and began his teaching career at Massey Hill High School in Fayetteville in 1959. During his career he also taught at Seventy First High School in Fayetteville and at Fayetteville Technical Institute for 25 years. He retired in 1993 with a total of 34 years in education.

He loved the outdoors and spent countless hours fishing and hunting with his friends and family. Quail hunting was one of his favorite activities and he trained many dogs and wore out many pairs of LL Bean boots over the years. He enjoyed time on the water with his family, especially at King Robert’s pond catching bass with his father-in-law, and on the Cape Fear River chasing big catfish with his sister and his son. He even built his own camp stove so they could eat freshly caught catfish along the riverbank.

Wallace grew up on the family farm and continued its’ legacy by tending a large garden every year beside his house. He was often seen tending his crops with one of his tractors such as his beloved Farmall Super A and his John Deere. He loved sharing vegetables and fruit with family, friends and members of the community. Once he even began beekeeping to ensure all his plants were pollinated.

As all know, Wallace was an emphatic UNC Tarheels fan and kept up with any sport they were playing, both men and women. He passed this passion along to his family and they will always be Tarheels fans.

Although known for the Jernigan stubbornness, Wallace was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He especially loved watching his grandchildren participate in any activity they were involved.

In addition to his parents, his siblings, Fletcher Linwood Jernigan and wife Cookie, Virginia Dean Matthews, Betty Lou Maxwell, and Brenda Carol Jernigan preceded him in death.

Surviving Wallace is his loving wife of 64 years, Jeanette Byrd Jernigan of the home; daughter, Janet Jernigan Jackson and husband Scott of Dunn; son, Wallace Lee Jernigan, Jr and wife Melissa of Wade; four grandchildren, Jenna Jackson, Anna Jackson, Leah Jernigan and Parker Jernigan; sister Elizabeth Register of California; brother James Howard Jernigan and wife Shirley of Vander; brother Sherrill Wooten Jernigan and wife Alice of Godwin; brother-in-law Warren Matthews of New Jersey, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as, his faithful kitty, Boots.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Bluff Presbyterian Church in Wade. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Old Bluff Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Godwin, with the Rev. Meg Dudley officiating.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the dedicated staff at Bethesda Health Care Facility for their loving care and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Bluff Presbyterian Church Expansion Fund, PO Box 96, Wade, NC, 28395.