Gretna Jurney Feimster

It is with great sadness that we said goodbye to our Mama and Granny, Gretna Jurney Feimster, after 93 wonderful years on this earth. But we rejoice that she is now back with her husband, Jimmy, and so many of her family members who predeceased her. She passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Iredell Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was surrounded by her daughters and their families.

Gretna was born on June 21, 1932, on a farm in Olin, North Carolina to Rufus Edgar Jurney and Bertha Madison Jurney. She was predeceased by all of her siblings, Sibyl J. Harmon (Forrest), James Keith Jurney (Rena), Claudene J. Donovan (David), and Peggy J. Harrison (Buddy).

She attended elementary school at Olin School and graduated from Harmony High School in the Class of 1950. She still got together yearly with her remaining classmates.

On April 28, 1956, she was married to the love of her life, Jimmy Samuel Feimster, who was the son of Norris and Aileen Feimster of Harmony. Gretna and Jimmy were married 65 years before his death on March 4, 2021.

She is survived by their three daughters, Sabrina F. Johnson (Larry) of Harmony, and Pamela F. Lewis (Alan) and Tina F. Johnson (Neal) both of Statesville.

Granny adored all seven of her grandchildren, Mandy Chalk (Jay), Joshua Lewis, Colby Lewis (Lauren), Callie Johnson, Luke Johnson, Lance Johnson and Alleigh Johnson.

She was also very proud of having seven great grandchildren, Will Chalk, Cade Chalk, Blaire Lewis, Troy Lewis, Wyatt Lewis, Hank Lewis and Sadie Lewis.

After her marriage to Jimmy, they located to Harmony where they spent their entire lives. Gretna worked at the JC Penney warehouse where she formed great lifelong friendships with coworkers there. She also worked at Spainhours in the Signal Hill Mall. But she most loved her job of 20 years at Harmony Elementary School as a Teacher Assistant from which she retired. She loved working with the many children. She still enjoyed seeing them in her later years and them recognizing her and talking with her. She was also a Sunshine Volunteer at Davis Hospital for many years until the hospital closed.

Gretna attended Harmony Methodist Church with Jimmy when they married, and she was a member for nearly 70 years. She was always very active in the church, including serving on many boards, The Methodist Women and singing in the Church Choir. Jimmy and Gretna were also youth leaders for many years. She also loved working in the church nursery in her later years.

It was important to Gretna to be active with her three daughters. She was on a committee of just a few who spent many hours and lots of hard work forming the Happy Oaks Pool in Harmony. She also had a desire with several other ladies in the community to get the Girl Scouts formed in Harmony and succeeded and many Troops were formed and many Girls enjoyed all of the activities and Summer Day Camps they got to attend.

Gretna at 93 was still active, lived independently and drove wherever she wanted to go. She was a super fan of the Atlanta Braves. She never missed watching a game and could tell you everything about the team and the players. She got to attend a game in Atlanta a few years ago. She also loved to watch ACC Basketball.

The week before she passed, she so enjoyed visiting with friends and family and enjoying Christmas activities at the Church.

A service to honor Gretna will be held at Harmony Methodist Church on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Chris Lakey. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will follow at Harmony Town Cemetery.

The family asks that if you wish to make a donation in Gretna’s honor to donate to Harmony Methodist Church.

The family would also like to thank the CCU floor staff at Iredell Memorial Hospital for their wonderful, compassionate care of our mother and our family during her illness and her passing.

Words of comfort and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Ms. Feimster and her family.