Jeannette Dawn Summers

Jeannette Dawn Mayhew Summers, 80, of Statesville, died Friday, November 27, 2015 at the Gordon Hospice House. Born in Iredell County on May 21, 1935, she was a daughter of the late William Clyde Mayhew and Cleva Jeannette Ostwalt Mayhew. She was a member of South River Baptist Church. She was a loving homemaker and mother for twenty years before being employed by Trailblazer, Hunt Manufacturing Company, and later in Material Management at Davis Community Hospital. Jeannette graduated in 1954 from Statesville Senior High School after a stellar career on the ladies basketball team. She was offered an opportunity to go to Virginia Women's College to play basketball, but chose to marry and start a family instead. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Lee Summers in 1991 along with her daughter, Avis Leigh Nash in 2009 and two grandsons, Bruce Henderson and Rex Ovadean Henderson. Jeannette was the youngest of eight children and all of her siblings, Lucille Odessa Mayhew, William Francis Mayhew, Leila Evelyn Mayhew, Sarah Clyde Mayhew, Boyd Lamont Mayhew, Boyce Holshouser Mayhew and Donald Adams Mayhew, preceded her in death. Jeannette loved her church and her church family, but most of all, she loved the Lord. She was a dedicated and faithful servant to her church and was involved in Vacation Bible School, Easter Theater, Fellowship Committee, Bereavement Committee, served in the nursery, Life Connections, Food Pantry, Church Directory Committee, Communion Committee Church Choir and any other area or need in the church, she always served. Her favorite saying was, "There is nowhere in the Bible where it says you are to retire from serving the Lord". Her passion for many years was serving with the South Yadkin Baptist Association Toy Store. She was an active member in the Young At Heart Senior Group and was Sunday School Treasurer for her Senior Class. She always put God first in her life and never missed an event, activity or church service for fifty years. Jeanette's main desire was see that all come to know the Lord and be saved. She was a fervent prayer warrior and believed in the power of prayer. She had a strong unwavering faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was an encouragement to many, will be missed by many, and a true treasure. She never spoke an unkind word about anyone, always maintained a positive attitude, and never complained. She had the most awesome sense of humor and loved to laugh and joke around with others. She always had a smile on her face and the love of the Lord in her heart. She lived a very simple life with few possessions, but she had the Lord, and that was all she needed. Jeanette loved to garden and plant flowers. She loved the outdoors and walked on a daily basis with her church friends. She was an avid reader and spent much time at the library. She also loved to thrift shop, go to yard sales and for many years, bowled on a league team. Her nick name was "Go Granny" because she never stayed at home. She loved her country and worked for many years for her country. She was also a huge fan of college basketball and loved the Carolina Tarheels. She watched basketball every chance she could and at the age of seventy-six, she could still strip the net and shoot hoops with her grandson Evan. Jeannette loved animals of all kinds, especially cats. Survivors include her children: Kelly Hoke Nash, Robin Nash Hicks (Dean) and Jeannie Nash Webber (Ray). Also surviving are her grandchildren: Angela Henderson Troutman (Matt), Amanda Henderson Sturgill (Joe), Megan Lynn Stone, Evan Lee Stone, Lisa Michelle Nash and Jessica Ann Nash, along with 13 great grandchildren. Other special friends left to cherish her memory are Connie Campbell, Peggy Koch, Pauline Stewart and Bertie Stout. She had a precious friend precede her in death, Roberta Waugh. Officiating Jeanette's home going with be Dr. Chris Thompson and Rev. Larry Whicker. Services will be conducted 3:00 PM Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at South River Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 until 3:00 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Kelly Nash, Evan Stone, Ray Webber, Jerry Koch, Randy Campbell, and Mark Campbell. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that all donations go to the Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and thanks for all the tender love and care the staff gave to our mother during her brief stay there. Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com. Memorials may be given to Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.