October 22, 1939 ~ May 25, 2024 (age 84)
Charles Linwood Jernigan Charles L. Jernigan, 84, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on May 25, 2024 at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, NC.
A celebration of Charles’ life will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday May 30, 2024, at Wilkerson Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Luttrell officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Following the service there will be a family committal, 4:00 PM at Columbus Memorial Park in Whiteville, North Carolina with Pastor Willard McPherson officiating. Friends and family are invited to attend the graveside.
Born October 22, 1939 in Whiteville, NC to the late Paul Jernigan and Lorona Faulk Jernigan, he was the oldest of 4 children. Brothers Harold, Larry, and dear sister Anna preceded him in death.
He was blessed to have been married to his greatest love, Dolores Oliver Jernigan, for 67 1/2 years. The two enjoyed many years of camping, square dancing, and spending time with family and friends.
The love of God and sharing their faith journey with fellow church members was a highlight of Charles and Dolores’s life. Charles served as an ordained Baptist Deacon at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church in Troutville, Va. While living in Reidsville, NC, they attended Gospel Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC.
Charles enjoyed a long career in sales culminating in retirement with over 20 years of service to Ralston Purina Corporation. He is considered an icon among sales persons in the Veterinary industry. Known as “Charlie” by his colleagues, clients and friends, he received numerous awards and accolades for superior performance. Following retirement, he enjoyed working on “his project” which was relaxing in his recliner, snoozing, and chatting with whoever would drop by.
He was greatly manipulated by his two granddaughters; Julie and Katie, who could talk him into helping them do anything that they wanted to do or going wherever they wanted to go. His greatest joy was time spent with them.
Charles is survived by his wife, Dolores, son, Linwood Jernigan, DVM (Ann) of Reidsville, NC; granddaughters Julie (fiancé Aaron Patel, DVM) of Charlotte, NC; Katie Moore (Tom) of Charlotte, NC; nephews Ken Soles (Beth) of Wilmington, NC, Eric Mayhew (Ryan) of Arvada, Colorado, and Jonathan Mayhew of Tokyo, Japan.
The family would especially like to thank Audrey, Lois, Mercedes, and America for helping make him comfortable during his last few months.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Gospel Baptist Church (Benevolent Fund), 5945 N. Church St. , Greensboro, NC. 27455; American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023; or American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pke, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852.
