RALEIGH, NC – Evelyn Smith Jernigan of Cameron Village in Raleigh died at Rex Hospital on January 18, 2018. She was predeceased by her husband Jesse Garrett “Jess” Jernigan in April 1994.

Visitation to be held at Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Graveside rites to be held at Highland Memorial Gardens outside Ahoskie, NC on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at p.m.

Survivors include sons, J. Garrett Jernigan Jr. (Lynn), and W. Richard “Rick” Jernigan (Carla) and their children Leigh J. Ragone (Chris) and Garrett Smith Jernigan (Blair) and their daughter Madeline Reid Jernigan and son Garrett Wicker Jernigan; sister, Brenda Smith Hill (Jim) and their daughter Julie Holland and her children Jessica and Will Felton; several cousins, and many dear friends who have gone on before her.

Born on August 11, 1923 in Portsmouth, VA she moved with her parents, the late Bill and Jessie Whichard Smith, to Ahoskie at age 5. She graduated from the Ahoskie High School (1940) as salutatorian, editor of the school newspaper The Pow Wow and captain of the Girls Basketball team. After graduation, she attended WCUNC (now UNC-Greensboro), Duke University, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Virginia School of Nursing as a member of the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps in 1945. In 1970 she completed a Master of Education from North Carolina State University.

As a registered nurse for over 50 years, she worked at MCV Hospital and Duke Medical Center in various positions. She was a faculty member of the Dorothea Dix Student Nurse program and the Sandhills Community College Associate Degree Nursing program. She was the first Director of Nursing Education of the Wake Area Health Education (AHEC), an affiliate of Wake Medical Center, and the UNC-Chapel Hill AHEC until her retirement in 1986.

She was honored with a life membership of United Methodist Women, a life member of the NC Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, and several book clubs. With loyalty and enthusiasm, she fulfilled her multiple life roles as wife, mother, professional nurse, and friend.

The family would like to express their appreciation to her caregivers at Sunrise of Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of choice or Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, or Ahoskie Methodist Church, 2112 Church Street, Ahoskie, NC 27910. A memorial plaque will be placed in the Highland UMC Columbarium at a future date.

Garrett~Sykes Funeral Service is assisting Mitchell Funeral Home with the Jernigan Family. Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com