In Memory

Betty Jean Cecil (Jernigan)

Betty Jernigan
October 6, 1942 - January 25, 2021


Garner, North Carolina - Betty Jean Jernigan, 78, of Garner, NC, went home on January 25, 2021. She was born in Whynot, NC, a fact she was very proud of, to the late Robert and Lena Cecil of Garner, NC. Betty Jean grew up near Smokey Hollow and in later life loved riding around to see the progress Raleigh had made in her area. She is a graduate of Needham Broughton High School. She retired from Triangle Automated Controls , where she was the bookkeeper, cook, and jokester, but most of all she loved each of them.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Charles Elton Jernigan, her daughter Debbie and significant other Wayne Stephenson, her son Danny Jernigan, his children Sara and Denny Ide, Ashley Long and Marcus Knight, Johnny Frye, and Danny Wade Jernigan II, plus her great grandbabies.
Betty Jean was a member of the Beach Shaggers National Hall of Fame, North Carolina Hall of Fame, and the Living Legends of Dance of North Myrtle Beach.
She was the matriarch of our family, and we loved her beyond words. She loved and was extremely proud of her shagging family. Her personality was larger than life which she enjoyed to the fullest. ("What a Difference a Day Makes", Esther Phillips)
Memorials may be made to Hall of Fame Foundation, PO Box 4070, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597.
A memorial service will be held on February 20, 2021, at two o'clock PM, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home in Garner, NC.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=betty-jernigan&pid=197639654&fhid=16855



 
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02/13/21 11:41 AM #1    

William Stroupe

My memories of Betty Jean go all the way back to Wiley Elementary, and all of my recollections are all pleasant. Betty Jean seemed to meet each day with a smile on her face and a joke to share. She was never pretentious. The world was a better place with her in it. - Bill Stroupe

 

 


02/14/21 03:18 PM #2    

Jim Bailey

I have such great memories of Betty Jean...tall, thin, red hair, freckles and a great smile!  She was always happy and engaging. I came to really know Betty Jean well as a coincidence...I just happened to be the week-end  "bag boy" for her mom, Lena Cecil, when Mrs. Cecil was a cashier at the A&P grocery store on Hargett St, across from Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.  Betty Jean was much like her mom, gracious and kind.

Jim Bailey


02/15/21 11:27 AM #3    

Franky Philyaw (Waters)

Betty Jean was a kind, witty, fun loving person who loved dancing.  We have fun times at the Friday night dances after the football games and also at the Y where we learned to 'bop' which later became the 'shag.' 

RIP Betty Jean!


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