Jeri Jones Meigs

Jeri Lynn Meigs, 80 of Laurel Park died Thursday, August 31, 2023 at her home.

Jeri grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, PA in the small steel mill town of Versailles.  She was introduced to her husband, Bill, through her mother at the local ice cream parlor where Bill worked as a teenager.  They married just as Bill entered the Navy during Vietnam and eventually settled in Sylva, NC where Jeri taught Spanish at the Cherokee reservation elementary school when Bill was stationed at the Navy weather station during his final days in the Navy.

While in Sylva Jeri and Bill welcomed the birth of their son, Jeff, and a few years later, their daughter, Jill.  Shortly after Jill was born, the family moved to Jacksonville, NC where Jeri spent the early years of her children’s lives at home nurturing.  She eventually got back into teaching – first in the Onslow County school district, then spent the bulk of her career and retiring with the Department of Defense as an elementary school teacher on Camp Lejune.

Jeri and Bill were people of faith and cherished their extended Christian family in the Onslow County area – they are forever grateful for the love and life experiences shared with many there in the Jacksonville area.

Soon after retirement, Jeri and Bill moved to Hendersonville – both to be closer to the mountains of NC, they so grew to love during their time in Sylva, and to be close to their daughter, Jill and her family.  Jeri spent her time in Hendersonville doting on her grandchildren, making friends, and being actively involved in the church.  She was close with the Lord and trusted him in all things.

While Jeri will be missed by her family, they are comforted by her Christian faith and know that she is living with Jesus and continuing to dote on her earthly family.   She was preceded in death by her parents, James Albert and Mary Margaret Jones.

Surviving is her husband, William “Bill” Keith Meigs; son, Jeffrey William Meigs, and wife Alyson; daughter, Jill Suzanne Wooten, and husband Tom; grandchildren, Kiley Wooten, Holly Meigs, Blake Wooten, and William Meigs; brother, James Jones and wife Beverly; sister, Sue Brown and husband Tom and a nephew, Heath Hannon and wife Heather.

A memorial  service will be held at 11:00 o’clock on Monday, September 4, 2023 at Shaws Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Collin Terenzini officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA,  22116-7023.