Ann Thompson Jester

(Rachel) Ann Thompson Jester, age 92 died October 24, 2023 at Clapp’s Nursing Home.  She was born October 22, 1931 to Clayborn and Nell Thompson, in Sanford, NC and moved as an infant to Carthage, where she lived for ten years; then moved to Asheboro, where she has lived since.  She was a 1949 graduate of Asheboro High School, was class poet and valedictorian.  Her great love, besides her family and her Lord was writing poetry.  She had five books of poetry published, one of which WHERE VIOLETS GROW won first place in the North Carolina Poetry Council Contest for 1989.  Her legacy is the many tributes and memorials she has written for so many.  She was a member of Rushwood Park Wesleyan Church in Asheboro.

She had worked as a telephone operator at Central Telephone, and on graduation in 1949 went to work in the law office of Wade Yates and for Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association retiring in 1994.

Funeral service will be conducted by Dr. Brent Tysinger, at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro.  Visitation will be at Pugh Funeral Home from 12:30 to 1:45 pm.  Burial will be in the Randolph Memorial Park.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, John Dallas Jester, two brothers, Dwight Thompson and Donald Thompson, and a half-brother, William Leon Yow, and by her grandson, Clayborn Dallas Jester.

She is survived by a son, Randy Jester and wife, Alice, of Greer, SC, daughters, Dr. Joy Jester and husband, Dr. Dan Andress, of Mokena, IL, Lorraine Shelton and husband, Dave, of Acworth, GA, four grandsons, George Jester, of Greer, SC, Nicholas Shelton and wife, Michelle, of Riverview, FL, Joseph Shelton and wife, Emily, of Marietta, GA, Jonathan Shelton and wife, Jennifer, of Dumfries, VA, a granddaughter, Rachel Lois-Ann Jester and husband, Todd Smith, of Wilmington, NC, Brittany Jester (wife of our deceased grandson, Clay) of Greenville, SC, six great-grandsons, Trey Shelton, Tyler Shelton, Bryan Shelton, Martin Smith, Nathan Smith, and Henry Shelton, three great grand-grandaughters, Evelyn Shelton, Louella Smith, and Jane Shelton, a step-granddaughter, Lindsay Shelton, two step-great grandchildren, Noah and Sirsha Dettmar of Acworth, GA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rushwood Church, 1810 Old Farmer Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.