Jessie Johns Newsome

Jessie Johns Newsome, 91, of Durham, widow of John R. Newsome, died Thursday, March 31, 2011 following a brief illness. She was born April 24, 1919 in Durham to the late Ernest T. and Sallie Harris Johns and grew up in Durham and in Hillsborough, NC. She graduated in 1942 from the Watts School of Nursing. Her long career included nursing in Fort Worth, TX, in Stamford, CT and in Durham at Duke Uneersity's Student Health Clinic. She retired in 1982 as the Head Nurse at Pickens Family Medicine Clinic at Duke Uneersity Hospital. Since retiring, her passions were hosting family gatherings, gardening and bridge. She is survived by a son Robert Bob Newsome and his partner Michael Van Fossen of Durham, a brother Fuller Johns of Midlothian, VA and a cousin Mildred H. Neal of Durham. She is also survived by two nephews, Roger Johns of Knoxville, TN and Jeffery Johns of Baltimore, MD and by ten nieces, Sally J. Williamson, Carol J. Caldwell, Gretchen J. Hayes and Nancy J. Pope, all of Durham, Sandra J. McKinney of Mechanicsville, VA, Bebe J. Fox of Winston-Salem, NC, Julie J. Allen of Blowing Rock, NC, Patricia J. Crabtree of Hillsborough, NC, Whitney Johns-Martin of Irving, TX and BeBe J. Carnahan of Richmond, VA and by her dear friend Mary Lou Williams of Durham. A memorial service to celebrate Mrs. Newsome's life will be held Saturday, April 16, 2011 in the Chapel of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham. The Newsome family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham. On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries.