Jean Renfrow Wellons

Pansy Emogene “Jean” Renfrow Wellons, of Morehead City, went home to her Heavenly reward early Sunday morning, September 24, 2023. She was almost 97 years old.

Jean was born on October 29, 1926, to the late H. R. Renfrow and Pansy Peacock Renfrow of Johnston County, NC. Her siblings included an older brother Paul Douglas Gaylor, who passed away as an infant in 1918, an older sister Eleanor Worth Gaylor Creech (Fred) who passed in 2010, and her younger sister Florence Pauline “Polly” Moore (Ray), who passed in 2003.

Raised in Kenly, NC, during the Depression years, Jean helped her parents run their restaurant, hotel, and her mother’s beauty shop. She was 14 years of age when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, causing the United States to enter World War II.

After her High School graduation, Jean attended Nursing School in Baltimore, Maryland. She began dating a handsome young man named Calvin Glenn Wellons of Micro, NC. They fell in love and were married on July 14, 1946.

On May 23, 1949, God blessed Calvin and Jean with a daughter Jean Elizabeth “Beth.” Almost 3 years later, Glenda Gaye was born on January 18, 1952. And Kathryn Renfrow came on August 11, 1953. Mary Joyce “Joy” was born on October 15, 1959. Jean also gave birth to two daughters who made an early entrance to Heaven. We can only imagine how they are rejoicing to be reunited together.

Calvin Wellons was a businessman, local politician, and committed Christian and Jean served beside him as his confidante and prayer partner.

Jean and Calvin lived in Dunn for many years. However, in 1972 this changed as Calvin and Jean relocated to Morehead City.

Jean loved the Lord Jesus Christ and delighted in reading and studying the Bible – God’s Word. She especially enjoyed reading and studying the book of Revelation. Shortly after moving to Morehead City, Jean began attending a community Bible Study led by Ruth Eure. Jean’s favorite portion of Scripture was Psalms 91.

Jean also loved her church. In Dunn, she and Calvin attended The Gospel Tabernacle, and upon moving to Morehead City, they helped Glad Tidings Church to relocate to the present location on Country Club Road. Jean was very active with Women’s Ministries, Bible Studies, Visitation, and helping those less fortunate. She also took pleasure in helping landscape around Glad Tidings Church, and the grounds of the Wellons Science Center at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA.

Jean was the glue and backbone of her family and taught her girls to love one another, prefer one another, and stay close and connected with one another. She encouraged her daughters to be present for each other during good and challenging times. She dearly loved her family.

A member of the Morehead City Garden Club, Jean enjoyed planting and tending her flower beds, and her vegetable garden. She fed her family and many others from the bountiful harvests produced by her garden. She also helped plant some of the public flower beds around Morehead City.

In July 2006, Jean lost the love of her life. Calvin passed away at the age of 82, after a bout with cancer.

Jean is survived by an immediate family numbering 52 people. Her 4 daughters, Beth Morrice (Bob) of Woodstock, GA, Gaye Wellons Mashburn of Beaufort, NC, Kathy Todd (Teryl) of Monroe, NC, and Joy Moore (William) of Morehead City, NC; 13 grandchildren, Heather Burke (Sean) of Woodstock, GA, Drew Morrice of Woodstock, GA, Robbie Morrice of Kennesaw, GA, Caroline Lang (Michael) of Selma, NC, Paul Mashburn (Emily) of Asheville, NC, Amanda Miller (Zack) of The Woodlands, TX, Chris Mashburn (Jen) of Morehead City, NC, Kathryn Jones (Byron) of Monroe, NC, Terri Hill (Paul) of Myrtle Beach, SC, Kristin Clinch (Adam) of Charleston, SC, Becki Hilley (Tucker) of Morehead City, Amy Grooms (Rickie) of Morehead City, and Calvin Moore of Morehead City, NC; and 22 great-grandchildren (so far). Jean is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank everyone for their many expressions of love, comfort, and compassion. They especially want to thank Jean’s caregivers including, Ivana James, Nicole Ball, Elvia Flores, Margaret Capps, Riley, Wikel, Karen Woodfolk, Bebe Timberlake, Tonya Batten, Carol Renfrow, Yardenia Jackson, and Emma Grandy.

A funeral service to honor Jean’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 30th at Glad Tidings Church, officiated by Rev. Tim Marriner. Entombment will follow at Bayview Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.  For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through her obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.    (See the link below for the Service Bulletin.)

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be given to Glad Tidings Church, 4621 Country Club Rd., Morehead City, NC 28557, or Emmanuel University, 181 Spring St., Franklin Springs, GA 30639.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.