Dr. Tyson Jennette

Dr. Albert Tyson Jennette, 88, of Wilson, died Thursday, November 24, 2022, in Wilmington, NC after a brief illness.

Services will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 202 Goldsboro St NE, Wilson, at 2:00 PM. The family will be receiving guests following the service at the Jennette home, 907 Raleigh Road Parkway West.

He was born in Henderson, NC on January 27, 1934 and was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Earl Jennette, Sr. and Anne Leonard Tyson Jennette; brother, Sidney Earl Jennette, Jr.; sister-in-law, Mary Helen Jennette; and nephew Sidney Earl Jennette III.

Tyson grew up in Henderson and graduated from Henderson High in 1952, where he was an outstanding student (salutatorian) and athlete (lettering in football and basketball on championship teams). He graduated from Duke University in 1955 where he lettered in swimming and won a bronze medal in the first ACC swim meet. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. On June 22, 1957 Tyson married his college sweetheart, Peggy Spence Paul. After graduating from the UNC School of Medicine, he completed an orthopedic residency at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta from 1959-1964. He served as a Major in the NC National Guard from 1964-1970.

Dr. Jennette was in private practice in orthopedic surgery in Wilson from 1964 until 2002. He was the team physician for Fike High School for 38 years. For 45 years he was an active contributor to the Duke Orthopedic Residency Program and was appointed as Clinical Associate in 1974. Upon retirement from private practice, he joined the faculty of the Duke Department of Orthopaedics as an assistant consulting professor at the Duke University VA from 2003-2019.

Dr. Jennette was recognized as an Unsung Hero in 1994, Orthopedic Surgeon of NC 2002, Fike High School Hall of Fame in 2008, NC Athletic Trainers Association 2003 Sports Medicine Person of the Year, NC Medical Society 2010 Sports Award, NC Athletic Directors 2011 Service Award, the Honored Orthopedic Surgeon of the NCOA in 2001, Guest of Honor at the Piedmont Orthopedic Society in 2009, Lifetime Service Award from Wilson County Schools in 2003, City of Wilson Merit Award in 2002, and Duke Orthopaedic Career Educator Award in 2019.

Dr. Jennette has served on multiple professional and sports related organizations including: NC Committee for Medical Aspects of Sports 1968-2016, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Society of Sports Medicine, President of NC Orthopedic Association 1985, President of Seaboard Medical Society 1978, Piedmont Orthopedic Society, The Bassett Society, President of the R.P. Kelly Orthopaedic Society 1979, President of Easter Seals.

Tyson Jennette was an active member of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Wilson since 1964 and was a choir member and served on the Vestry. He was an avid tennis player and snow skier and a fierce Duke Blue Devil basketball and football fan.

Dr. Tyson Jennette is survived by his wife, Peggy, of 65 years, his two daughters, Anne Jennette Grainger (Stuart) of Wilmington and Alyson Jennette Dallas (Bill) of Griffin, GA; granddaughters, Anne Tyson Grainger Lee (David) and Catherine Taylor Grainger of Wilmington, Caroline Elizabeth Dallas of Atlanta, Beatrice Jennette Dallas of Birmingham, AL, and Alyson McKenzie Dallas of Washington, DC; great-grandchildren Walker Frances Lee and Grainger Burton Lee; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Kitty and Ned Gwathmey of Vail, CO and Jackkie Jennette of Griffin, GA; nieces and nephews, Ann Winston Gwathmey and Ted Gwathmey of Denver, CO, Lynn Jennette Stavely of Wilmington, Don Jennette (Terri) of Atlanta, and Jane Jennette of Elkton, FL; dear cousin, Tra Jennette Perry of Colerain, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, PO Box 1527, Wilson, NC 27894.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, 252-237-7171; wilsonmemorialservice.com.