Jean Overman

KINSTON - Jean Gardner Overman, 85, died Sunday, September 2, 2012.

Funeral, Thursday, 11 AM, First Baptist Church, Kinston. Visitation will begin at 10 AM.

She was born January 22, 1927, in Wilson to Sylvester Hassel and Addie Graham Gardner. Her education included Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson, Atlantic Christian College (Barton) and she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in English. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

In Kinston, she was a devoted mother dedicating her time and energy to numerous youth organizations including service as a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 377. In the Junior Women's Club, she served as President of both the local and district organization. She had a lifelong passion for learning and education and taught for 22 years in the Kinston City School System before retiring in 1990. She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church having served as a Deacon, Church Clerk and Sunday school teacher. She was a founding member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as a devoted mother and grandmother, dedicated volunteer and servant of her Lord Jesus Christ.

Surviving is her husband of 60 years, Jack B. Overman; daughters, Jan Overman of Winston-Salem and Lou Ann Kernodle (Michael) of Boone; grandchildren, Leigh Stevenson (Matt) of Charlotte and Jack Singley (Beth) of Durham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, 2600 Rouse Rd, Kinston, NC 28504, and to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct, Goldsboro, NC 27534