Jewell McDonald Maner Stutts, 87, died Thursday afternoon, February 21, 2013. Jewell slipped away, resting peacefully in her own bed in her own beloved home, having been lovingly and carefully attended by family members and constant caregivers.

Jewell was born in the McDonald Community of Richmond County, NC, November 12, 1925. She was the baby of nine children of Winfield Scott and Brevie Emeline McDonald. Jewell’s Mother died when Jewell was nine years old and this resulted in her spending a great deal of time with her Father. Jewell spent hours and hours listening and learning her family’s history from her “Papa” and his visitors. Genealogy became her passion and she enthusiastically passed on her family history and tales which she had stored in her remarkable memory.

Other sources of joy and pride for Jewell were the years she spent as bookkeeper for Rose’s Dime Store. She displayed a nurturing attitude to all the young girls that she helped to get their start in the business world working at Rose’s. As a retired bookkeeper she continued her skills, preparing tax returns for numerous clients into her early 80’s.

Jewell graduated from Rockingham High School in the Class of 1943 and she regularly attended her class reunions. Only a fractured hip kept her from celebrating her 69th Class Reunion in 2012.

Jewell was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mother Elton Bruton McDonald, her first husband John Wesley Maner, five brothers (Furman, Carl, Leonard, James, Ed, and their spouses), two sisters (Marjorie Long, Abbie Cross and their spouses), and the spouse of her brother Cecil.

Jewell is survived by her tender, loving, devoted husband of forty-six years, Ralph J. Stutts. She is also survived by her 92 year-old brother Cecil McDonald, two half-brothers David (Pat) and Ralph (Tammy) McDonald, two sisters-in-law Flora Bell Ingram and Jean Brooks, a host of cousins, nieces and nephews (great, great-great, etc.), and friends.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 23, 2013, at McDonald Baptist Church Cemetery, McDonald Church Road, Rockingham, NC. Jewell was a member of McDonald Baptist Church for most of her life. The Rev. Robert Tyson and the Rev. Alex Perakis will officiate. Watson-King Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family is also served by Richmond County Hospice. Appreciation is expressed to all who helped to support Jewell in her life and in her illness.

Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com

Paid Obituary