Jessie Wheeler Duke

Jessie Wheeler Duke, 98 of Salem, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2011. She was born in Princeton, W.V. on September 5, 1913, but lived in Salem for most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Travis & Lou Emma Kingery Wheeler; husband, Frank Miller Duke; brothers, Robert, Walton, Albert, Henry, Cecil, Allen and J.W. Wheeler, and sisters, Gladys Reid, Ruth Taliaferro, Emma McDonald, Dorothy Bowen and Virginia Smith. Jessie is survived by her sister, Hazel Wheeler Shelor of Salem; two daughters, Jacqueline Duke Nelson, & husband Garth of Richmond, and Priscilla Duke Evans of Salem; three granddaughters, Jane Nelson Herbert, & husband Doug of Washington D.C., Cynthia Nelson Barnhurst, & husband Doug of Virginia Beach, and Lisa Bayse Baar, & husband Eric of Virginia Beach; six loving great-grandchildren, Meredith, & Spencer Scavone, Allison, & Erin Barnhurst all of Virginia Beach, and Garth, & Katie Herbert of Washington, D.C.. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Jessie was employed by the Salem Hosiery Mill, and retired from Roanoke County Public Schools where she worked at East Salem Elementary School. She was a longtime member of the Salem Church of Christ. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 18, 2011 from 2 until 4 p.m. at the John M. Oakey, & Son Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, September 19, 2011 in the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m with Jessies nephews, Rev. Neil Wheeler of Chester, VA, and Rev. Scott Baker of Talimadge, OH officiating. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salem Church of Christ Building Fund, 401 W. Main St., Salem, VA 24153. Friends wishing to offer condolences may do so by visiting www.johnmoakey.com. (540) 389-5441