ST. JAMES — Jesse Elwood Kent Jr., 83, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.
Jesse was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Danville, Va., to the late Jesse Elwood Kent and Margaret Hall Kent.
Jesse was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he also earned his MBA. He spent his entire career in marketing and development, working in the education, industrial and healthcare sectors.
Jesse will be remembered for his work with children’s charities, including the Ronald McDonald House, Hope Tree Family Services, Scott Robertson Memorial Tournament VSGA and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Kent; two daughters, Kari Brizendine, and her husband, Terry, and Bertie Crowder, and her husband, Bruce; brother, Donald Kent, and his wife, Linda; four grandchildren, Katie Jackson, and her husband, Henry, Chelsey Hartley, and her husband, Nathan, Aubrey Pham, and her husband, Frank, and Kent Brizendine; and six great-grandchildren, Dottie Jackson, Wren Hartley, Hendrix Pham, Wells Jackson, Kira Hartley and Aldyn Pham.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Southport, with a reception following.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to either the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick, 955 Mercy Lane, Bolivia, NC 28422; St. James Fire Department, 3628 St. James Drive SE, Southport, NC 28461; or to the children’s charity of your choice.
Share online condolences with the family at peacocknewnamwhite.com.
