October 2, 2023, 92, Goldsboro —

Josephine Jones Summerlin, 92, of Goldsboro passed away October 2, 2023, at Wilson Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson, NC, surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Summerlin was born March 31, 1931, in Wayne County to the late Noah Jonas Jones and Frankie Napier Jones. In 1949 she married the late Willie Jones Summerlin Sr. The couple moved from the Mount Olive area to Goldsboro.

For many years, Josephine worked in the credit department of Sears Department Store, from where she retired. She would then run one of the family stores, S & S Foodliner. Despite suffering a stroke many years ago that left her legally blind, it didn’t stop Josephine from continuing to travel all over the southeast to see family, cook fried chicken and Christmas Eve breakfast, and care for her grandchildren as much as possible. While she loved being called Mama, her favorite titles were Granny and Great Granny. She never missed calling to sing “Happy Birthday” to each of her relatives and was sure to end her visits and calls with “give everybody a hug and kiss from me.”

Mrs. Summerlin is survived by her son Willie Summerlin Jr.(Donna Cannon) of Goldsboro; her daughter, Brenda Summerlin Taylor of Goldsboro; her grandchildren, Trey Summerlin of Goldsboro, Brittney and Derek Adler of Charlotte, and Nicholas Summerlin of Wilmington; four great-grandchildren, Ava and Alivia Summerlin of Goldsboro, and Jack and Henry Adler of Charlotte; and a niece whom she loved like a daughter, Linda Juba of Goldsboro.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Noah Jones, and her sisters, Geraldine Wray, Lucy Goodman, and Betty Weeks.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Wayne Memorial Park at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends following the service at the graveside and at other times at the home, 115 Bear Creek Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534.

The family wishes to give special thanks to the wonderful staff members of Wilson Pines for their compassionate care and to her roommate, Mrs. Jean Lamm, and her family for being such good friends to Mrs. Josephine.

Memorial donations may be made to

Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com