Jeanene Fowler Tompkins: Hickory

1936 – 2024

     Jeanene Fowler Tompkins of Hickory passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 7, surrounded by her family. She was 88.

     She was born in Tabor City on Feb. 13, 1936. Jeanene was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Porter Fowler and Eva Gore Fowler, formerly of Tabor City; a brother, Edgar Leland Fowler; and two nephews, Joe Fowler and Lucas Ervin.

     Survivors include her baby brother Bob Fowler of Catawba; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved as her own: Tom, Mary Catherine, Annie, Joe, Sandy, Anthony, Matthew, Elizabeth, Jade, Seven, John, Linda, Luke, James, Alex, Eden, Nicholas, Leslie, Bobby, Rolen, Brookelynn, Benjamin, Makayla, Ashley and Asa.

     Jeanene was an educator for 35 years retiring in 2001 after serving the Charlotte area and Carolina Shores of North Carolina. She taught Creative Writing in 4th through 6th grade.

     Jeanene was the historian of the Gore family and had a wealth of stories to pass down. She was proud of her roots and loved her family. Her friends were also very important to her.

     Jeanene shared many stories of summers spent working on the tobacco farm owned by her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Grady Frink. She was a gifted cook from an early age. Jeanene loved soul food the most. She inherited the gift of making Eva biscuits after her mother. Of all the wonderful stories she shared, the most special were those of Sunday lunches at her mother’s table.

     A service to celebrate Jeanene’s life will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church, 2733 MM Ray Road, Clarendon, at a later date.

     Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.

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