Edna Ruth Parker Webb Jernigan

Edna Ruth Parker Webb Jernigan, 98, of Johnston County, North Carolina passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025 at Eden Terrace, Spartanburg, SC.

Edna was born on December 27, 1926, to Wilbur E. and Esther L. Parker in Johnston County, North Carolina. Her English and Scottish ancestors migrated to the Americas in the early 1600s, settling in Isle of Wight and Jamestown, Virginia before moving to Craven County (present day Johnston County) around 1704.

Edna was born and raised on the family farm in Johnston County, which has been in the family since 1861. She graduated as salutatorian from Meadow High School in 1944. During her school years, she excelled in the 4-H Club with Clothing Design and Sewing. She was a state champion in 4-H and was chosen to christen the war ship USS Tyrrell in 1944. She was on the basketball team, drove the school bus, and played bass drum in the marching band. She learned farming from her father. She learned gardening and cooking from her mother. Her love of these things continued her entire life. Edna was truly a modern pioneer woman.

During high school she met and married the love of her life, Lewis Lee Webb. They married in 1945. They remained in the Eastern North Carolina community and purchased a farm, The Charlie Place. They were blessed with six children: Baby Boy Webb (died at birth), Lewis Terry Webb (deceased), Olivia Beth Burnside (Glenn), Gloria Ruth Close (Leland), Sherwood Lee Webb (Roberta, deceased), Wiliam Craig Webb (Mary). She worked side by side with Lewis farming until they lost the farm during a year of bad crops. She later worked in a clothing factory as a seamstress.

After living in Eastern North Carolina for several years they moved to Asheville, North Carolina in 1962 where they raised their children. Edna worked at Hadley Corporation and moved up in management until the death of her oldest son in 1971. She then opened her own clothing store, Ruth Lee Fashions, specializing in custom fitted and styled dresses and coats for the women of Asheville. Her first store was on Haywood Road, West Asheville and grew until they moved to downtown Asheville on Haywood Street.

In 1985 Lewis and Edna moved back to Johnston County to live on the farm where she was raised. In 1988 upon Lewis’s death, she worked in Benson as a seamstress at an exclusive clothing store, all the while maintaining the 70-acre homestead as a working farm. Edna worked her entire life, only retiring in her eighties. She was an active member of the Jonesboro Baptist Church for 40 years where she served as treasurer, Sunday school teacher, and choir director.

In December 2003, Edna married Hannibal W. Jernigan. They lived on Hannibal’s farm in Sampson County until his death in June 2010. They attended the Stoney Run Church and traveled extensively. Upon his death, Edna moved back to her farm in Johnston County.

In November 2017 Edna moved to Spartanburg, SC to live with and be close to her children. In Spartanburg she became a loving member of the community and enjoyed the many friends that surrounded her. During this time, she maintained her working farm and home in Johnston County, NC. In June of 2019 she was inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Edna has eight grandchildren: Glenn Burnside III, Olivia Burnside Lilley, Rebekah Close LeMon, Grant Close, Ashton Webb, Bryson Webb, Thomas Webb, and Chris Webb. She also has nineteen great-grandchildren. She has two step-grandchildren: Norma Lisa Godwin and Norman Marcus Jernigan.

Edna leaves the legacy of love and spirituality because as she always said, “To have a friend you must be a friend.” Living this mantra, she leaves behind friends in every walk of life: church, farming, gardening, cooking, fashion, music, and of course family ties.

Visitation will be 10:00-10:45am on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home, 905 Erwin Rd, Dunn, NC 28334. Funeral services will follow in the chapel at 11:00am.

Burial in Young Family Cemetery will be held privately.

In honor of Edna, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. 

Arrangements by J. M. Dunbar of Spartanburg, SC and Skinner & Smith of Dunn, NC.