Evelyn Vess

Weaverville - Evelyn Naomi Rice Vess, 71, of Weaverville, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2015 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, Ms. Vess retired from the Accounts Receivable Department of Mission Hospitals, and was a member of Elk Mountain Baptist Church. Ms. Vess was the daughter of the late Rev. Jessie Guy Rice and Maude Lucinda Tweed Rice. She was also preceded in death by her brothers: George and James Rice. Surviving are her sons: Jessie Theodore (J.T.) Vess and wife Wilma, Darryl Vess and wife Jackie, Keith Vess and wife Tawnya, and Kelly Vess and wife Donna; 14 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and sister, Ella Mae Whitted. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kaleb Vess and Rev. Darryl Vess officiating. Burial will follow in Bull Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Mars Hill, with grandsons serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 12:00 1:00 PM Saturday at the funeral home, and at other times, at the home of Darryl and Jackie Vess, 825 Hickory Drive, Mars Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.