Jacqueline Buckner Sexton

ASHEVILLE Mrs. Jacqueline Buckner Sexton, 84, of Aston Park Health Care Center, went to be with Jesus and to be reunited with her husband, the late Dr. Ralph Sexton, Sr. on Sunday, November 29, 2009. Mrs. Sexton was fondly known to her family and Church family as Nana. Mrs. Sexton was born on October 1, 1925 in Buncombe County where she lived all her life. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where her husband, the late Dr. Ralph Sexton, Sr., founded and pastored. Mrs. Sexton worked in the ministry, side-by-side with her husband, for 59 years. Mrs. Sexton was the daughter of the late Albert and Hester Angel Buckner. Also preceding her in death were two great-grandchildren, Jackson Parrish and Kalin Rebecca Ingle; brothers, Robert and Harold Buckner; sisters, Geri Freeman, Edna Clark, Dorothy Randall, twin sister-Gwen Henderson, Ruth Woodard, Inez Burns and a special niece & nephew, Joan McCurry and Johnny Freeman. Mrs. Sexton was a graduate of Lee Edwards High School and attended Brevard College where she received a degree in Religion. She received her LPN from AB-Tech Nursing along with a degree in Medical Transcription. She was a nurse at St. Josephs Hospital and assisted the late Dr. John Bradley for many years. Throughout her ministry with her husband, she was on a daily radio broadcast on WWNC during the last year of WWII, had the prayer time on the Send The Light Telecast on WLOS-TV for 43 years. Mrs. Sexton helped Dr. Sexton through all his ministries, including the Jesus Saves Mission, Church of the Nazarene, 107 State Street and Trinity Baptist Church of 216 Shelburn Road, Asheville. Many trips to the Holy Land and around the world like Haiti and Honduras, were such a big part of Dr. and Mrs. Sextons lives. Through Missions, they were able to reach so many lives starving to hear the gospel. Besides being a devoted Pastors wife and mother, she played the piano for church services, led the church choir at State Street, taught Sunday School, led a Girl Scout Troop and helped with the Missionary Society. After moving to Trinity Baptist Church, her greatest love was teaching the Ladies Dorcus Bible Class. Mrs. Sexton is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Templeton and husband Jim of Asheville; son, Dr. Ralph Sexton, Jr. and wife Muzette of Leicester; grandchildren, Beverly Parrish and husband Dwight of Costa Rica, Mark Sexton and wife Sheri and Matthew Templeton and wife Heather all of Asheville, Rev. Kent Sexton and wife Leigh of Myrtle Beach, Elizabeth Ingle and husband Josh of Candler; great grandchildren, Winston Parrish, Savannah Parrish, Scarlett Parrish, Preston Sexton, Sophia Parrish, Ian Sexton, Alena Templeton, Irely Ingle, Alexis Sexton, Juliet Sexton, Kaydon Ingle, Lola Sexton, Titus Templeton; sister, Patricia Byerly of Woodbine, GA and several nieces & nephews whom she adored. The funeral service will be held 2 PM Wednesday at Trinity Baptist Church with her son, Dr. Ralph Sexton, Jr., grandsons, Rev. Kent Sexton and Rev. Matthew Templeton, daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Templeton and the Rev. Jack Gassaway officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 PM Tuesday at the church and other times will be at the home of Jim & Becky Templeton, 28 Tanglewood Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. Pallbearers will be Mark Sexton, Matthew Templeton, Kent Sexton, Josh Ingle, Dwight Parrish and Jim Freeman. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Lenburg, Tommy Trantham, Elmer Riddle, Cliff Schuler, David West and Rev. Chris Pethel. The family would like to thank Dr. Joel Rosenberg and his staff for their love and care during Mrs. Sextons extended illness. Thank you to Aston Park Health Care and all the staff for their care of Nana. A special thank you to Jim Templeton, Mrs. Sextons son-in-law, who helped care for Nana with Becky for the past 6 years. He was never thought of as a son-in-law, but her other son. Nana loved her Yankee. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider the Alzheimers Foundation of Asheville, AB-Tech Nursing and The American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Flowers are also greatly appreciated since Nana and Popies love was built around Jesus and symbolized by roses. They wanted everyone to love Jesus first and bloom where theyre planted. Their love story was genuine and a rare find - one of the greatest ever told! A Video Tribute will be available for 30 days. CLICK HERE