Mary Jeanette Semones Hawks

Mary Jeanette Semones Mary Jeanette Semones Hawks, after fighting a courageous battle against breast cancer, died on May 2, 2010, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. A resident of Mt. Airy, N.C., she was 49 years old. Jeanette was born on May 21, 1960, in Galax, Virginia, to Reford Eugene Semones and Anna Ruth McMillan Semones. Jeanette attended Carroll County High School, Hillsville, Virginia and graduated from high school in Owensboro, Ky. She also attended Surry Community College, in Dobson, N.C., and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. For many years, Jeanette was a carrier for The Mount Airy News. At the time of her death, Jeanette was an independent marketing and merchandizing contractor for several companies and was a valued employee of Dobson Produce. She was an artist, a writer, a homemaker, a farmer, a gardener, a talented employee and a servant leader. She lived Jesus' words "as you do to the least of these my brethren, you do unto me". Jeanette never met a stranger and was always going above and beyond to help those in need. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, fiancée, neighbor and friend.
She is survived by her fiancé and the love of her life, Greg Sechrist, of Mt. Airy, who will carry her in his heart forever. She is survived by her children, Duane Hawks and wife, Misty, of Mt. Airy, N.C., Jeremy Hawks and fiancée. Melissa Miles, of Mt. Airy, N.C. and Kelly Hawks and fiancé, Hamilton Bennett IV, of Athens, Tenn. Her children loved their mother very much and are grateful to her for her devotion to them. She is survived by her grandsons, Elijah and Tyler, to whom she was devoted. She is also survived by her mother, Anna Semones, of Fancy Gap, Va., who was her role model, mentor and inspiration. Her surviving brothers and sisters will miss Jeanette's love and courage and humor and compassion for others: Michael Semones, and wife, Helen, of Bridgewater, Va., Andy Semones, of Fancy Gap, Va., Ramona Semones Fletcher and husband, Jereial, of Bluefield, W.Va., Vincent Semones and wife, Karen, of Hillsville, Va., Joseph Semones and wife, Jill, of Oneida, N.Y., Nancy Semones Knox and husband, John, of Reidsville, N.C., Danny Semones and wife, Anita, of Dugspur, Va. She is also survived by both paternal and maternal aunts and uncles, Leota Semones, Hazel Semones, June Semones, Audrey Semones Ogle and husband Lester, Roy McMillan and wife Carrie; nieces and nephews, Steven (and Lynn) Semones, Jason (and Lena) Semones, Kenneth Dow, Richard (and Judy) Dow, Rachel Fletcher, Joseph Flippin, David (and Melissa) Piccola, Dana Piccola (and Steve Martin); several great-nephews, and great-nieces; and many cousins.
She was predeceased by her father, Reford Eugene Semones of Galax, Va.; her sister, Patricia Semones Dow-Flippen, of Hillsville, Va.; her paternal grandparents, Giles and Laura Semones, of Gladesboro, Va.; maternal grandparents, Cleve and Mary McMillan. of Fancy Gap, VA; uncles and aunts, Walter Semones, Eliza Semones Brown and husband, Dan; Wise Semones and wife, Lucille; Victor Semones and wife, Eura; Mary Semones Ayers and husband, Loman; Paul Semones and wife, Jessie; Ralph Semones; Howard Semones and wife, Nina; Henry Semones; Irene McMillan Bobo and husband, Paul.

The family wishes to express its love and gratitude to Dr. Susan Hines and the entire staff of Piedmont Hematology/Oncology with a special thanks to Dr. Chris Thomas; Dr. Lisa Evans and the entire staff of Forsyth Radiation and Oncology; Dr. Scott Corbin and the entire staff at Surry Surgical Associates, Mt. Airy; and the nursing staff, doctors, food service and housekeeping staff who did everything possible to ease the way along Jeanette's journey. Her family knows that her spirit will live on in all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday May 5, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mt. Airy, with services conducted by the Rev. Scott Robertson-Gouge and the Rev. Lane Pendleton with burial to follow in the Martin Cemetery in Gladesboro. The family will receive friends Tuesday night 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to: the Derek L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center, 3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or Cancer Services, 3175 Maplewood Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103.



This obituary was originally published in the Roanoke Times.