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Jerry Champion Obituary
January 9, 1949 - March 31, 2024
Lake Royale, North Carolina - Jerry Wayne Champion (75), resident of Lake Royale, NC, passed away on March 31, 2024 at UNC Nash Regional Hospital in Rocky Mount, NC. Born on January 9, 1949, at Watts Hospital in Durham, NC, Jerry was the only son and eldest child of Mildred and Henry Champion.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Henry Champion in 1999 at age 81. Jerry is survived by his remarkable 100-year-old mother, Mildred Champion of Franklinton, NC, his only daughter, Casey Lynn Blackburn, her husband, Kevin Blackburn, and their son, Kaden Blackburn of Youngsville, NC. He also leaves behind his fourth wife, Frannie Kowalski, as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Tommy Bright of Wake Forest.
Jerry was a licensed real estate broker, an avid Tarheel fan, and a lifelong learner. He graduated from Franklinton High School in 1967 and received an Associate's degree from Louisburg College before continuing his studies in Business at the esteemed University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He went on to receive a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
Among Jerry's proudest achievements was obtaining his Captain's license and navigating his beloved sailboat, "The Casey Lynn," from Annapolis, MD to New Bern, NC. He enjoyed spending time on his boat at Fairfield Harbor, creating cherished memories with family and friends.
Jerry will be celebrated as someone who embraced life with enthusiasm and lived every moment to the fullest. His spirit will forever inspire those who knew him. FF
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919) 556-5811
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
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