Jesse S. Liles Sr.

Jesse Stuart Liles, Sr., 94, of 815 Court Street, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 in Down East Health & Rehab.
Mr. Liles was born in Halifax County on November 16, 1913, the eighth child of the late Ed Wilson and Affie Glasgow Liles. He graduated high school in 1932 and attended North Carolina State University during the Great Depression, earning his college degree by working many self-help jobs such as caring for the elderly and disabled, nursing ill college students in the college infirmary, working in the college foundry, and delivering newspapers on a route in Raleigh. He also worked for the editor of the Baptist "Biblical Recorder" and took care of him in his disability. An Army veteran of World War II, he served as a Captain of the 321st Infantry of the 81st Division and saw combat service in the Palau Group of Islands. Because his military service was so important to him, he later became a charter member of the National Movement to memorialize the United States participation in World War II.
Moving to Gatesville in 1946, he became the first soil conversation technician in Gates County. Other business ventures included his opening and operating a John Deere dealership in Gatesville, affiliation with Ralston Purina and operating his own feed mill, and operating a land clearing business in Gates County. After he stopped operating the feed mill, he became a rural mail carrier in Gates and Bertie counties and served in that capacity for many years. Later, he was appointed by Superior Court Judge Herbert Small as a magistrate for Gates County.
Surviving are two sons, Jesse Stuart Liles, Jr. and wife, Norma Hayes Liles of Durham and Thurston Allen Liles and wife, JoEllen Mizelle Liles of Harrellsville; three grandsons, David Liles of Durham, Brian Liles of San Francisco, CA, Jeff Liles of Harrellsville; four great- grandchildren, Caitlin and Bryant Liles of Durham, Jasper and Shelby Liles of San Francisco; a sister, Essie Perry of Garner; several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service honoring his life and achievements will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Gatesville United Methodist Church by the Rev. Tracy Clayton and the Rev. Billy Presley. Burial will follow beside his beloved wife, Dorothy Stephenson Liles, in the Gatesville Cemetery.
Friends may join the family Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main St., Gatesville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Gatesville United Methodist Church, Gatesville, NC 27938.
The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation to the many friends, family, and medical personnel for all acts of kindness shown during Mr. Liles' illness.