Mary Jeraldean Epperson

Mary Jearldean "Jearl" Epperson, 80, of Flowery Branch, GA, died Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at her residence.

Graveside Services, 2:00 PM, Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro, NC.

Jearl, the middle child of twelve siblings was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia.  During her early childhood, Jearl had to fend for herself for her share and developed a warrior attitude which carried over into adulthood. She was quick to meet any challenge or threat with fiery retort to include brandishing her rifle, as a prior obituary will certify.  

Despite her fiery aggression, she had an amazing sense of humor and could always create laughter even in the toughest situations. Jearl was a kind, free spirit that loved animals, nature and adventure. Her biggest desire was to see Africa and the magnificent animals in their habitat. She never made it to Africa, but she did live in the tropic islands of Portugal and visited the jungles of Panama in Central America.  Her last job was as a tour guide at the “The Wilds”, an exotic, big game conservation center in Ohio.  

Jearl had many jobs from waitressing to construction. However, her five year service as a nurse’s aide in Blacksburg, Virginia was what made her most proud. She was the most complemented and requested nurse’s aide on her floor.  

Amidst her struggles in relationships and life, she found her true talent as an artist, in solitude, on the West Virginia mountains where she was raised. Within a decade she completed over 100 unique and beautiful oil paintings.  

Jearl recently grew ill with a bone disease and spent her last weeks with her son and daughter, Joe and Sherry Epperson. On July 24, 2023, in prayer with her daughter, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and passed away peacefully the next morning.

For those that knew Mary, these paintings reflected her struggles, visions of grandiose, and are a part of her. She has several themes from nature, animals, spiritual, to the bizarre. Most of the paintings will be on virtual display, and the original available as a gift for any respectable donation to help family cover funeral costs or to a charity of the donor's choice. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Brittany Epperson, her parents, Edgar Lee and Ethel Rogers Epperson, Sr. sisters, Helen Taylor, Janet Epperson, Wilma Epperson Allen, and brothers, Albert Epperson, and Edgar Lee Epperson, Jr.

Survivors: sons, Joseph Epperson, and wife, Sherry, of Flowery Branch, GA, Aaron Caldwell, and wife, Karen, of Boerne, TX, Dean Blankenship, of Eggleston, VA, grandchildren, Grayson Epperson, Anna Caldwell, Matthew Caldwell and Lilly Caldwell.

Visitation, 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM, Thursday, Randolph Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, Asheboro, NC.

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