Birth Date: 09/23/1931
Deceased Date: 12/07/2020
SMITHFIELD – After 89 years of life well lived, Jean Hinton High passed peacefully on Monday, 7 December 2020.
Jean loved her family hailing from Emit in rural Johnston County. Born on 23 September 1931 to the late Arthur David and Effie Bell Hinton, Jean grew up with her fourteen siblings on the family farm. When asked “what’s the best thing your mom and/or dad taught you,” Jean replied “respect….say thank-you and I’m sorry…always remember you are as good as anyone but never better…love one another…and always help if and when needed.”
Jean was a “Daddy’s Girl” and “Tom Boy”. She loved hanging out with her father on the farm. She was athletic and competitive and cherished her memories playing basketball on her high school team which won 3 State Championships. Jean also loved to play bridge with her club members who became her dearest friends.
Throughout her life, Jean remained the glue that embraced her five brothers (who predeceased her): Worth Hinton, Arthur Weldon “Buck” Hinton, Joseph Hardin Hinton, James Rufus Hinton and Charles Ray Hinton; her eight sisters (who predeceased her); Maebelle Hinton Strickland, Ella Ruth Hinton High, Louise Hinton Batten, Helen Hinton Simpson, Sarah Evelyn Hinton, Rachel Hinton Grant, Janis Hinton Lee and Maxine Hinton Wilder; and, her one surviving sister, Tillie Hinton Braswell and husband George of Bristol, Tennessee.
Jean was also the dynamic center of her family she brought into this world and its progeny: son Mark High and wife Ruth of Smithfield; daughter Marcia Armstrong and husband Lamar of Four Oaks; and, son Louis High and wife Emily of Dunn. These unions produced six grandchildren, Lamar Armstrong, III and wife Beth, Hinton Armstrong and wife Anna, Eason Armstrong Keeney and husband Daniel, Andrea High Overby and husband Matthew, Matthew High and wife Megan, and Thomas High and wife Emily. These unions have produced ten great grandchildren; Aubrey Armstrong, Riley Armstrong, Harden Armstrong, Hannah Armstrong, Eden Keeney, Liliana High, Braxton High, Reid Overby, Rhett Overby, and Lyla High.
Also surviving are Jean’s step-daughter Edith Whitley Mason, husband Pat, son Kyser, step-son Will Whitley and wife Carol, many nieces and nephews, and her beloved sister-in-law Becky Hinton and brother-in-law Ray Wilder.
For the last 18 months of Jean’s life, she was blessed with the loving care of her angels Beth Griffin, Hilda Thompson and Elaine Lee who helped Jean remain as active as possible and provided constant love, comfort and care.
Jean graduated from Corinth Holders High School and Hardbarger Business College. She worked for the North Carolina Board of Paroles and the Johnston County Clerk of Court before becoming the office manager of the North Carolina Highway Patrol Office in Johnston County. She worked with the Patrol for 26 years before her retirement in 1996. Jean loved all “her” troopers. She considered them part of her family. That environment resulted in her son Louis, and his sons Matthew and Thomas, becoming troopers with Louis retiring as a First Sergeant.
Following her retirement from the Highway Patrol, not to remain idle, Jean worked at The Armstrong Law Firm with her daughter Marcia, son-in-law Lamar, grandson Lamar III, granddaughter Eason and her husband Daniel.
In raising three children as a single parent, Jean was a role model of how to have a career and a family. She was always there for her children and grandchildren at school activities, sporting events, dance recitals, graduations, church events, birthdays, weddings, and any other activities and special moments involving her children and grandchildren. She spent many nights and weekends on the sidelines of soccer and football games. Jean captured and preserved many of these special memories by creating scrapbooks for all her grandchildren which they have to cherish for years to come. Her “family first” commitment was evident every day of her life, and has engrained in her progeny as we now must go on without her.
Jean was simply a force of nature. Her work ethic, energy, commitment to her family and friends, and tireless deeds for others earned her the title “energizer bunny”. She just kept going, going, …. For many years, she cooked Sunday lunch for her children and grandchildren, often inviting friends as well. It was a feast of country cooking, with homemade thin fried cornbread, deviled eggs, potato salad, fried chicken, pastry, cabbage, squash, rice and gravy, (and more). Jean loved ACC basketball. She went to many ACC Tournaments with Mark, Lamar, Marcia, Lamar, III, Hinton and Eason (until her late 70’s) and wouldn’t miss a game. The “energizer bunny” indeed. Jean loved going to N.C. State Wolfpack football and basketball games with Mark and Ruth. Although she tried to appear neutral, it was no secret to the Demon Deacons and Carolina Tarheels in the family that Jean was truly a Wolfpack fan.
Jean spent many summers with her children and grandchildren at Ocean Isle Beach. She often took all six grandchildren to play putt-putt all day with breaks for ice-cream. She was a formidable player always winning the hole-in-one contest.
Jean loved Christmas and she loved family. The highlight of her Christmas was the “Hinton Reunion”, which started in 1970 and continued by Jean throughout her life. For many, many years she also hosted a party with her customary layout of food for her Highway Patrol family, her family, and her friends. Of course, Jean relished Christmas morning at her home where, once again, she would fill the tables with food and her extended family would gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to pack backpacks for underprivileged children.
When someone had a loss or difficulty, Jean didn’t call up and ask what she could do. She’d cook, including her famous pies, and take them to the family in need. Jean supported her relationships with action and love.
Jean had many names, including “G-Spice”, Grandma Jean, Mama Jean and GG. All those that knew Jean received more from her than she ever took. She was at her core a giver of love, food, time, friendship, and life. We will all miss her more than words can say. As her extended family continues on without her, she will always be there in our hearts and minds and will forever be our “Guardian Angel.”
A private family graveside service will be conducted at the Riverside Cemetery Cemetery with the Rev. Lee Colbert officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to First Baptist Church, 202 South Fourth Street, Smithfield, NC.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
