Mary Jeanette Semones Hawks

Mary Jeanette Semones Hawks, after fighting a courageous battle against breast cancer, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. A resident of Mount Airy, NC, she was 49 years old. Jeanette was born on May 21, 1960, in Galax, VA, to Reford Eugene Semones and Anna Ruth McMillan Semones. Jeanette attended Carroll County High School in Hillsville, VA, and graduated from high school in Owensboro, KY. She also attended Surry Community College in Dobson, NC, 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 merchandising 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 Mount Airy, who will carry her in his heart forever. She is survived by her children, Duane Hawks and his wife, Misty, of Mount Airy, NC, Jeremy Hawks and his fiancée, Melissa Miles, of Mount Airy, NC, and Kelly Hawks and her fiancé, Hamilton Bennett IV, of Athens, TN. 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 his wife, Helen, of Bridgewater, VA, Andy Semones of Fancy Gap, VA, Ramona Semones Fletcher and her husband, Jereial, of Bluefield, WV, Vincent Semones and his wife, Karen, of Hillsville, VA, Joseph Semones and his wife, Jill, of Oneida, NY, Nancy Semones Knox and her husband, John, of Reidsville, NC, and Danny Semones and his 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 her husband, Lester, and Roy McMillan and his 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, and 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 her husband, Dan, Wise Semones and his wife, Lucille, Victor Semones and his wife, Eura, Mary Semones Ayers and her husband, Loman, Paul Semones and his wife, Jessie, Ralph Semones, Howard Semones and his wife, Nina, Henry Semones, and Irene McMillan Bobo and her husband, Paul. The family wishes to express its love and gratitude to Dr. Susan Hines and the entire staff of Piedmont Hematology-Oncology Associates 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; 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. The funeral service will be held Wednesday May 5, 2010, at 11:00 AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. Scott Robertson-Gouge and the Rev. Layne Pennington officiating. Burial will follow in the Martin Cemetery in Gladesboro, VA. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. 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.