Obituary of Pearl Wilson Fletcher

Mrs. Pearl Wilson Fletcher, age 92, of Odes Wilson Road, Zionville, and wife of the late Ralph Fletcher, passed away Saturday morning, May 5, 2018 at Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care in Hudson. One of thirteen children, Mattie Pearl was born December 26, 1925 in Watauga County to James Baxter and Lillie Thelma Wilson. Mrs. Fletcher was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She loved the Lord and always enjoyed reading her Bible daily. As a young adult, Pearl moved to Lynchburg, Virginia and worked for a time at Blue Bell, manufacturer of overalls and jeans. She returned home to the Zionville community where she met and married the love of her life, Ralph Blaine Fletcher in 1949. Together, they raised their family. As a homemaker, Pearl canned the harvest from her vegetable gardens to sustain the family during the year. She was known for making wonderful jams and jellies from berries picked by the family, as well as apple butter and other good things. She always loved her flower gardens until poor health prevented her from tending to them. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting and making afghans. Mrs. Fletcher is survived by her son, Blaine Fletcher, and daughter, Elaine Simcox and husband, Mike, all of Zionville; grandson, Michael Fletcher of Thomasville; sisters, Annabelle Martin and husband, Asa, of Zionville and Emma Jean Blackburn and husband, Bill, of Todd; brothers, Estle Snook Wilson and wife, Etta, of Lynchburg, VA and Jerry Wilson of Zionville; sisters-in-law, Bernice Wilson and Bertha Wilson, both of Zionville, and Wanda Wilson of Trade, TN. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Edith Wilson, Edna Tester and Iva Lee Reese; and brothers, Henry, Jim, J.B., Clayton Cricket, and Burl Wilson. Funeral services for Pearl Wilson Fletcher will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, May 8th, at 2 oclock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Derick Wilson and Rev. Bill McGuire. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 oclock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will follow at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1564 Silverstone Road, Zionville, NC 28698 or to Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, NW, Lenoir, NC 28645. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Fletcher family