Juanita Watkins Stewart Eldridge
1918-2015
Gastonia– Juanita "Pete" Watkins Stewart Eldridge, 97, went Home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 19, 2015
She was born in Copperhill, Tennessee on June 27, 1918 to the late Walter Harrison and Annie Mae Wright Watkins
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Howard Lee Eldridge; daughter, Jean Tart Goins; son-in-law, Jerry Ross Jackson; brother, R.G. Watkins; sisters, Ruby Biddix, Sib Carpenter, Elsie Ward, Peg Pervine
Juanita known to many as "Pete" was a very loving person all of her life. She was a former member South Point United Methodist Church and a member of Grace Baptist Church. She retired from textiles after many years of dedicated service where she had worked at Rex #1 Plant, Climax, Belmont, Rutland Industries in Gastonia and later at Walmart, North Myrtle Beach. Juanita was an amateur gemologist; some of her Gem Collection was on display at the Schiele Museum. "Maw Maw Pete" will be greatly missed by many!
Left to cherish her memories include her children, George Walter Stewart and wife Joyce of Gastonia; Macxie Gardner and husband Harold Ray of Lowell; Linda Sue Jackson of Roanoke, VA; step son Everette Eldridge and wife Evelyn of Belmont;
Grandchildren; Brian Gardner, Ross Jackson, Angie Lowery, Mary Bowman, Kimberly Gardner, Lisa Lewis, Lori Ballard, Sandy Jenkins, Stephanie McCaslin; step grandchildren; Athena, Dennis, Greg Eldridge
21 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 p.m. prior to the service
A Celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 23rd at Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home with Reverend Ron Monteith and Reverend David Shrum officiating.
Interment will follow at South Point United Methodist Church Cemetery with the releasing of the doves
Pallbearers will be her great grandchildren
Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 2200 Auten Road, Gastonia, NC 28054 and/or South Point United Methodist Church, 510 South Point Church Road, Belmont, NC 28012
Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia 704-864-5144 is serving the Family. Condolences may be made to www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com