Peacock, Jewel Paulette

11/28/1939 – 10/04/2015

Jewel Paulette Peacock was born to Percy Glenn Peacock and Louise Corbett Peacock on 11-28-1939 in a house on Railroad Street in Kenly, NC. Jewel had five sisters: Patricia, Wanda (a little older), June and Jone (twins) a little younger and Glenda, the youngest.

Jewel attended Kenly School from first grade through high school, graduating in 1960. She was a cheerleader, member of Glee club, involved in senior play, 4-H club, annual staff, and popularity queen and voted friendliest by senior class with Jimmy Bailey.

Jewel married an air force man, George Herchelroth and moved to Lancaster, Penn. Until they separated a year later and Jewel moved to Richmond, Virginia.

Jewel worked for a stock brokerage company as an office worker, later as a job placement counselor with Availability and then several years as a clerical worker with Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

Jewel moved back to North Carolina in the 1970s to help her retired parents in Micro. She mowed a lot of grass on the family farm and the Kenly Cemetery for many years.

She worked through the JTPA program clearing the land for Johnston Community College. Jewel finally found her longest career with the NC Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid) on the Dix campus in Raleigh. She first worked in the mailroom with part of her duties to transport funds and also transport important documents to the Attorney General’s office where she developed lifelong friendships. She was later promoted to an office job in the Medicaid Fraud department and continued friendships with co-workers for years after her retirement.

Jewel attended Johnston Community College for about one and a half years during the 1970s, taking numerous art classes. Her family and friends are proud owners of some of her works. She was a creative person and enjoyed decorating houses and she was responsible to decorate for Christmas the whole Kirby building where she worked. Jewel was a good seamstress, making clothes for herself and others. She taught herself how to upholster chairs and a sofa.

Jewel really enjoyed nature, especially hiking, even mountain hiking and she liked to camp as well as visits to the beach. She found beauty in the smallest parts of nature. Jewel loved her family and took great joy in spending time with her nieces and nephews. They recall many happy times going camping with her or just hiking around the family farm.

Jewel developed a love of animals and she had a few cats over the years. In her later years she adopted a pound dog, Blackie Star, who brought her much joy.

When her nephew Aaron was born with Down Syndrome, Jewel was very helpful in teaching Aaron different words. She made up signs and taped them to various household items, such as chair, bed, and table. Etc.

Jewel served on the Micro Cemetery Board and held meetings at her home for many years. She was a past member of the Kenly Presbyterian Church and Micro Original Free Will Baptist Church.

Jewel had a stroke in October, 2003 which affected her left side and part of her vision. However, she did not let this stop her. She continued to mow her grass and other household chores. She later developed diabetes which caused her to have numerous other health issues. She moved back to Kenly to an apartment and enjoyed going out to eat with her high school friends, Fay Langley Cherette, Grey Baggett Shackeford, and Linda Bass Suggs. She and Faye had a special friendship since they were little girls and talked just about every day in the past few years. Jewel was a special person and a “gem” in lives of those who knew her. There will never be another like our Jewel.

This Page was given in memory of Jewel Paulette Peacock by the Kenly High School Class of 1960.