Janie Bell Branch White, 94

There was great rejoicing in Heaven the morning of January 20, 2015 when Janie Bell Branch White was welcomed by her Lord and Savior.

Born on May 6, 1920, Janie was 94 years old and the last surviving child of Ester Buchanan Branch and Charles Wesley Branch. She was preceded in death by her five brothers, Ray, Ralph, Elmer, Paul and Leonard Branch and two sisters, Laura Jane Queen and Grace Lee Morris.

She was a faithful and loving wife for sixty-six years to the late Baxter Esper White and dedicated mother to her daughter, Marilyn Rebecca Gray and husband James A. Gray of Bryson City and her son, Barry Baxter of Asheville, NC.

Her great legacy will be cherished by seven grandchildren, Teresa Bensch, and husband, Mike of Forest City, John White and wife Evie of Asheville, Chris White and wife Kelly of Bedford, Texas, Barry A. White and wife, Angie of Seattle, Washington, Steve Gray and wife, Margo of Sylva, NC, Ann Dennis and husband, Greg of Wilmington, NC and Jeff Gray of Raleigh, NC. She was the proud great-grandmother of Amber White, Laney White and Helen White, Chris Bensch and wife Heather, Ryan Bensch and Katelyn Bensch, Savannah Dennis, Eliza Gray and Hannah Gray. She is also survived by five-great-great grandchildren, Blake, Cole, Braxton, Madeline, and Davis Bensch.

Janie and Baxter joined together to develop Blue Ridge Mountain View Farms which included raising beef cattle, dairy cattle, broiler chickens, laying hens and fresh peaches, providing many area grocery stores with meat, poultry and peach  products.

She was a shining example of Christian discipleship, serving as a Sunday school teacher of the Friendship Class for over twenty-five years, member of the church choir and various leadership roles at Floyds Creek Baptist Church, where she was a member for over sixty years.

Funeral services were held at Floyd’s Creek Baptist Church w/Reverend Robert Carnell and Reverend Jim Diehl officiating.  Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC  28043.

Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family.