Jean Abernathy Brackett

Jean Abernathy Brackett, age 84, retired Northern Nash and Rocky Mount Academy Spanish teacher, church organist and choir director, died unexpectedly on November 17, 2018. She was the youngest daughter of Floyd H. Abernathy, Sr. and Erva Lineberger Abernathy. She was born in Mt. Holly, N. C. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, FH. Abernathy, Jr. and her sisters Florine Abernathy Williams and Louise Abernathy Check. Her family was the center of her life, and her greatest joy. She is survived by her three sons, Philip of Rocky Mount, Kenneth and wife Mae of Carolina Beach, and Gary and his wife Eleonora of Trieste, Italy and her grand-daughter Kristen and great-grandson Noah. Jean graduated from Mt. Holly High School and attended Carson Newman College before her marriage to H. Ray Brackett, professor of Psychology at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. She studied at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount where she obtained her BA degree in Spanish and graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in Spanish, in 1970. She began her teaching career at Northern Nash Senior High and taught there until she retired. In 1996 while at Northern she led the Spanish Club and was the Student Council Advisor. She was also active in the North Carolina Association of Educators. After retirement she continued to teach at Northern part-time and in 2000 she went to work at Rocky Mount Academy and taught there for six years. In addition to her teaching career, she applied her passion for music as a church musician and choir director. She was organist at Englewood Methodist Church for seven years, at Trinity Lutheran Church for fifteen years and also choir director for four years. She worked as organist and choir director at Enfield Methodist Church for 16 years before finally retiring in 2016. Jean also substituted as organist at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church for many years. Jean was proud of the fact that with her friend Hernan Murno and others, they planned and started the current Rocky Mount Chorus and Orchestra at her dining room table. She served on the original board and was the manager of the chorus for three years. Jeans other passions and interests were the Democratic party and politics, reading, bridge and traveling. She took several groups of students to Europe while a teacher at Northern Nash, and traveled alone or with her beloved niece, Barbara to Europe, meeting her son Gary who lives in Italy. A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 25 at 2pm at Enfield Methodist Church. Arrangements entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home Cremation Services, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com.