Jolynne Watts Caviness

Jolynne Watts Caviness, age 87, beloved daughter, wife and mother, died peacefully on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, after months of declining health. She was living with her daughter and son-in-law in Guntersville, AL. Jolynne was born and raised in the Midway community of Rockingham, NC, where she was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Rockingham is where she met her husband, Roy Caviness. After marrying in 1951, the couple resided in Hamlet, NC, and raised their family there. After Roy’s retirement, they moved to his parent’s former home in Lillington, NC, where they were members of the Cape Fear Presbyterian Church.

Jolynne loved literature and was an avid reader all of her life. She particularly enjoyed the works of Shakespeare, Poe, Agatha Christie, and several modern mystery writers, as well as the “Cat Who...” series of books by Lillian Jackson Braun (reflecting her life-long love of cats). Reading poetry was also her passion.

Jolynne was friendly, loved people, and could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere.

During her years working outside of the home, she was a waitress, did survey work for the Research Triangle Park during the 1960’s, later was a retail store clerk, and lastly was assistant manager of a Tultex Outlet Store. After that, she became busy caring for several elderly relatives and finally for her husband, after he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer.

Jolynne is survived by her daughter Rebecca C. Schafer (James) of Guntersville, AL, and son, Michael Roy Caviness. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 55 years, Roy S. Caviness; by her parents Ernest Daniel and Blanche Lampley Watts of Rockingham; her brother Ernest L. Watts and sister-in-law Ritsuko Watts; and a cousin, Berta K. Maples, who was like a sister to her as a child and throughout her life.

The family would like to recognize and thank the Caring Angels of Marshall County, AL, for their kindness and care during the last few months of her life. And in particular, thanks to Rachel Whorton and “Peaches” Meadows, not only for their role as caregivers, but as beloved friends as well. Also, thanks to Dr. Stephen Henderson, Nancy Seaman, CRNP, and the staff of Lakeshore Family Practice in Guntersville, AL, for their professional and compassionate care.

A funeral service for Jolynne will be held at the Cape Fear Presbyterian Church in Lillington, NC, at 1:00 on Wednesday, Dec. 5, with the Rev. Roger Horne officiating, to be followed by burial beside her beloved Roy in Harnett Memorial Park in Lillington. Visitation will be at the Church from 11:30 to 12:30, prior to the funeral service. Arrangements are by O’Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home of Lillington.

For those wishing to do so, the family welcomes floral offerings, or suggests memorials in Jolynne’s memory to the Cape Fear Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1332, Lillington, NC 27546, or to the Harnett County Library in Lillington. (Please note that the family will not be at the Caviness residence, 505 Tripp Road in Lillington, during their stay.)

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jolynne Watts Caviness, please visit our floral store.