Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameNina Sue JONES 
3, Mrs. Lucille Jones Reid,3, Mary Boyce Jones,404, Nina Sue Jones-12 July 1922 – Deceased • GHSQ-7MV,470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey
3, Mrs. Lucille Jones Reid,3, Mary Boyce Jones,404, Nina Sue Jones-12 July 1922 – Deceased • GHSQ-7MV,470, Nina Sue Jones UtseyBirthJul 12, 1922, Alamance County, North Carolina404, Nina Sue Jones-12 July 1922 – Deceased • GHSQ-7MV,470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey
DeathOct 10, 2020470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey
BurialOakdale Cemetery, N 15th St, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey
FatherJohn Richard JONES (1893-1957)
MotherLela OAKES (1892-1976)
Spouses
1Pierce Tillman UTSEY Jr. 3, Mrs. Lucille Jones Reid,404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,470, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr.
3, Mrs. Lucille Jones Reid,404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,470, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr.BirthOct 16, 1918, Walterboro, Colleton County, South Carolina404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,470, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr.
DeathNov 25, 1982, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina404, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr-16 October 1918 – 25 November 1982 • L2RF-751,470, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr.
BurialOakdale Cemetery, N 15th St, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina470, Pierce Tillman Utsey Jr.
Obituary Online notes for Nina Sue JONES
Nina Sue (Jones) Utsey was born July 12, 1922 as the fourth of seven children to John Richard Jones and Lela Oakes Jones of Graham, North Carolina. Nina attended Altamahaw Ossipee High School and played guard on the basketball team. At a time when women players were limited to two dribbles (dribbling full court was considered too stressful) Nina was good ball handler, regardless, as she would demonstrate in later years to her children and grandchildren, and most recently to one of her great grandchildren. Nina attended Elon College in 1940 where she studied secretarial skills. At Elon, Nina was noticed by a classmate, Pete Utsey, a baseball and football player from Charleston, SC, who would become her husband. Before Pete’s second year at Elon, he enlisted in the Army Air Force, was trained as a B-24 bomber pilot, and went away to WWII. On a short break between postings in 1944, Nina and Pete were married at Berea Christian Church in Elon, NC and took a brief honeymoon trip to New York City. Pete returned to the war and Nina returned home to work as a secretary in a textile mill. Pete’s postwar career as an airport air traffic controller took Nina with him to Las Vegas, where their first child, Tina, was born. From Las Vegas, an assignment moved the family to Augusta, GA where Randy was born. An opportunity for Pete to be an air traffic controller at a new airport brought the family to Wilmington, NC, which became the family home for many years. A third child, Kevin, was born there. Nina was a busy mom who often took the kids to nearby Wrightsville Beach when Pete’s overnight shifts in the control tower required quiet in the house so he could sleep part of the day. Nina always loved the beach and enjoyed taking an evening drive there well into her later years. Nina was a faithful member of Westminster Presbyterian Church from before its new building went up across the street from the family home in the early 1960’s. She would volunteer in the church kitchen and nursery for almost 60 years and considered the church her second home. After Pete passed unexpectedly in 1982, Nina remained in the home she and Pete created for almost four decades. Nina was a fixture in the neighborhood as the oldest original resident on the block. Up to her last days spent in the house she could be seen looking outside each time a low-flying plane would pass over.
In 2019 Nina moved to Summit Place at South Park in Charlotte to be near her three children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. All four were present for a patio visit with Nina to celebrate her 98th birthday this summer. Nina is survived by her daughter, Tina Denham, and two sons, Randy Utsey (Carolyn) and Kevin Utsey (Susan); three grandchildren: Derek Utsey (Melissa), Josh Utsey, and Anna Utsey Regan; a great grandson and three great granddaughters, all of Charlotte. The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the caregivers and staff of Elder Care at Home in Wilmington and Summit Place at South Park.
A private graveside service for the family will be held at Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, NC. 470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey
In 2019 Nina moved to Summit Place at South Park in Charlotte to be near her three children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. All four were present for a patio visit with Nina to celebrate her 98th birthday this summer. Nina is survived by her daughter, Tina Denham, and two sons, Randy Utsey (Carolyn) and Kevin Utsey (Susan); three grandchildren: Derek Utsey (Melissa), Josh Utsey, and Anna Utsey Regan; a great grandson and three great granddaughters, all of Charlotte. The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the caregivers and staff of Elder Care at Home in Wilmington and Summit Place at South Park.
A private graveside service for the family will be held at Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, NC. 470, Nina Sue Jones Utsey