Emma Jean Weaver

Jean Weaver met her precious Lord on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. If you knew Jean, you knew she loved Jesus and she loved you. She was the epitome of grace, class and sass all rolled into one of the most beautiful women you’ve ever seen. Jean’s beauty radiated from within because of her love for the Lord and the love she so freely shared with everyone she met. She had a way of really seeing people, even those that were often overlooked by others. Born in Portageville, Missouri on July 13, 1931, (Emma) Jean Dockery was the second child of Roy & Bessie Dockery. They moved to Corinth, MS the summer before her senior year of high school and she lived in Corinth MS, Greenville, SC and Monongah, WV for some 35 years. During those years, she served alongside her first husband (the deceased Zelfred Smith, with whom she shared 4 children) in full-time ministry as pastor and evangelist. Jean impacted countless people with her many spiritual gifts, the greatest of which was love. But no life is without sorrow and hardship, and Jean’s was no exception. The beauty of her story is how she faced adversity and leaned on the Lord for her strength. At the age of 52, Jean found herself divorced and in need of a career. Without a college degree, she joined one of the world’s most prestigious tax firms and retired with distinction as a paraprofessional from Ernst & Young. At the age of 62, she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Weaver, at the church they both attended in Geigertown, PA and they got married on June 26, 1993 in Hershey, PA, the sweetest place on earth. They enjoyed 12 precious years together, 10 of those in Geigertown, PA and 2 in Lakeland, FL before Bob passed away in October of 2005. Jean spent the next 15 years of her life in Lakeland, FL, dedicated to serving other widows through a ministry she founded at her church, called Widow’s Walk. She poured her energy into creating special events and personally visiting every widow in their darkest hour. To the very end of her life, her focus was on others. Jean moved to live with her daughter, Donna Lowery, in March of 2020, in Greenville, SC, where she peacefully passed away. She is survived by her four loving children, Donna (Doug) Lowery, Fred (Crystal) Smith, Stephen Smith, Timothy (Maria) Smith, 12 grandchildren, Deann (Bill) Schneider, Dawn (Jon) DiCandilo, Daniel (Kristen) Lowery, Darla (Jeff) French, Stephanie Smith (Nicholas Rapp), Michael Smith, Carly (Nahshon) Chambers, Austin (Meghan) Smith, Alyssa (William) Lamberth, Samantha (Jonathan) Bryant, Breanna (Caleb) Batman, Rebekah (Brent) Adriano and 18 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear sister Sherry (Ron) Allchin and many nieces and nephews. Jean had a way of making each and every one of her family members feel special and loved, and spent the vast amount of her time and energy connecting with her loved ones. Jean also shared a precious family with her late husband, Bob Weaver and is survived by 5 step children, 16 step grandchildren and 19 step great-grandchildren, all whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Robert Weaver, her parents Roy & Bessie Dockery, her older sister Ruby, her younger brother Charles and her precious grandson, Andrew Smith. A Memorial service honoring Jean's life is being planned near Bushnell, FL, where she will be interred at Florida National Cemetery by late husband, Bob Weaver.

Emma Jean Weaver

July 13, 1931 - January 31, 2023