Jay Edwin Sorrells

jay sorrells

February 17, 1923 ~ September 26, 2008


Resided in: Asheville, NC

Jay Edwin Sorrells, 85, of 142 Fairview Avenue, Asheville, died on Friday, September 26, 2008, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center. Born on February 17, 1923, in Buncombe Co., Mr. Sorrells was a son of the late Ernest Franklin and Jesse Miller Sorrells. He was also preceded in death by his oldest brother, Robert, of Winston-Salem, and his twin brother, Ray, of Asheville. Jay served for 5 years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and saw action at the Battle of Okinawa. He retired his civilian life from McLean Trucking Co., in 1980. He was a member of Oakley United Methodist Church, and the Biltmore Masonic Lodge. Mr. Sorrells is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rowena; two sons, Don and wife Kerry, of Greenville, SC, and Clay and wife Monté, of Fairview; one daughter, Cindy Cornett and husband Gary, of Fairview; grandsons, John Sorrells, of Murfreesboro, TN, and Marcus Cornett, of Fairview; siblings, Eugene and wife Helen, of Atlanta, GA, Albert, of Arden, Morris and wife Katherine, of Fairview, Jack and wife Louise, of Asheville, Virginia Owensby, of Gerton, Maxine Chumney, of Auburndale, FL, and Betty Joyce Chapman, of Old Fort. A funeral service for Mr. Sorrells will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Oakley United Methodist Church with the Revs. Russell Pierce and Gayle Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Gashes Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, with Masonic rites performed by the Biltmore Masonic Lodge. His family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. The Biltmore Masonic Lodge will open at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

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  1. Clay, I was very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I will be praying for you and your family.

  2. Cindy,
    Thanks for making your dad and mom a part of my life. Meeting your parents while becoming your friend has blessed my life. Whenever I came over to your house, it seems like your dad always had a ‘different’ chair he had picked up at the flea market so he could redo the seat or whatever it needed done to it. He always seemed to be very handy to have around. I know how much your dad meant to you and his passing will always leave an empty space in the family. May the memories you have comfort you in this time of sadness. Thank you again for letting me be your friend and getting to know your family and be a small part of it.

  3. Dear Cindy,
    I saw in the newspaper that your dad had died. I took care of him in the operating room some time this year. I cannot believe that it has been over 20 years since I brought Amanda as a baby to the Sorrells home. I will always have memories of how kind your parents were to us. I am very sorry for your loss.
    I will keep you all in my prayers, Lisa Gruber

  4. Rowena: Sorry to read of your loss of Jay. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. May your many memories of Jay be comforting to you.
    Love to all,

  5. Rowena: Sorry to read of your loss of Jay. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. May your many memories of Jay be comforting to you.
    Love to all,

  6. Rowena and all the Sorrells Family:
    I was truly sorry to hear of Jay’s
    passing. I wasn’t aware that he was ill.
    Please know that you and your family will be in my thoughts a prayers for your difficult days ahead.
    Betty Ponder

  7. Cindy……I am sorry to hear of your loss. I have many fond memories our families visiting one another when were kids. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all………….

    David Barger

  8. Dear Sorrells Family,
    I happened upon Mr. Sorrells obituary while viewing my Mother’s Memorial page, Iris Pressley, who also passed away from cancer on September 14, 2008.

    I used to live just across the street at 37 Baldwin Street, and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Sorrells kindness and good spirit. He and his wife, Rowena, were wonderful, compassionate neighbors, and very helpful as I gave birth to my first child, Julia. We also had bassett hounds that Mr. Sorrells was very watchful of. I always remember him tinkering outdoors.

    It is a truly sad time, and with my own loss I know all too well how hard it is. We used CarePartners hospice as well, and were treated with such love, respect and kindness that it made a tragic situation bearable. I would be glad to connect with any of you that need support, although I know you have a multitude of wonderful friends and family to support you.

    My heart goes out to you for your loss. Mr. Sorrells was a very sweet man and I pray that your family will find peace in knowing that he is in the personal care of God.

    With fondness,
    Tammy McIntosh

  9. I am a friend of Cindy’s and I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Sorrells passing. I will keep your family in my prayers.


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