Jean Moss Branton, age 89, went to be with the Lord on Sunday September 24, 2017 while at the Testa Family Hospice House in Kings Mountain. Born on Feb. 25, 1928 in Chase City, Va., she was the daughter of the late Richard Hunter Moss Jr. and Maude Stark Moss. Jean, who was the third oldest of seven children, grew up on a tobacco farm. After graduating from Buckhorn High School in Baskerville, Va., Jean attended Longwood College in Farmville, Va. and later Pan American Business College in Richmond. She worked as a bookkeeper at a plumbing and heating contractor's office in Richmond. She married and moved to Shelby in 1950. For 15 years, Jean was a stay-at-home mom. She worked as a teller at First Federal, which later became BB&T. Her career with banks lasted 11 years and then a new chapter opened in Jean's life: She enrolled in art classes at Cleveland Community College where she created dozens of paintings, then branched out into teaching lingerie-making classes at the college. Her range of interests knew no bounds. For 25 years, she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was a charter member of the Phil Acres Garden Club and had a passion for tennis, bridge and cooking. An active member of Shelby's First Baptist Church since 1950, she taught Sunday school and served on the building committee. Jean was married 62 years to Gene Branton, who passed in 2012. She was a loving wife and mother. In addition to her parents, Jean is preceded in death by a sister, Leora Manson, and brother, Mack Moss.

Jean is survived by two sons, Douglas Branton and wife Ginger of Richlands, Va.; Vic Branton and wife, Kathie, of Shelby; a daughter, Gail Branton Rose and husband Trip of Midlothian, VA: three sisters, Betty T. Blanchard of Hampton, Va.; Marion Bigham and Laura Shirey, both of Charlotte; a brother, Richard H. Moss and wife, Ruth, of Gasburg, Va.; three grandchildren, April Branton of VA; Andrea Branton of Asheville; and Michael Branton of Boiling Springs and four great grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Tench officiating. The family will receive friends an hour before the service from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm in the sanctuary. Burial will be held at Cleveland Memorial Park at 11:00 am on Friday, September 29, 2017

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 120 North Lafayette Street, Shelby, N.C., 28150 or the Testa Family Hospice House, 321 Kings Mountain Blvd., Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Jean Branton.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com