“Jack” John Wallace Jolly Sr.

Jack Jolly, 88, of Morganton, NC, passed away peacefully while sleeping and woke in the presence of his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Mostly quiet, he often left those around him smiling or outright laughing when he spoke. He was a selfless man who put others before himself. Jack was a hard worker who started at the bottom and worked his way up even while sick. No matter what the job, he gave it 100%, receiving numerous awards and certificates for his accomplishments. He wrote poetry, loved reading the newspaper, playing Solitaire, and working on crossword puzzles, especially with his wife, Carol. They loved sightseeing and traveling.

Jack was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 19, 1937, and always considered it home. He grew up in Sandusky in a large white-columned house built by his father, a master bricklayer. He attended Miner High School and drove a dump truck for his brother-in-law Ed Grills' trucking company. After high school, Jack joined the U.S. Air Force, where he met his wife, Carol, also in the Air Force. After the Air Force, the couple moved back to Sandusky and had their two sons. Later, they moved to South Portland, ME, to live near his wife's parents. He worked for General Electric and they had their third child, a daughter. Jack retired from G.E. after 22 years when the plant closed. He then went to work at the Navy Base where he continued to work until he retired in 1999. After retiring, the couple moved to Morganton, NC, to live with their son, John and his family, but spent their Summers in Maine with their son, Ron and Winter in Mississippi with their daughter, Barbara, a pattern they continued until Carol died in 2013. They are now together once again.

Jack is survived by his son, John (wife, Dorothea) of Morganton; his daughter, Barbara (husband, John) of Gulfport, MS; Jack's sister Ann Baker (husband, Jerry) of Birmingham, AL; his grandchildren, Eric Jolly, Alina Reed, Nick Dawson, Sarah Jolly and Michalia Carswell; his great-grandchildren, Elijah Jolly, Lochlynn Carswell, and Callum Carswell. His nieces, Vicki Grills-Harris (husband, Eddie), Carol Ann Johnson (husband, Danny), and nephew, Mickey Grills (wife, Laura).

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; son, Ronald; parents, Ernest and Helen Jolly; brother, James Jolly; and sisters, Billie Joyce Grills, Ernestine Kay, and Mary Carroll Kizziah.

The graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2026 at Warlick’s Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Gary Murray officiating.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.