Jessie Lillian Davis Kegley, 81, of Bland, Virginia, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2022 surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Pierce Kegley of Bland, Virginia.

She was born in Rogersville, Tennessee, the sixth child of Horace Larkin Davis and Laura Johnson Davis on May 21 ^st , 1941. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Robert Mitchell Kegley of Bland, VA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia Ruth Davis, Ival and Glen Greene of Rogersville, TN, Jean and Robert Winstead of Johnson City, TN, Horace L. and Blanche Davis of Rogersville, TN and Callie and Ralph Waddell of Wilmington, NC; and brother-in-law, Fulton Brown Kegley of Staunton, VA.

Jessie was a loving mother to her five children: Susan Kay Houston (Paul) of Salem, VA, Tracy Kegley Dransfield (Doug) of Gap Mills, WV, Roberta Kegley Morrissey (Dave) of Colorado Springs, CO, Clinton Sherwood Kegley (Robin) of Bland, VA; and grandchildren, Roderick Jackson Mohler (Ali) of Church Hill, TN, Issac Harold Mohler (Johnna) of Sinks Grove, WV, Joshua Ballard Dransfield (Catherine) of Gap Mills, WV, Laura Jane Dransfield of Gap Mills, WV; Maeve Kathleen Morrissey, Brady David Morrissey, Casey David Morrissey of Colorado Springs, CO, Pierce Aubrey Kegley and Davis Clinton Kegley of Bland, VA. She was the great-grandmother to Roderick Calvin Mohler of Church Hill, TN.

After graduating from East Tennessee State University in 1961, she married Robert Pierce Kegley and began her career in Anchorage, Alaska working as a Civilian Secretary on Fort Richardson Army Base for two years. They then made their home in Bland, VA. A lifelong educator, Jessie taught business and economics classes for 40 years at Bland County Schools. As a new teacher, she taught students typing on a manual typewriter and as a veteran teacher, she taught students computer and business application skills. Her passion was for educating the youth of Bland County and she held a deep love for the welfare of her students, following their accomplishments long after graduation.

She was a lifelong member of Bland-Leyburn Presbyterian Church and served as a Member of the Session. Her hobbies were taking meticulous care of her cattle (they all had names), gardening and spoiling her grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Highland Funeral Home in Bland, Virginia on Saturday evening, September 24 ^th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with funeral services immediately following at 7:00 p.m. with the Reverend Doug Hyndrich officiating. A private family graveside service will be held Sunday, September 25 ^th . Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to Bland-Leyburn Presbyterian Church. Highland Bland Funeral Chapel, Bland, VA is serving the Kegley family.