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FRANKLIN – Margaret “Ann” Altvater Jervey departed this life on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at her home surrounded by loved ones. Ann faced her battle with cancer the same way she approached her life; with stoicism, poise, and humor. Her love, commitment and devotion to her family and friends were steadfast. She never missed special occasions and was always consistent. With every email, voicemail, letter or holiday card, you never doubted just how much she loved you. Ann loved her sisters (and their families), her daily devotions, visits from friends and family (especially her grandkids and great-grandchildren), a good movie, crossword puzzles/Wordle, and Duke basketball.

Ann was born on July 30, 1934, to Margaret Ann “Peggy” Glass Altvater (d

eceased) and Frederick Vernon Altvater (deceased) at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. Ann grew up on their Hillsborough farm (an idyllic rural setting, but without running water) with her two sisters, Barrie A. Wallace (Andy) and Mary Jane Caison (deceased) (Chris-deceased). Ann’s family eventually moved to Denver, Colorado from which the Altvater family had originated. Homesick for the South, Ann convinced her parents to allow her to return to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she attended high school at Salem Academy before enrolling at Duke University.

It was at Duke that Ann met “the love of my life” Louis Paschal “Packy” Jervey Jr. (deceased) and they married on Dec. 17, 1955. Ann graduated from Duke with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Packy’s work took the young couple first to Richmond, Virginia, where their first son “Jim” was born, and then on to Roanoke, where Ann gave birth to two more sons, “Bill” and “Doug.” They finally settled in Franklin, Virginia, where Ann recalled the move by saying “arriving, all we had were three small boys, a dog, and our faith.”

Faith, literacy, and public education became three of the cornerstones of Ann’s commitment to her community. Spending over 26 years as a “room mother” for her growing family (Ann and Packy had two more sons during their lives in Franklin, “Matt” and “Mike”), Ann recognized the need for a new track behind Franklin High School. She led a campaign drive for the new track. Once, someone told her the project was a waste of time, to which Ann responded “You just watch. I’m stubborn. I’m a quiet rebel.” And she was successful. The track is still used and enjoyed by FHS and the community today.

Years later, Ann was approached once again with a community dilemma. Franklin badly needed a new library, and a generous seed money grant from the Camp Foundation was about to expire without additional funding. Ann agreed to help raise the needed funds. Again, she was successful in activating the project, seeing it through to the completion of a beautiful new library, with the help of donors great and small. Ann ultimately served as chairperson of the library board for 10 years.

Ann was a long-time member of High Street United Methodist Church. She loved God and loved to worship at church. When a generous gift was given to build the new church, Ann was very excited to be part of its design and construction. And the dedication of the children’s wing to her made her so “Happy.”

Ann is survived by five sons: James “Jim” Drewry Jervey (Glenda), their children James Jervey and Jennifer Mullins (Brandon); William “Bill” Altvater Jervey (Diane), their children Joe Jervey, Jessica Holloman (Hugh) and Samantha Albanese (Anthony); Douglas “Doug” Paschal Jervey; Matthew “Matt” Hamilton Jervey; and Michael “Mike” McCormick Jervey (Betania), their children Anorrah Jervey and Benjamin Jervey; and her great-grandchildren: Luke and Joanna Jervey (Joe), and Elsie and Jace Holloman (Jessica and Hugh).

Ann had requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Endowment Fund of the High Street United Methodist Church (P.O. Box 218, Franklin VA 23851) or to the General Fund of the Ruth Camp Campbell Memorial Library (280 N. College Drive, Franklin VA 23851) “Both the church and the library have meant so much to me.”

A memorial service celebrating Ann’s life will be held Monday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at High Street United Methodist Church on Camp Parkway, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. The burial will be private at the Drewry Family Cemetery in Drewryville.

A special thanks to the many friends that showed their love to Ann over the years.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org