Bobbie Jean Curtis

The world has grown a darker place for having lost Bobbie Jean Jaynes Triplett Curtis. Bobbie lived a full life full of accomplishments. In 1955 when she graduated from nursing school, she achieved an award for highest scholastic achievement. After graduating, she worked at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in various nursing roles for ten years. From there she became a nurse at Kent Coffey Furniture prior to transitioning to work as a Public Health Nurse for 26 years at the Caldwell County Health Department.

In 1979 she obtained national certification for the American Nurses Association as a family nurse practitioner. As a nurse practitioner she was president and secretary of the North Carolina Nurses Association in District 28. In 1992 she was awarded nurse of the year for NCNA. She was also a recipient of the Great One Hundred Nurses for NC. Bobbie served as an elder at United Presbyterian Church, was session clerk for three separate terms with no absences at stated or called meetings and also sang in the church choir. She served on the steering committee for Caldwell County Hospice, served on the Board of Directors and volunteered for ten years after its founding. Bobbie also served on the board of directors for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. As a member of the Red Cross she donated blood at regular intervals. Bobbie served with the renowned Dr. Jane Carswell Roberts in the annual Inter-racial Christmas programs to honor the Christmas spirit in inter-racial interactions and in another historical event to commemorate the lives of Wilson Creek residents. She received the L.A. Dysart Citizenship award in 1983 for outstanding service toward the betterment of the community. Bobbie was also active in the fine arts of Caldwell County. She served as a board member of Foothills Performing Arts, Inc. and was formally recognized for contributions to the growth of community theatre through receiving the Doug Carter award. She received numerous awards for Best Leading Actress with Foothills Performing Arts, including Queen Eleanor in “The Lion in Winter” and with Hickory Community Theatre for her role of Ethel Thayer in “On Golden Pond.” In her later years she toured NC and 3 other states to perform works by NC playwright, Gary Carden, featuring roles, Birdell, Nance Dude, and the blind hymn writer, Fannie Crosby in “The Bright Forever.” In 2015 she received the “Loving Lenoir Pinnacle Award” for outstanding contributions in theater in Caldwell County/Lenoir. On her 90th birthday she was honored by the mayor of Lenoir with a key to the city.

Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents Bynum Calloway Jaynes and Myra Marie Gray Jaynes, her daughter, Robin, her husbands, Clyde Triplett and Harry Curtis, and her 10 siblings Valley Jaynes Martin, Hal Jaynes, Hesse Jaynes Knupp, Thomas Jaynes, Helen Jaynes Ball, Nita Jaynes McMaster, Kathryn Jaynes, John Jaynes, Sr., Kenneth Jaynes, and Richard Jaynes.

Bobbie is survived by her daughters, Candace and Dixie, son, Roswell (Kim), her grandsons, Pierce (Michele) and Andrew, her great grandson, Nolan, and her brother Danny (Mary). She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Further, her legacy also lives on in the countless charities and arts programs she supported as well as the lives touched by her nursing career. We will miss her selfless demeanor, her relentless pursuit of helping others, her soft singing voice, and her diligent portrayal of compelling characters.

The family wishes to thank Caldwell Amorem and her private caregivers for their service and devotion to Bobbie. A celebration of Bobbie’s life will occur on the 1st of June 2025 at 3:00 PM at Greenway Presbyterian Church (formerly United Presbyterian Church), 415 Pennell Street, Lenoir, NC. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Memorials may be provided to Greenway Presbyterian Church, Caldwell County’s hospice - Amorem, and/or Foothills Performing Arts, Inc. The family is being served by Evans Funeral Service & Crematory.