Gloria Jean Hesser

Ms. Gloria Jean (Jeannie) Hesser, 78, passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2021 surrounded by her family.

Jeannie was born in Baltimore, MD on May 10, 1942 to the late Alvin H. Arnold and Helen Elizabeth Barwick Arnold. She worked as a Child Care Provider and was self-employed as she ran an in home daycare. Jeannie, also known as “The Purple Lady” because of her love for purple, advocated for children in many ways. She provide foster care for many special needs children over the last 50 years. Welcoming children of all ages into her home and treating them as her own. She will be greatly missed by many.

She is preceded in death by two husbands, Leo Hesser and Michael Anton, as well as a loving sister Geraldine “Gerry” Harrison.

She is survived by her daughter, Shayne Francis and her husband Wayne of Lumber Bridge; two grandchildren, Alexis Beard and husband Daniel of Fayetteville, and Matthew Kenoyer of Raeford.

The family will be celebrating her life in their home, 344 Sunset Lake Rd in Lumber Bridge on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 1:00 PM  to 6 :00 PM  to allow friends and family to come by pay their respects and share some wonderful memories. There will not be a formal service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in her memory to The Hospice Foundation of Hoke County Inc. PO Box 1584 Raeford NC 28376.

Arrangements for the family are entrusted to LaFayette Funeral Home, 6651 Raeford Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28304. On-line condolences may be made at www.lafayettefh.com