Jesse Bland Mercer was born 7 January 1930, the son of Jesse Pritchard Mercer and Wrenn Hemby Mercer. He graduated from Elizabeth City High School in 1948 and attended High Point College for his freshman year. He transferred to N.C. State College for his sophomore year. In the fall of 1950 he enlisted in the United States Navy. After basic training, he spent the next year in electronics school, finishing with Technical Electronics A & B certifications.
He was discharged in 1954 and attended the University of North Carolina. He returned to High Point for the last semester of his senior year and graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration.
The next two years he worked in Greensboro in electronics design. He then entered East Carolina College and graduated with a MA degree in Business Administration with a minor in Education. Further graduate work was done at the University of South Florida, and Old Dominion University.
He accepted a position as Academic Headmaster of Blankinship Schools, Inc. where he set up the academic programs at Carolina Military Academy in Maxton, N.C.; Vardell Hall in Red Springs; and at The Highlands School for Girls in Avon Park, Florida. In addition to his duties as Academic Headmaster, he taught junior and senior English at each of the schools.
When the Blankinship schools closed because of the death of the founder, Jesse returned to Elizabeth City and joined the faculty of College of the Albemarle where he taught until he retired in 1996 with the rank of Associate Professor.
Since retirement, he has indulged an interest in writing and presently has 5 novels in publication as well as nearly 100 short stories posted to the secretgardenstories.org site.
He was a founding member of the Northeastern North Carolina Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, for which organization he has served as secretary and chaplain. He was a long time member of the Organ Historical Society. He is a charter member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where he has been Chairman of the Altar Guild for some years, and served as Layreader.
Before there was a Lutheran church in Elizabeth City, he sang in the choir of the First United Methodist Church for a number of years.
He is survived by five godsons and a number of cousins.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The family will receive friends at Twiford Memorial Chapel on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and immediately following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 501 Interpath Parkway, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Twiford Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel, 405 E. Church Street, Elizabeth City is assisting the Mercer family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.twifordfh.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of Jesse Mercer
Print Obituary & Condolences
LeVern Parker
So sorry to hear about Jesse. I taught with him at College of the Albemarle and enjoyed many conversations with him over the years. He will be missed.
Phillip Jernigan
One of my favorite teachers from COA back in the 70’s. I can still see him standing in front of the class with his eyes closed and reciting the book word for word. An amazing person with a great sense of humor.
Robert & Shirley Weis
Jesse was our good friend. We enjoyed his company over the years at many church gatherings and in our home.
He was always so proud of his Christmas house decorations. May he now rest with his Savior.
Mary L. Blalock
Am posting this for my brother, George Blalock, in Mobile, AL, a former student of Capt. Mercer at Carolina Military Academy. George sends his sympathy, saying Capt. Mercer was a good man whom he thought a lot of. Prayers go with family and friends.
John Boots
Jesse and I corresponded regularly, discussing our mutual love of pipe organs and organ music.
He will be missed.
Nancy Susan Keyser
Jesse Mercer was our Headmaster and my English teacher at The Highlands School for Girls. He was such a unique and memorable person. I adored him and will continue to think of him fondly and often. My sympathies to all his family.
Mary Garth Flood
RIP Jesse…… You changed my life at The Highlands School for Girls in Florida by introducing me to the wonders of great literature and poetry. You have been a good friend for over 40 years and I will never forget you. Prayers to the family and friends.
Terri Hill Hardesty
On Behalf of All the Highlands Girls:
Mr. Mercer was a Great teacher and friend to all of us. He made a huge impact on each and everyone of us. RIP Jesse Mercer! We were Blessed to have you as a friend. Prayers go out to his family.
Jonta Charrier
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I have thought about Uncle Jesse over the years and he will always have a special place in my heart.
Sydney Watson Flood
Mr. Mercer was a wonderful teacher for me at Highlands. He had a love of language that he passed to others. These many years later I still think of him & his smile. I am glad he was a part of my life.
Patrice D. Evans
Mr. Mercer was headmaster and my English teacher at Highlands. He taught me a lot that I will never forget. RIP Mr. Mercer and condolences to his family.
Michelle Canfield
Rest in peace dear cousin. We miss your holiday decorations and greetings it was always wonderful to hear from you.
Albert and Melinda DelGarbino
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Sincerely,
Al and Min DelGarbino
Doug Rogers
What do I say of my friend? He was a gifted story teller, a passionate devotee of organ music, and a dear Friend. Jess and I met over the internet in 1999. We were both involved with a writer’s site, and we ended up editing each other’s writings for the first decade of the new millinium. I first traveled from my home in Kentucky to meet him in 1999 on the pre-text of traveling through Elizabeth City. He insisted that I stay with him, and we hit it off. I would come (often bringing another friend who shared our love of writing) for a week each year. So, thank you, Jess… for 16 wonderful weeks of treasured visits, and for being a friend when I needed one. Rest in Peace. You have earned it.
Earl Dunphy
I was sadden to her of the passing of “Bland”” Jesse Mercer. He had been a good friend as well as frequent guest of my Aunt, Rose G. Jennings during her lifetime and after her death we remained in contact. While Bland and I did not always see eye to eye on issues we had many good discussions on a wide range of topics and his dry wit and viewpoints on issues shall be missed.
Sincerely, Earl Dunphy
Tony Hornthal
Jess has been a friend of many years. He lived a full and valuable life. In my recent contacts, his health was failing and it seemed to me that “he had his bags packed” and was ready to move on to the next phase of his eternal life. He was a kind and decent man.
Michael Lynch
Very sad to learn of your passing, you were a great teacher and a great person. You won’t be forgotten
Rodger Rossman
I think of Mr. Mercer often. He was one of my favorite teachers at College of The Albemarle. I will always remember his disdain for come-putters (which he later begrudgingly adopted for writing). He made an impact on my wife and myself which has lasted and will continue to last for as long as we live.
Jimmy Corbett
My thought & prayers are with the family & friends of Bland. He & I & our families have been friends for generations. He was a good friend in my youth. We organized a stamp club, sang in choir at 1st Baptist, etc. I wish I had seen more of him in our later years.
Penny Hagner Koepsel
Captain Mercer “Jesse” was my English teacher at Vardell Hall in Red Springs, NC and again in The Highlands School in Avon Park, Florida. So I was twice-blessed to have had him in my life. He made a huge difference in my life, was always extremely supportive, and I shared his love of literature and writing. We reconnected years later when I was able to find him via the wonders of internet searching. I was able to share with him that in my PhD Psychology Dissertation I thanked him for lighting that fire of creativity, and for being such an important influence. His email response was titled “Tears,” as he said how much it meant to him that he made such a difference in my life. Jess suggested I contact another student, Claire Hamner, who graduated a few years after I did. I contacted Claire and we became friends, decided to write a work of fiction about a girl’s school school (Talbot Hall) in Florida, “Wayward Girls.” There was an English teacher at THS that we patterned after Jess, as the teacher was supportive, caring, nurturing, had a “larger than life” personality, and flamboyance. My regret is that Jess was unable to read “Wayward Girls,” and that I didn’t have longer than a few years to reconnect with my mentor and role model. I wanted his family to know what a difference he made years ago and continues to make. I graduated from The Highlands School in 1967, and Jess handed me my diploma. Fifty four years later I still think about him, remember him, and have such gratitude for all he taught me, and did for me. Rest in peace my sweet Jess. Hope you are able to get a copy of “Wayward Girls” in heaven, enjoy it, and that we made you proud.
Penny