Charlotte Jean Mercer Bissette

Charlotte Jean Mercer Bissette, 88, of Elm City passed away Monday, June 15, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Joyner’s Funeral Home, Wilson.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening following the service at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson and other times at the home place.

Jean spent her life working the land she loved, pouring her strength, faith, and heart into her family farm, Zackly Rite Farm, that has shaped generations. She was a woman of honor, pride, gumption and grit. Her heart belonged to the farm, family and to the simple joys of a life she built with hard work and devotion. Jean loved being at her office, visiting with other farmers, neighbors and vendors. To many she will be remembered for the love she baked into every kitchen memory. Her Carrot Cake and famous Hershey Bar Cake along with BBQ chicken, made with hands that worked tirelessly and a heart that gave endlessly. No cake will ever taste quite the same again with her dab of this and dab of that ingredients. Jean’s life was not measured by miles traveled, but by the lives she touched, the sacrifices she made every single day, her love was shown through her actions.

Jean is survived by her sons, Zack Royce Bissette, Jr. of Wilson and Christopher Jason Bissette and Tracy of Elm City; daughters, Melody Bissette Allegood and husband, Jordan of Wilson, Melissa Bissette Batts of Elm City, and Karen Bissette Reaves and husband, Glenn of Elm City; grandchildren, Victoria Bissette Mercer and husband, Chad of Wilson, Brooke Bissette Edmundson and husband, James of Tarboro, Martha-Anne Nichole Bissette, Charlotte Blair Bissette, and Avery Elizabeth Bissette all of Elm City, Joseph Allegood, III and wife, Ashley of Wilson, Alex Walker Allegood Yakupkovic and husband, John of Wilson, Connor Bissette Allegood of Raleigh, Sydney Caroline Reaves of Charlotte, Kendall Reaves Schild and husband, Logan of Charlotte, and Zack Tyson Reaves of Elm City; great-grandchildren, Georgia Royce Yakupkovic, Charlotte Walker Yakupkovic, John Stephen Yakupkovic, Wells Connor Allegood, and Henry Joseph Allegood; sisters, Jennie Mercer Lamm and Susan Mercer; brother-in-law, Billy S. Bissette; her sisters-in-law, Connie Bissette Lyon and husband, Fleming and Helen Bissette; numerous nieces and nephews, special family friend, John Cayton and her beloved “DAWG”.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Zack Royce Bissette; parents, Robie and Ressie Mercer; her siblings, Carrie Peacock, Jerry Mercer, Ray Mercer, and Larry Mercer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dennis Peacock, Ronnie Bissette, and Geral Bissette, Vanice Coleman Mercer, and Esther Coleman Mercer and her son-in-law, William “Billy” Batts.

The family would like to express sincere thank you to UNC Rex Oncology/Hematology Center in Garner and a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice and to all the wonderful, loving and compassionate caregivers, Rhonda Johnson, Johnna Peacock Medlin, and Sonya Stone.

In lieu of flowers, consider memorials to Silver Lake Fire Department, 5215 Hornes Church Road, Wilson, North Carolina 27896.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.