Alice Bare Sexton

Alice Bare Sexton, 88 of Eden, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026 at UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

A funeral service will be held at 11am Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at Fair Funeral Home Chapel in Eden with burial to follow at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 5-7pm, at Fair Funeral Home.

Alice Bare Sexton was born on October 27, 1937, in West Jefferson, North Carolina, in Ashe County. Growing up in the North Carolina mountains, she learned the value of family, hard work, and helping where she was needed, including caring for her siblings and helping can vegetables.

Alice was proud of her family and the values they shared. In high school, she studied many subjects and especially enjoyed drama classes, where she could explore performance, expression, and storytelling.

Throughout her life, Alice found joy in family, friends, and community. She valued kindness, loyalty, hard work, and making others feel welcome. She spent countless hours at her children’s schools, planning classroom parties and building warm relationships with principals and teachers, who kept her closely informed about her children. Alice wanted each child to reach their fullest potential and encouraged continued education, technical learning, and meaningful opportunities. She also gave back by working the voting polls. At home, sports and friendly competition were part of family life, and Alice proudly loved the UNC Tar Heels, a connection made even more special when several of her children later attended UNC. Her children’s childhood friends still remember Mrs. Sexton for her kindness.

Alice met Jack Sexton in 1955 after a mutual friend brought them together. Jack had picked Alice out from a picture, and Alice loved telling the story of their first meeting—especially the pink shirt he wore. It was the beginning of many years of marriage, children, and building a family together.

Alice and Jack married in September 1955.

Alice and Jack first lived in Bristol, Tennessee, where they welcomed their first four children. In 1963, they moved to North Carolina, living in Spray before settling at 1315 West Fieldcrest Road in Eden. Their Eden home became their forever home while Jack was alive, and they welcomed three more children there.

After Jack passed away in 2010, Alice stayed close to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Visits, celebrations, conversations, and time together brought meaning to her later years. She remained a steady, loving presence and continued to pass along the values of togetherness, resilience, generosity, and care for family and community.

Alice was a wonderful mother to seven children; Teresa Sexton Church, married to Jimmy Church, Jack Sexton Jr. “Jackie,” deceased November 8, 1985, Wendy Sexton Covington, married to Randy Covington, Becky Sexton Ezell, married to Dale Ezell, Annette Sexton Kemplin, married to John Kemplin, Joseph Edmond Sexton, married to Michelle Sexton, Jamie Allen Sexton Sr., married to PJ “Patty Jean” Sexton.

She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly. Her grandchildren are Jackie Wayne Sexton, Amanda Carter Rorrer, of Eden, deceased, Jason Wells, Maggie Ezell Tyner, Andrew Wells, Morgan Ezell, Davey Purgason, Hillary Kemplin Hornaday, Russ Wells, JR Covington, Hunter Kemplin, Kyle Weekley, Mitch Wells, Taylor Dawn Sexton, Jessica Weekley, Jamie Sexton Jr., Nicolyn Federice. And her great-grandchildren, Lydia Rorrer, Nathan Wells, Bryson Tyner, Kenneday Tyner, Hudson Tyner, Landis Tyner, Ryland Wells, Henry Wells, Ruth Wells, Alina Wells, Jackson Wells, Tucker Wells, Heath Stone Hornaday, Drew Meadow Hornaday, Lilly Grace Kemplin, Ivy June Kemplin.

Alice’s loving parents were William Donald Bare Sr. and Cordie Mae Bare, who passed away in 2000 and 2006. She also had four brothers, William Donald Bare Jr. “WD,” married to Nancy, from Crumpler, Marshall Bare, deceased, Richard Creig Bare, married to Linda Bare, deceased, from High Point, Emory Macmillian Bare, married to Barbara, from Durham.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.