Willie Jean Brinkley Massengill

Four Oaks, NC: Mrs. Willie Jean Brinkley Massengill, age 81, of Raleigh Road passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held 11:00AM-Thursday, April 17, 2025 at the Rose & Graham Funeral Home Chapel in Benson. Officiating will be Dr. Randy Carter and Rev. Danny Collins. The Massengill Family will be holding a private burial.

Jean was born on April 23, 1943 in Johnston County to the late James Thelton Brinkley and Maudie Katie Eason Grimsley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Maurice Massengill; brothers, J.R. Brinkley, Jasper Brinkley, and Barbee Brinkley; and a sister, Rudean Senter. Jean graduated from Corinth Holders High School in 1961. She served as Magistrate in Johnston County for 17 years and later retired from the NCDMV License and Theft Bureau as a regional hearing officer supervisor. Jean served as a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 60 and volunteer often to support activities that her sons were involved in at Four Oaks Elementary and South Johnston High School. She served as the President of Johnston County Young Democrats and the Johnston County Democratic Women. Jean was a member of the American Business Woman Association, Red Hat Society and served as the President of the North Carolina Magistrate’s Association. She was also a member of the Johnston County Mental Health Board and served on the Judicial Council of North Carolina. Jean was a member Johnson’s Chapel P.F.W.B. Church where she served as a youth leader, Sunday School teacher, and church secretary.

Surviving are her sons, Gordon D. Massengill of Wilmington and Jimmie M. Massengill, and wife, Audrey of Four Oaks; grandchildren, Brittaney N. Bullins and husband, Charly of Virginia Beach, Kathleen V. Matthews and husband, Marchie of Dunn, Jimmie M. Massengill, Jr. and Skye Stewart of Four Oaks; Alexis O. Massengill and Zack Beasley of Currituck, NC; and eleven great-grandchildren; sisters, Elsie Benson of Clayton and Helen Worley of Chapel Hill; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson, and other times at the home.

The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this time.

In lieu of flowers; please make donation to the Johnston Health Foundation, c/o SECU Hospice House, P. O. Box 1376 Smithfield, NC 27577.

Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson.