Jerry A. Jordan

Jerry A. Jordan, 83, of Durham, North Carolina passed away at home on Sunday, March 10, 2024. He was born January 14, 1941 in Wilson County, NC to the late Russell and Blanche Jordan.

In addition to his parents, Jerry is preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Evelyn Jordan, and his brother John Robert Jordan.

After graduating from Rock Ridge High School in 1959, Mr. Jordan moved to Washington, DC. There, he worked as a fingerprint technician for the FBI, and studied at George Washington University.

He returned to North Carolina in the early 1960s, where he joined the North Carolina Army National Guard. He also worked in the tech industry, first at a small company in Wilson called Thermatics that made switches. Back in North Carolina, he asked a local girl named Evelyn Whitman out, and in 1966, she became his wife, a marriage that lasted until her death in 2021. 

Mrs. Jordan encouraged him to apply for a job at the new IBM facility that had been announced to open soon near the Durham area. He got a job there shortly before IBM-RTP opened in 1966, and he stayed with IBM until retiring in 2003.

After retiring the first time, Mr. Jordan was restless and got a job working for the state as an IMAP driver, assisting stranded motorists. He loved that job and told many stories about the people he helped. He retired a second time about 10 years later, and after decades of waking up early for work, he got to enjoy sleeping as late as he wanted.

Family came first for Jerry throughout his life. In his youth, he helped his father and his siblings, and later in life, his main priority was helping and supporting his wife, children and grandchildren.

Jerry and Evelyn had two sons, Michael, born in 1966 of Chapel Hill, and Keith, born in 1971, of Durham. Jerry had three grandchildren, Alyson, born 1997, Eric, born 1998, and Emma, born 2005. In addition to his sons and his grandchildren, he is survived by his daughter in law, Maggie, of Chapel Hill; sister, Janice, of San Jose CA; sister, Patricia, of Durham; and brother, Russell Jr., of Augusta GA.

Mr. Jordan was a devout Christian who was a longtime member at Sorrell’s Grove Baptist Church in Morrisville and later at Salem Baptist Church in Apex. He led the youth Royal Ambassador program and was a Sunday School teacher.

In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and target shooting and in the last few years loved spending time with his “granddog” Jack.

Jerry will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother and will be deeply missed by the many whose lives he touched.

A Graveside service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Brier Creek Memorial Gardens in Raleigh, NC.  The Rev. Mark Howard will officiate.  The family will receive friends prior to the Graveside service from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. at Hudson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s name to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board:
 https://www.namb.net/give/the-cooperative-program/