Verna Elizabeth Hines, 78, of Jacksonville, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 4, 2026 surrounded by her family at Onslow Memorial Hospital. Born in Winchester, MA on April 29, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Vernon Ralph Welch and Alice Welch.

Following a tumultuous first marriage of nearly 20 years, she finally found her true soul mate in Gerald Hines in Jacksonville, NC in 1996. She worked for nearly 30 years for Onslow County Public School system as school secretary and SIMS coordinator at Hunters Creek Middle School. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing, traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren, who she adored.

Verna was a powerful spirit from the beginning and touched many lives in her time on this earth through her intelligence, artistry, loving spirit, and generosity. She was all at once an extraordinary mother, a teacher, an artist, a seamstress, a designer, a dancer, an incredible friend to so many and of course a wonderful wife. She is sorely missed.

Verna is survived by a large and loving family.  Her husband and soul partner of 29 years, Gerald Hines; and their children Keith Sturgeon (Heather), of Ham Lake, MN; Heather Todd (Joseph) of Elm City, NC and Courtney Cunningham (Ryan) of Lexington, NC and a menagerie of grandkids- Jacob, Dakota, Keyan, Mikah, Abigail, Lydia, and RJ. And also her sisters Genivieve Sepe (Peter) and Alice Joyce (Thomas) both of Rhode Island, and brother Vernon Welch (Berta) of Aquinnah, MA.

The family will receive friends Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Graveside service will follow at 3:00 pm at Onslow Memorial Park, Pastor Allen Powell officiating. In Leu of flowers, donations may be made to Verona Baptist Church, 23467 Hwy 50, Holly Ridge, NC 28445 or veronabaptistchurchnc.com.