Michael Branson Jennelle

Michael Branson “Mike” Jennelle, 77, of Calabash, NC passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, following a time of declining health.

Mike was born in Salisbury, Maryland on August 31, 1946, and was one of four children born to the late Clisby M. Jennelle, Jr., and Agnes Townsend Jennelle. In addition to his parents, Mike was predeceased by his sister, Jeanne J. Geis and his brother, Clisby M. Jennelle, III.

He spent the majority of his free-spirited youth living in Wyoming, Ohio graduating from Wyoming High School in 1966 where he participated in basketball, football, swimming, track, and drama club, becoming a lifetime member of the Mummers Guild University of Cincinnati at the young age of 13 “in appreciation of his fine work” in the Mummers Guild production of “Barnaby”, Children’s Theatre 1959. 

Mike was a longtime employee and retired division manager of AT&T where he met and fell in love with his wife, Lori.  They married in 1982 and lived happily in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.  He took his retirement from AT&T seriously and became certified as an Open Water Diver in 1987 and skydived from an airplane on his 43rd birthday.  Mike started the millennium off with a bang and moved them to Calabash, North Carolina where he soon after became a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Calabash Lodge #2679, and an Honorary Founder of the Elks National Foundation.  He became involved in as many of the Elks’ functions and charities as he could, holding three of the four “Chair Officer” positions during his nineteen years with the Lodge.  He was very proud of his service to the Elks and made many strong friendships there that continued until his death.

Surviving him are his loving wife of forty-one years, Lori W. Jennelle; a son, Michael Shawn Jennelle and wife Leslie of Little River, SC; his sister, Patricia Jennelle Lacy of Tarrytown, NY and nieces Deborah Lacy and Beverly Lacy Dorman (Todd); his brother-in-law, Lawrence W. Smith of Carolina Shores, NC and nephews Derek Smith and Ryan Smith (Michelle); his “brother from another mother” Matthew S. Hatez (Randy) of Carolina Shores, NC; and two beloved grandchildren, Catherine M. and Michael T. Jennelle.

A celebration of life will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in the Seaside United Methodist Church, 1300 Seaside Road, SW, Sunset Beach, NC 28468.

You are cordially invited to a reception following the service in the Calabash Elks Lodge, 937 Carter Drive, Calabash, NC 28467.

The family requests with gratitude that donations be made in his name to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation. 

Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J Fulwood Funeral Service Licensee, 910-471-5441

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