Mr. James “JR”/”RJ” Robert Jessup, age 79, of Pilot Mountain, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2011 at his home. He was born on September 22, 1931 in Stokes County to the late James Ellsworth and Mamie Ann Chilton Jessup. Mr. Jessup was retired from the tobacco warehouse business, Jessup Brothers Fertilizer and Real Estate. He was a member of Brims Grove Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher for many years and former deacon; a Past Mastor of Pilot Masonic Lodge 493 A.F.& A.M. Mr. Jessup is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Needham Jessup; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael “Mike” James and Kathy Sproles Jessup, of King; four brothers and sister-in-laws, June and Peggy Jessup, Frank and Cooké Jessup, Gray and Vicki Jessup, and Wade and Pat Jessup, all of Pilot Mountain; one sister, Pauline Jessup Fulk, of Pilot Mountain; two granddaughters who were the loves of his life, Sarah Jessup and fiancé Matt Splawn, of Cornelius, and Hannah Jessup, of King; and several special nieces and nephews. Mr. Jessup was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Dwight Jessup, of Pilot Mountain. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Brims Grove Baptist Church at 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Gerald Jones, Rev. Ralph Sproles, and Rev. Mark Hall officiating with interment will follow in the church cemetery with Full Masonic Rites given by the Pilot Masonic Lodge 493 A.F. & A.M. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made Brims Grove Baptist Church, 3509 NC Hwy 268 E, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to special friends Spencer and Helen Nelson, and Jack and Greta Hall for helping care for Mr. Jessup. Cox-Needham Funeral Home of Pilot Mountain (www.coxneedham.com, www.facebook.com/coxneedham is respectfully serving the Jessup family.