Mrs. Jessie Howell Dillard, age 96, of Jefferson passed away Thursday afternoon, March 24, 2016 at Avante in Wilkesboro. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 2:00pm at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Michael Carter and Rev. Martha Kincaid officiating. Burial will follow in the Ashelawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00pm on Monday, March 28, 2016; prior to the funeral service. Mrs. Dillard was born in Ashe County on January 27, 1920 to the late James Geter and Lucy Barr Howell. Jessie retired from Spraque Electric Company. She was a member of Orion Baptist Church. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and will be missed by all. She is preceded in death by her husband; Wiley Mack Dillard. She is survived by two sons; Dean Dillard and wife Barbara of Mocksville, and Dale Dillard and wife Wanda of Randleman, three daughters; Dorothy Greene and husband Kenny of West Jefferson, Evelyn Baker of West Jefferson, and Angie Hartley and husband Jim of West Jefferson, two brothers; Paul Howell of Arizona, and Ray Howell and wife Carol of West Jefferson, one sister; Ann Bumgarner and husband Joe of Hudson, ten grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, one step-grandson, four great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews also survive. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Orion Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Betty Jenkins, 2344 NC Hwy 16 South, Jefferson, NC 28640 or Orion Baptist Church Cemetery, c/o Lucian Jordan, 190 Cherry Avenue, West Jefferson, NC 28694. The family will be meeting at the homeplace, 1327 Frank Dillard Road in Jefferson.