Obituaries

Our beloved mother, Anita M. Jelks, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 14th, 2023. She was born May 9th, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY, to Dave Germain and Sylvia Hayeck.

In her early years, Anita was a busy Navy wife, working, raising three children and traveling the world. She not only lived in Virginia Beach as a young mother, she and her family lived in the Philippines, Subic Bay and Key West, among other places throughout the world.

Leaving Virginia Beach in the mid 70’s, she moved to Knotts Island, NC, where she owned and operated her own Hair Salon for almost 30 years. She and her family planted roots there and she always spoke lovingly of the fun times they had.

Retiring in the 1990’s, she and her husband moved back to Virginia Beach, where she, again, remained very active. Always a busy lady with many friends, she enjoyed line dancing, attending concerts and plays, traveling and shopping (of course!!)

Not one to ever sit still, in 2004, Anita also became a Hospice Volunteer with Heartland Hospice, where she would sit, visit and console Hospice patients and their families.

Anita was predeceased by her loving husband, Lt. Cdr. (Retired) John L. Jelks, and her oldest daughter, Jessie Oakes Zimbro, of Virginia Beach, VA. She was also recently predeceased by her very best friend, Dodie Perry, of Virginia Beach, VA.

She is survived by her son, Steven S. Oakes, of Moncks Corner, SC. and Monica Jelks (“Denny”) of of Ft. Pierce, FL. Also, by Denny’s daughter, Morgan Burns Costa and Morgans two children, Marlon & Isabella. Her other survivors include her grandson, Chris Lee Zimbro and his sons, Brady, Hayden and Ronald of Moycok, NC; her sister, Jeannie Smith & Jeannie’s three children, Debbie, Michael and Linda, all of Ft. Pierce, FI; and her brother, Harry Hayeck, Jr. (“Chick”) & his two daughters, Celeste & Mitzi, also of Ft. Pierce, FL. She is also survived by a multitude of other friends she made over her lifetime; her “line-dancing buddies” (too numerous to name!) her shopping and traveling girlfriends and her other “best friend,” Patty Hendrix, of Virginia Beach. She was very loved & will be sadly missed by all.

Hers was a life well-lived!

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 Altmeyer Funeral Home South Side Chapel (5033 Rouse Drive, Va. Beach, VA 23462) A viewing will be held from: 2 – 3:45 PM and a service to follow at 4 pm. Reception will be held at Altmeyer’s following the Service. A burial will be Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veteran’s Cemetery (5310 Milners Road Suffolk, VA) at 2PM. All are invited to attend!