With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Rebecca Jane Winfree of Charleston, WV.
These are the contours of a life that meant a great deal to many.
What was given remains, even when the giver is gone.
Rebecca Jane Winfree, 84, of South Charleston, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2026, with her family by her side at Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston. She was born on April 10, 1942, in Springfield, Missouri, and spent her childhood in Sedalia, Missouri.
Rebecca graduated from Morris Harvey College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1964 and spent her career teaching English to the young people of Kanawha County at Nitro, Dunbar, and South Charleston High Schools. She was a beloved teacher whose patience, warmth, and love of literature touched many students and inspired some to become teachers themselves. She believed everyone should have the opportunity to succeed and she often stayed after school working with students who needed extra help and allowed students to retake tests and rewrite papers to show their best work.
Rebecca was a lifelong Methodist known for her deep faith, quiet strength, and kindness. As a young woman, she was an accomplished concert pianist. Throughout her life, she shared her many gifts with others by baking for those she loved, encouraging creativity, and passing on her love of reading and learning. She taught her children and grandchildren how to read.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Kemp Wayne Winfree; her parents, Francis Nile Davis, Sr., and Lorene Miller Davis; and her brother, Francis Nile Davis, Jr.
Rebecca is survived by her sons, Jason Winfree and his wife Meg Good of Turlock, California, and Morgan Winfree of South Charleston and Veronica Rodriguez of La Paz, Mexico; her grandchildren Isaac of Wardensville, Sophie of Turlock, California, William and his wife Valeria of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Ida of Turlock, California, and Yurelis, Malia, Isabella, and Becky Jane of Charleston; her great-grandson Matthew Kemp Winfree of Jacksonville, North Carolina; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Steve and Jeannette Hodge of Portland, Connecticut; niece Ginny of Portland, Connecticut, and nephew Seth of Attleboro, Massachusetts; sister-in-law Beverly Williams Davis of Martinsville, Virginia; nieces Kathy Davis Rhule of Merry Point, Virginia, Karen Davis Knopp of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Kelly Davis Maxey and Teresa Davis Martin of Martinsville, Virginia; and Marisa Ballesteros Winfree and Isabel Caballero.
Rebecca devoted herself fully to her family, her students, and her faith. She was a dedicated and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher. She will be remembered for her unfailing kindness, lifelong creativity, eye for detail, humor, and wit. She will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, with Pastor Jarrod Caltrider leading the service. Rebecca will be laid to rest in the Church Columbarium.
Family and friends are welcome to visit the church one hour before the service.
The family requests consideration of memorial gifts to Hubbard Hospice House at 1001 Curtis Price Way, Charleston, WV 25311 or online at www.hospicecarewv.org/make-a-donation/.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
