Mr. Daniel Jerome \"Jiggs\" Fussell, Sr., age 96, a lifelong resident of Rose Hill, North Carolina, entered into the eternal heavens on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at Milford and Reba Quinn Hospice Care Center in Kenansville. He is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth \"Lisa\" Fussell Lathe; two sons, Daniel Jerome Fussell, Jr., and wife JoEllen, David Geddie Fussell Sr. and wife Ann, all of Wallace, NC.; grandchildren, Leslie F. Rodriguez, D. J. Fussell, III, David G. Fussell, Jr., G. Patrick Fussell, and Jonathan D. Fussell and their spouses; great grandchildren, Tyler and Olivia Rodriguez, and Grayson, Zachary, Ayden, James David, and Camryn Fussell. A native of Rose Hill, Mr. Fussell was born on September 1, 1913 to Oscar and Myrtle Jerome Fussell. He is preceded in death by his college sweetheart and wife of 64 years, Mary Elizabeth\"Mama Lib\" and grandsons, Daniel Craig Fussell and Daniel Lyle Lathe. D. J. Fussell was affectionately nicknamed \"Jiggs\" by his Aunt who enjoyed the comic strip \"Jiggs & Maggie\". A man of many talents, he participated in collegiate football, basketball and baseball, receiving the first athletic scholarship awarded by Louisburg College. It was there that he met Mary Elizabeth Baker of Holly Springs, North Carolina. \"Lib is the real prize that I won in college,\" he remarked. He worked a number of jobs throughout his career. Out of all the choices and opportunities he carved for himself in his life, one stood out above others. In 1972, D. J. and his two sons, David Fussell, Sr., and Dan Fussell, Jr., planted ten acres of Muscadine grapes. In 1975, Duplin Winery was founded. This man of many talents and names, was affectionately referred to as \"Big D\" by his family and at the Winery and remained proud and grateful for the opportunity to revive the grape and wine industry in North Carolina. Today, Duplin Winery is the largest and oldest continuous winery in North Carolina, the largest winery in the South and the largest Muscadine winery in the world. Mr. Fussell was committed to public service. He served as Mayor of Rose Hill, was elected to the Duplin County Board of Commissioners where he still holds the record for 32 years of continuous service, and championed Mental Health Services and was honored as the Outstanding Chairman for Mental Health in North Carolina, to mention a few of his accomplishments.