Obituaries — Dec. 26
Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 26, 2019
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Sam Beck
Sam Beck, 85, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at Trinity Elms Health and Rehab and spent Christmas with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His declining health brought him in and out of the hospital during 2019. A celebration of his life was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. The family received friends prior to the service between 2-3 p.m. A private burial was held Monday, Dec. 23, at Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons. Reverend Truett Williams Sr. officiated the service. In lieu of flowers, Sam Beck had earlier requested that any gifts be made to Calvary Baptist Church for student missions/camps. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com. Sam was born Nov. 20, 1934, in Forsyth County to the late Noah Winfield Beck and Nannie (Teague) Beck. He is preceded in death by five brothers: N.W. Beck, Jesse Beck, Henry Beck, Clifton Beck, and Bobby Beck, as well as two sisters, Wilma (Beck) Smith, and Nancy (Beck) Mickey. Sam is survived by the love of his life, his wife of nearly 60 years, Glenda Ann (Easter) Beck, his daughter Joanie Williams (Truett), his son, Steve Beck (Dawn), his twin grandchildren who have been the joy of his life, Truett Williams Jr.(Hannah), Kaleigh Beason (Ben), and his new great-granddaughter, Emory Laurel Beason, along with his younger brother Jimmy Beck. Sam graduated from Gray High School in 1952. As a senior, he was the most valuable football player in the Piedmont Bowl and received the Brevard Hoover Award in 1953. He attended Lees-McCrae Junior College on a football scholarship where he played quarterback and punted for two years. Sam served three years in the United States Air Force as a military police specialist. Sam loved his country and proudly displayed the American flag at his home. He also played football as a quarterback for Torrejon Air Force Base in Madrid, Spain, and traveled Europe playing other military bases. After his military service, Sam furthered his education at Appalachian State University where he received his bachelor of arts degree in health and physical education in 1966. Known to many athletes as Coach Beck, Sam first started his coaching and teaching career at Mineral Springs Junior High from 1966-1969, then on to West Forsyth High School where he was head baseball coach and assistant football coach. He was named the 4A Coach of the Year his first year at West Forsyth in 1970. He later coached at Forbush High School where he was head coach in football and baseball for four years. He was named teacher of the year there at Forbush. He coached and taught at Woodland Christian School starting football and baseball teams there. Coach Beck went on to Davie High School where he was assistant football coach, and then on to newly created North Davie Junior High where he was named athletic director, teaching PE and coaching football and baseball. Coach Beck was very proud of the booster program there. For 30 years, Coach Beck loved coaching and taught student athletes to work hard and show respect for others. He was elected to the Winston-Salem Forsyth County High School Hall of Fame for Football and Coaching in 1995. Sam Beck was an avid gardener and spent much of his time outdoors in his yard. He loved Southern gospel music. He also loved being a member of Calvary Baptist Church for nearly 44 years. He taught Sunday school for 12 years, mainly to seventh-grade students. In his later years, Sam will always be remembered for working in his yard, driving his truck, wearing a baseball cap, and lovingly sharing about his family, especially his grandchildren. The family would like to thank Trinity Elms Rehabilitation Center and Hospice for lovingly taking care of their husband/father/grandfather A special thank you goes to Bradley Jones, Sam’s neighbor, who has so eloquently documented on film the life of Sam Beck through interviews with him, his family and former athletes.
Philippians 3:13-14 “Now dear believers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energy to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I have strained to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.”
Charles Lloyd ‘Bo’ Lewis
Mr. Charles Lloyd “Bo” Lewis, 56, of Mocksville, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born Dec. 27, 1962, in Guilford County to Roy and Ruby Kemp Lewis. Mr. Lewis was employed by Pete’s Restaurant in Clemmons where he had worked for the past 8½ years. In his 30-year career, his former and current employers and co-workers described him as humble, hardworking and a good-hearted man. He was preceded in death by a step-son, Allen “Shane” Matthews Sr; a nephew, Steven Lewis; and his mother-in-law, Gladys “Granny” Matthews. Surviving are his wife, Mitzi Lewis of 26 years; a son, Jonathan Lewis (Heather); two daughters, Ashley Lewis (Michael) and Melissa Ashley (Robert); nine grandchildren, Kimberly, Hannah (Emory), Conner, Shane, Peyton, Katie, Landen, Delaney and Addison; a sister, Renee Maness (Daniel); two brothers, Steve Lewis (Bonnie) and Robbie Lewis; two brothers-in-law, Byrd Matthews and Tony Matthews (Mary) and his beloved dog Peanut. A funeral service was held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel with his granddaughter, Hannah Hutchens officiating. The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com .
J.B. McCrary
J.B. McCrary of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away in peace with the loving staff and community at Quality Care Rehabilitation Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019; he was 85. J.B. was a United States Air Force veteran, serving in the Korean War. He loved country music, maintaining his garden, and was an avid eater of biscuits and gravy. J.B. is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis McCrary, and later wife Mary McCrary. He is survived by seven children, Debra Brown; David McCrary; Steve McCrary; JoAnne Doyle; Dorothy Hoffman; Eddy McCrary; and Marie McCrary, 15 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
J.B.’s journey in his final years was unexpected and difficult; however, he had a strong support network that included his family, Dorothy, Lonnie, Theresa, Brian, and John of Clemmons; JoAnne of Akron, Ohio; and Debra of Monterey, Tennessee; along with the staff and community at Quality Care — all of whom served as his biggest advocates, and spent countless hours working to get him to a place, in a situation, where he could tell his story and pass away on his terms.
His funeral took place on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at Mayland Cemetery in Crossville, Tennessee, where he was buried next to the love of his later life, Mary McCrary. In lieu of any gifts, the family just asks that well-wishers place time and emphasis on end-of-life planning and in who trust is placed, particularly at the later stages of life.
Robert ‘Peanut’ Glen Palmer
Mr. Robert “Peanut” Glen Palmer Jr., 86, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Forsyth County on Feb. 10, 1933, to the late Robert Glen Palmer Sr. and Lillian Lawrence Palmer. Mr. Palmer was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from Wachovia Bank with 28 years of service. He was a member of South Fork Church of Christ where he served as a deacon for many years. Mr. Palmer was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and a friend to everyone. He was an avid sports fan and always was full of humor. He enjoyed golfing and was a competitive bowler. Preceding him in death was his brother, Jack Palmer, and three sisters, Betty Sloan, Barbara Jones and Ellen Beroth. Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Janice Messick Palmer; daughter, Joanna Palmer Bearden; son, John Palmer (Kathy); daughter, Jennifer Palmer Hudson (Kevin); eight grandchildren, Bethany Bearden, Ben Bearden, Jordan Palmer Oder (Aaron), Regan Palmer Rutherford (Bennett), Hailey Douglas and fiancé, Tyler Rhodes, Kyndall Palmer, Courtney Hudson, and Logan Hudson. In addition, he leaves behind many cherished in-laws that he considered his siblings along with many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life service was held at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel with Mr. Jeff Messick and Mr. Trent Messick officiating. The family received friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Fork Church of Christ, 205 Keating Dr. Winston-Salem, N.C., 27104. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.
Rufus J. Willard
Mr. Rufus J. Willard, 82, passed away with family by his side at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Dec.21, 2019. He was born in Mt. Airy on Feb. 4, 1937, to the late Luper Willard and Riller Simmons Willard. He is preceded in death by one brother, Ramon Simmons (Dot), one sister Tessie Mears and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Slater Willard, daughter Debi Cutright-Pratt (David) of Catawba, S.C., Reggie Willard (Dawn), grandson Jason Cutright (Amanda), two great-grandchildren, Rhett Cutright and Madalyn Cutright of Harrisburg, and one granddaughter Morgan Cutright of Raleigh. Rufus was a devoted and proud husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved old cars, renovating homes and was well known for his expertise in hanging wallpaper. He enjoyed spending time with his friends including his special friends at the Clemmons YMCA and breakfast buddies at the Bojangles in Clemmons. A visitation was held at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Union United Methodist Church, 8935 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, N.C., 27023. Burial followed in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Union United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .