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Lois Gray Beeson Barney

Lois Gray Beeson Barney  passed into the more immediate presence of our Lord unexpectedly on Monday, June 29, 2020, eight weeks after her husband Paul Barney passed. Barney was born in Winston-Salem on Jan. 12, 1930, to Ernest Allen Beeson and Versie Fulp Beeson, Barney graduated from Walkertown High School with honors in 1947, a member of the Beta Club. She was employed by Brown-Rogers-Dixon in Winston-Salem prior to her marriage to Paul Benjamin Barney on Dec. 18, 1948. A homemaker until after her children were grown, Barney was employed at Jostens Publishing Company in Winston-Salem until her retirement. She was known for her love of baking and cooking and canning, planting flowers and gardening, loving to be with her grandchildren, and rescuing and homing many dogs and cats. Paul and Lois resided in Hillsdale in Davie County for 70 years. Barney is survived by their children Marcia L. Barney and Stephen K. Barney. They have four grandchildren: Ryan N. Barney, Shawn Barney (Mindi), Kami L. Periman and Tracy Barney (Stephanie); eight great-grandchildren:  Lorian Barney, Isaac Barney, Kaleb Barney, Katie-Grace Barney, Trenton Barney, Carter Barney, Aiden Barney and Raelyn Barney. Barney is pre-deceased by her husband, her parents, and her son Michael B. Barney. She is survived by her sister Loretta Beeson Vanhoy (Wesley), sisters-in-law Frances M. Barney, Ella Smith and Alma Shoaf and daughter-in-law Judy (Dana) McKenzie. Memorials may be sent to The Humane Society of Davie County, 1469 North Main Street, Mocksville, NC 27028. A private graveside service was held on Thursday, July 2, 2020, with interment at Cornatzer Baptist Church. Pastor Chris Thore officiated at the ceremony. Online condolences may be made to  www.hayworth-miller.com

Andrea Michele Brett

Andrea Michele Brett died on June 28, 2020. Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and living different parts of her 68 years in Arkansas, Ohio, and North Carolina, Brett peacefully went home to her father in heaven after succumbing to brain cancer. Brett’s presence will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her. She devoted her energy to helping others, whether she knew them or not. She enjoyed volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Room at Brenner Children’s Hospital and for Meals on Wheels, two of her favorite charities. To the end, Brett worried about her loved ones that she would leave behind rather than about herself.

While Brett had a variety of interests over the years, one of her recent passions was tracing her family’s history back to its roots to Czechoslovakia. She reveled in figuring out who was who and even more so in who wasn’t. On a rewarding afternoon, Brett would solve a puzzle in the family history as names and locations spellings changed over the years. She compiled many photo and history books with her findings.

Brett is survived by her husband, Tony, mother Anne Marie Pipik, daughter Loretta Miller of Durham, daughter Michelle Reopel (Phillip) of Winston-Salem, grandchildren John and Robert, stepsons Paul and Sam, five loving Pipik brothers Dave, Jeff, Ray, Gary and Eric, her dear sister Marcia Specht.

The family would like to thank the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Health, Trinity Elms Health & Rehab, and Trellis Supportive Care for the capable and compassionate care provided by so many for Brett during her illness. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests exploring opportunities to volunteer with or donate to these wonderful organizations so they can continue to help others in their time of need. Due to the current health environment, a ceremony limited to family will be held at a time to be determined.

Bonnie Darnell Felk

Mrs. Bonnie Darnell Felk, of Yadkinville, entered into eternal life on June 26, 2020. She was born in Forsyth County in April 1961, to A.C. ‘Buck’ Darnell and Tina Snow Darnell. She was a National Honor Society graduate of West Forsyth High School class of ‘78, completed postsecondary education with a bachelor of science degree in psychology with concentration in rehabilitation counseling at Appalachian State University class of ‘83; during the course of college she held an honorary membership with the Gamma Beta Phi Society. She married Michael C. Felk in August 1985 at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Her early professional career included over eight years in social services, finishing with 12 years as assistant director at New Hope Pregnancy Care Center of Yadkinville.  During the course of raising her two children and supporting adjuvant self-employment with her husband, she worked part time at local libraries in both Boonville, and Yadkinville. This combined with her first love in the Lord Jesus Christ, ministry and selfless devotion to her family and life completes the mission and sojourner of such a beloved and beautiful woman. She is survived by her husband, Michael Carter Felk; son Stephen Michael Felk, daughter Olivia Rose Felk; father and mother A.C. ‘Buck’ Darnell and Tina Snow Darnell; sister Vickie Lynn Darnell; sisters-in-law Sandy Felk Robinson and Tracy Chlystun Felk; brothers-in-law Roy Edward Robinson and Mark Elam Felk; niece Anna Lea Robinson and nephew Bradley Neil Robinson; in addition to the above, many adored aunts, uncles, and cousins survive her for whom are deeply cherished though not mentioned here. A graveside service was held at Forsyth Memorial Park, 3771 Yadkinville Road, Winston-Salem, at 11 a.m. on July 1, 2020, with Pastor Jamie Reavis officiating. Memorials may be made to New Hope Pregnancy-Compassion Care Ministries, 321 W. Main St. Yadkinville, NC 27055. Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel is serving the family of Mrs. Felk.

John L. (Jack) Stemper III

John L. Stemper III (Jack), 84, of Winston-Salem, died June 28, 2020, from complications following surgery. Stemper was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John Louis Stemper Jr. and Anna (McCauley) Stemper on Jan. 17, 1936.

Stemper is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Stemper, and by his five children: Andrea Stemper (Les Gruen) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Alicia Stemper (Lydia Lavelle) of Carrboro; Audrey Delaney (Mike) of Ashburn, Virginia; John Stemper (Azra) of Zurich, Switzerland; and James Stemper (Amy) of Clemmons. His first wife, Gail Stemper, predeceased him in death. Nine beloved grandchildren also survive: Devon Johnson; Riley Hutchison and Avery Stemper; Annika and Jimmy Saloka; Lyle and Nadja Stemper; and Jack and Shuler Stemper. Stemper’s grandson, Graham Johnson, predeceased him in 2008. Mary Frances’s children, Jan Jordan (Luis) and Mark Musgrave, and their children also survive.

Stemper went to Camden Catholic High School in Camden, N.J. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania where he participated in ROTC and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated in 1957 with a bachelor of science degree in economics. He entered military service as a naval supply officer on an aircraft carrier and served for three years. In his professional career, Stemper primarily worked in the battery industry for Exide, Douglas Batteries, and Firing Circuits. He was later a consultant for many other companies. When asked how he was doing, Stemper would say, “Charging along!”

Jack and Gail were among the founding families of Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons. Throughout his life, Stemper was an active volunteer in civic and church organizations, and a loyal friend to many. He provided loving care to his parents and mother-in-law at the end of their respective lives. Jack enjoyed traveling, the ocean, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Stemper will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love of family, his delicious breakfasts, and teaching his children life skills including how to have the most charitable interpretation (MCI) of others’ words and deeds, how to jump start cars, how to make pickles and perfect Manhattans, and how to bodysurf.  He will be missed beyond measure.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Holy Family Catholic Church Bereavement Fund or to the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 10, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4820 Kinnamon Road in Winston-Salem. Interment will follow the mass at the Holy Family Columbarium. There will be a live stream of the event at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOmboVHWrkc.