Obituaries for the week of Oct. 14

Published 1:07 am Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Dorothy Grey Hendrix Beauchamp

Mrs. Dorothy Grey Hendrix Beauchamp, 92 of Clemmons passed away Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born July 29, 1929, in Davie County to John Carl Hendrix and Ora Spillman Hendrix. She is preceded in death by her husband, Earlie Roosevelt “Jaybird” Beauchamp. Surviving are children, Earlie R. Beauchamp Jr. (Lorna) of Advance; Bonnie Whisenhunt (Mark Beroth) of Clemmons; John Keith Beauchamp of Winston-Salem and Sallie Crump (Frank) of Clemmons; grandchildren, Amy Mabe (Kevin), Crystal Messick (Jayson), Lori Crump, Brent D. Whisenhunt and Kristie Trivette and six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Trinity Elms Assisted Living for the loving care she received during the last years of her life. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Westlawn Gardens of Memory Mausoleum Chapel by Rev. Bill Messer. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .

John C. Bell Jr.

John C. Bell Jr., 73, of Lewisville, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. He was born Sept. 23, 1948, in Forsyth County to June Edwards and John C. Bell Sr. Bell was a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran; he served for two tours of duty as a military police. He was awarded the Vietnam Service and Campaign Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He was a member of Lewisville Baptist Church and a member of Masonic Lodge No. Enterprise 752.  Bell retired from Wachovia Bank in the security department. He was an avid historian, and he also obtained his commercial pilot’s license. Bell could bring a room to life with his stories or jokes. He never knew a stranger, and he loved to read. Bell loved the Lord, his Judy, fishing, boating, cars and airplanes. He was preceded in death by his parents and the love of his life, his wife, Judy Collins Bell. Surviving are his sister, Shirley Bell Moser; a brother, Ronnie Lee Bell (Margret); sisters-in-law, Carolyn Simmons and Bonnie Collins; a brother-in-law, Michael Collins, and several nieces and nephews. Special friends, Cheryl and Bob Schwab, Lee and Shirley Matthews, and Darryl and Chris Clark will miss him dearly. The family would like to mention a special thank you to Jerry and Ginny Haymore for their love and care; there could be no better neighbors. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at the Lewisville Baptist Church cemetery with Pastor Philip Barnes officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lewisville Baptist Church, 125 Lewisville Clemmons Rd., Lewisville, NC 27023.

Bobby Gray Bailey

Bobby Gray Bailey, 90, passed away at his home on Oct. 7, 2021. He was born on Nov. 2, 1930, to Claude Odell “Ned” Bailey and Illa Aaron Bailey in Davie County. Bailey was a graduate of Shady Grove High School. While in the fifth grade at Shady Grove, Bailey met Maxine, who would eventually become his bride. Following their marriage, Bailey joined Mocks United Methodist Church. A master carpenter, he retired from Floratine and later did contract work for Pine Hall Brick Company. Bobby and Maxine spent many hours working together on woodworking projects. He would do the building, and she would do the decorating. Bailey loved carp fishing. It has been said that he was one of the best around. When others saw him approaching, they would pack up and leave because he would fish all the carp out of the pond. He enjoyed sports and was a fan of the Cleveland Indians and the N.C. State Wolfpack. Bailey will be remembered as a quiet, humble man with a good sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. Bailey was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maxine Phelps Bailey. Survivors include daughters, Sue Johnson (Henry) and Jan Bailey, both of Advance; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and siblings, Betty Stevenson and Bill Bailey (Peggy), all of Advance. A graveside service will be held at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at Mocks United Methodist Church Cemetery with Rev. Luke Mitchell officiating.  Memorials may be made to Mocks United Methodist Church, PO Box 2122, Advance, NC 27006. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .

Elsie Y. Bright

Elsie Alice Trent Young Bright passed away peacefully on Sept. 17, 2021, at Sanders Assisted Living in Gloucester Virginia, where she had resided for the past 12 years. She was 109 years old. Bright was born in Montgomery, Ohio, on Jan. 5, 1912, where she grew up on a family farm while attending a one-room school. She married and raised three children there before moving with her family to Winston-Salem, where she lived for 45 years. She led an active life singing in church choirs, serving as voter registrar in Ohio and North Carolina and managing doctors’ offices while engaging in a variety of craft activities including needlework, decorative ornaments, pine needle weaving and painting. She was also an accomplished seamstress. She was a long-time member of Fraternity Church of the Brethren. Bright was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, C. Emmert Bright and her oldest son Allen L. Bright. She is survived by son Norman Bright (Betty) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and daughter Sandra Brewer (Bill) of Hayes, Virginia, as well as eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service and interment will be held near her birthplace in Ohio.

Juanita ‘Nita’ Dowell Bullard

Mrs. Juanita “Nita” Dowell Bullard, 88, of Kinston, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. She was born July 20, 1933, in Surry County to the late Leroy Dowell and Lucy Sloop Dowell. She had retired from the Davie County Public Schools as a teacher assistant and was active in her churches and communities serving at Storehouse for Jesus, St. Mary’s Kitchen, and Hope Preparatory School.  She relished the role of “Mamaw” with her four grandchildren and many of their friends, and she had a special bond with her great-grandson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman Ralph Bullard; sister, Mary Maxine Dowell; and brothers, Lee and Robert Dowell. She is survived by one daughter, Gayla Vermillion (Tom) of Kinston; grandchildren, Hayley Vermillion, Hannah Jones (Brandon), Thomas Vermillion Jr., and Alli Vermillion (fiance Cal Horton); great-grandson, Jaxon Tabb; and sisters, Bonnie Paschal of Clemmons and Brenda Hutchins (John) of Winston-Salem. A funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Advance by Dr. Suzanne G. Michael and Pastor Jason McKnight. The family received friends following the service. Burial followed in Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Winston-Salem. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hope Preparatory School, P.O. Box 5144, Kinston, NC 28503 or online at www.hopeprepschool.org.  Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .

Marie Virginia Perkins Felton

On Oct. 5, 2021, Marie Virginia Perkins Felton of Clemmons passed away into God’s graces, at 92 years old. Felton was predeceased in death by her husband, William Turner Felton III and son William “Pete” Turner Felton IV. She is survived by her children, Beth Miller (Jeff) of Brandon, Florida, and Richard Felton (Sherri) of Clemmons; grandchildren, Jay Miller (Amy) of Cumming, Georgia, Suzanne Borgia (Micheal) of Valrico, Florida, Chelsea Ferguson (Robert) of Winston-Salem, Chad Felton (Anna) of Winston-Salem, Aaron Felton (Danielle) of the Outer Banks and Meredith Wilson (Greg) of the Outer Banks. Great-grandchildren include Grant, Lily Reese, Lyla Rose, Saadiiq and Hazel Miller; Elsie, John, Penelope Marie Borgia and Vivian Ferguson, Ella Felton and Avery, Ashby, Addison and Ansley Wilson. She is also survived by a sister, Martha Pruitt (Carroll). Felton was a devoted Christian and member of Clemmons Baptist Church who loved teaching Sunday school and being in charge of sending cards to all the members of the class on special occasions. She was a founding member of North Carolina State Highway Patrol Women’s Auxiliary. She retired from Belk after 40 years of service in human resources and loved anything including flowers, birds and butterflies which led her to floral arranging and raising orchids with Bill. A service was led by her grandson, the Rev. Jay Miller, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel, with visitation at 10 a.m. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .

Robert Wayne Hilterbrand

Robert Wayne Hilterbrand passed suddenly at his home in Lewisville on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. He was born to Wayne Hilterbrand and Deborah Porter in Forsyth County on March 17, 1971. He joined the Navy when he was 20 to see the world. His first deployment was to the U.S.S. Virginia, and afterwards, he was stationed on the U.S.S. George Washington, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. His final deployment was at the Pentagon, where he worked on Admiral Row from May 1997 through June 1998. His first post-naval career was at the Transportation Safety Administration in Washington, D.C. After the TSA, he worked with special events planning using his remarkable skills to plan national conventions and weddings. Unfortunately, his health declined, and he retired early. He was a wonderful cook and loved to dance. He, like his Aunt Cathy, was also an avid lover of dogs. The greatest loves of his life were his dogs Murphy and Beo. He loved his family with loyalty and ferocity. When the first baby was born to his cousins, he did not set her down any time he saw her for two full years. He would not ever change a diaper, though. He was silly and rebellious, helpful, and obstinate, as only a well-loved and loving single child could be. He was best friends with his mom, and hers in return, a relationship to envy. He was also close to his Aunt Shireen, who he nicknamed “the FBI of the family.” He had routines with his father that he held sacred, down to specific booths at the restaurants they enjoyed going together every weekend. His sense of humor was legendary and wicked. He’d deliver a one-liner with a glint in his eye that is etched in the hearts of everyone he ever pursed his lips at.  He is survived by his mother and Ken, father and Donna, aunts and cousins Jessica and Dana. It was a small family which feels so much smaller without him. Services will be held at Hayworth-Miller in Lewisville on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, with Chaplain Benn Fleming officiating. Visitation with family will begin at 1 p.m. with the memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. Flowers will be accepted, or donations to the Forsyth Humane Society.

John Robert ‘Bob’ Meadows

Mr. John Robert “Bob” Meadows, 72 passed away Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born Sept. 11, 1949, in Forsyth County to the late Rome Calvin Meadows and Edith Everhart Meadows. Meadows served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and had worked for Wachovia Bank and U.S. Air as a computer technician. He is survived by his wife, Kathy C. Meadows; daughter, Melissa M. Cox (John) of Lexington; grandchildren, John Thomas, James Thomas, Kaitlyn Cox and Cassidy Cox and sister, Verona Meadows. A graveside service was conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at Yadkin Valley Baptist Church Cemetery by Pastors Mike McDaniel and Ronnie Craddock. The family received friends following the service. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com .

Samuel Joseph Pennington Sr.

Mr. Samuel Joseph Pennington Sr., 66, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. He was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Forsyth County to Blanche Forbus Pennington to the late Samuel Lawrence “Bud” Pennington. Pennington held many positions in his working life, from crane operator to dump truck driver to tow truck driver and worked 20-plus years for Averitt Express. He was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed riding motorcycles. In addition to his father, Pennington is preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Pennington. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his friend, Connie Mabe; uncle, Bill “Mo” Pennington; and aunts, Flora Ruth Forbus and Bobbyette Forbus. A visitation was held from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or a charity of choice.

Billie C. Ridings

Mrs. Billie C. Ridings, 93, of Lewisville died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, at Clemmons Village I Assisted Living. A native of Todd, N.C., Ridings was born Dec. 3, 1927, to the late Claude M. Conner and Ruth Graham Conner. She was of the Methodist faith and a member of Sharon United Methodist Church. Ridings worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. until becoming a full-time housewife devoted to family and friends. She enjoyed working in her flowers and maintaining a spotless home. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Ridings; four brothers and five sisters. Survivors include son, Steve Ridings (Angie) of Clemmons; special grandson, David Ridings (Sherry) of Lewisville; also surviving is a sister-in-law, Dora Conner of Rockford, special niece, Kaye Harper Mize of Clemmons, special great-niece, Cathy Burton of Clemmons and many other nieces and nephews. A special thanks to all the staff and employees of Clemmons Village Assisted Living and Mountain Valley Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion during the past few years. A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at Sharon United Methodist Church Cemetery in Lewisville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 243 N. Lee Avenue, Yadkinville, NC 27055. Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel is serving the Ridings family.

Robert Lawrence Williams

Robert Lawrence Williams, 90, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Winston-Salem. He was born in Chicago on Nov. 19, 1930. He was the son of the late Daniel Lawrence Williams and Dorothy Elson Williams. Williams was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict. He enlisted in November of 1948 at the age of 18. He served aboard the USS Coral Sea CVB-43, the USS Silversides 55236, and the USS Markab AD-21. He was awarded the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp and the National Defense Service Medal-United Nations Medal.

While on leave in Texas on March 9, 1952, he met the love of his life, Patsy Anne Gunn, on a blind date. They began a long-distance relationship consisting of letters and calls from pay phones whenever he was ashore. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1953, Williams moved to Nederland, Texas, to be near Pat. In November 1955, they married and were married 62 years at the time of Pat’s death in 2018. They moved to Port Neches and in 1961 they welcomed their only child, their beloved daughter and namesake, Robianne.

Williams worked for 38 years at Neches Butane Products Company and retired from there in 1993. He was past president of the Neches Butane Retirees Club. Williams was a member of First Baptist Church in Port Neches for many years. He enjoyed many hobbies including hunting, fishing, and camping and after retirement he found a new passion in research of his genealogy. He traced his and Pat’s family back many generations.

One of the most meaningful parts of Williams’ life was being a Mason, Shriner, and Shrine Clown.

He was a 50+ year member of the Port Neches Lodge and Chapter, and the Beaumont Commandry No. 38 Knights Templar. He was a member of El Mina Shrine Temple of Galveston, Texas, and an associate member of Oasis Shrine Temple of Charlotte.

He was also past president and past secretary of the Nem Loof Shrine clowns. He helped raise thousands of dollars for the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Texas.

In 2004, the Williamses moved to Winston-Salem to be near Robi and her family. They were members of Clemmons First Baptist Church. They loved living in North Carolina and had many wonderful years of grandparenting.

In addition to his parents and wife, Williams was preceded in death by his brother, Skip Weil, and sister, Patti Cline. He is survived by his daughter, Robi Williams Brath (Peter) of Winston-Salem; grandson, Will Brath, of Winton-Salem; granddaughter, Katy Brath (fiancé Ruan Botelho) of Matthews; and nephew, Tom Cline of Algonquin, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel, with a reception to follow at the funeral home. Rev. Paul A. Wollner of Augsburg Lutheran Church will officiate. Interment will be in Port Neches, Texas, at a later date.

Williams’ family would like to thank Heritage Woods staff of Independent Living and Assisted Living and Trellis Supportive Care for their love and care. If desired, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Texas, www.shrinerschildrens.org. If you would like to mail a donation please send to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.