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Lt. Col. Michael Lynn Fields

Lt. Col Michael Lynn Fields, 57, passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. He was born in Wayne County on Aug. 1, 1964, to Thurman Melvin Fields Jr. and Carolyn Fussell Fields.

Fields served in the U.S. Army during Iraqi Freedom, and he served in the North Carolina National Guard for 26 years. He was retired. Fields was a member of the VFW Memorial Honor Guard from Post 9010 in Clemmons. Everyone who had the privilege to know him will miss him very much.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Fields is survived by his children, Palynn Fields and Jack Fields; mother, Carolyn; brothers, Alan Fields and Tim Fields (Tammy); sister, Elizabeth Morgan (Chris); nieces and nephews, Joseph Fields, Grayson Morgan, Elisha Morgan, Katie Yandle, Libby Fields, Hannah Alred, Evey Morgan, and Lillie Morgan; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Durham, with Rev. Joe Yandle officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Melissa Brady Forbes

Melissa Brady Forbes, 48, of Linville passed away peacefully on May 20, 2022, in Winston-Salem. She was the mother of a beautiful daughter Molly and a wonderful wife to husband William Forbes. Her surviving family includes her father Tom Brady (Kay), brother Mike Brady (Shannon), twin sister Megan  Brown (Davin) and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Forbes graduated from Appalachian State University in 1996 with a degree in interior design.  She had a successful career in the furniture business working for Alderman Studios, Drexel Heritage Furniture and Vanguard Furniture.

Forbes lived a life that was full of laughter and adventures. She was a brilliant designer with a flair for creativity. Her passion was cooking and entertaining for friends and family. Hiking and spending time outdoors was her “happy place.” Forbes will be greatly missed by so many.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday June 3, 2022, at Hillsdale Church at 5018 U.S. Hwy 158 in Advance. Visitation with the family will be immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity that is close to your heart or the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Gail Elder Hurt

Gail Elder Hurt, 74, of Yadkinville, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2022, at the SECU Hospice House. She was born in Iredell County on Nov. 6, 1947, to Harold and Bobby Elder. Hurt was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Jennings Hurt, and her father. Hurt graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a nursing degree, and after working as an oncology nurse for many years, she received her master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University. She spent her career at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, serving in various roles including oncology, cancer patient support and ending her career as the associate director of the Hereditary Cancer Program. Hurt was a lifelong runner, and it brought her endless joy and peace. With tenacity, she outran cancer for many years, defied every odd she was given and never stopped long enough to let it consume her days. She was too busy living her life, encouraging and loving others along the way and managing to find humor through it all. As she told so many of her patients over the years — you will be your own statistic. And that she was. She is finally running free and for that her family is grateful. In addition to her mother, Hurt is survived by her children, Meredith Rigot (Stuart), and Zachary Hurt; grandchildren, Sam Rigot, Ella Jennings Rigot, Niko Rosset-Hurt, and Mica Rosset-Hurt; and brother, Kim Elder. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2022, at Medaloni Cellars, 9125 Shallowford Road in Lewisville. The family is grateful for the wonderful care Hurt received from the SECU Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Gail Hurt to the SECU Hospice Care Center of Yadkin, 243 N. Lee Ave., Yadkinville, NC 27055. “But those who Hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they will soar high on wings like eagles, they shall run, and not grow weary, and they shall walk, and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

John Frank Hunter service

Mr. John Frank Hunter, 95, passed away Dec. 29, 2020. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Clemmons United Methodist Church.

Deborah Craft Jones

Deborah Craft Jones, 70, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Forsyth Medical Center. She was born in Forsyth County on Jan. 18, 1952, to Phillip Floyd Craft and Polly Brewer Craft. Jones retired from the Veterans Affairs and was a member of Lewisville United Methodist Church. She was an avid reader, loved to learn about the history of her family and enjoyed corresponding with her family and friends. Preceding her in death was her mother, Polly Brewer Craft. Surviving is a daughter, Sarah Jones Williams (Barry); grandson, Isaac Gray Williams; father, Phillip Floyd Craft; sisters, Carol Craft McCormick (Les W.H.) and Penny Craft Lynch (J. Riley); nephews, Joshua Phillip Johnson, Andrew Ross Johnson (Paige), Patrick Tyler Lynch, Adam Zane McCormick (Jessy), and Ethan Cole Lynch; also surviving are her great-nieces and nephew, Taylor Paige Johnson, Avery Rae Johnson, and Oliver Craft McCormick. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Lewisville United Methodist Church Cemetery with Pastor Paul Brown officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lewisville Historical Society, or to Lewisville United Methodist Church, PO Box 305 Lewisville, NC 27023.

Ronald James Reid Jr.

Ronald James Reid Jr., 81, of Clemmons passed away Monday, May 23, 2022. Ronald “James” was born in Winston-Salem and moved to Charleston, W.V., when he was three. In 1970, he moved back to Winston-Salem with his wife where they raised three sons together. He was a member of Revo Church (previously Southfork Baptist Church). He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was so very proud of them. He loved his church and reading his Bible. Reid was preceded in death by his parents Ronald and Gertrude Reid and sisters Betty Reid and Martha Lucente. Reid was survived by his wife of 56 years (Daryle), his children Gregory and Aline Reid, Andrew and Natalie Reid, Stephen and Lori Reid along with nine grandchildren Ryan, Nicholas, Mariah, Graeson, Madeline, Katie, Matthias, Marion and Marc. He is also survived by his sisters Sharon Sloss and Debbie Wright and his brother Curtis Reid.

The family received friends from 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 28, 2022, followed by funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at Revo Church South Fork campus, 3830 Wayne Ave. in Winston-Salem.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Revo Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frankvoglerandsonsclemmons.com for the Reid family.

Robert Lee ‘R.L.’ Thomas

Robert Lee “R.L.” Thomas, 89, of Advance and formerly of Canton, Georgia, passed away Monday, May 23, 2022. Thomas is survived by his wife, Sara Mae Copeland Thomas; daughter, Ruth Thomas McIntyre (Tim) of Advance; granddaughters, Sharity Nesnick (Michal), of Canton, Georgia, and Erika Neldner (Michael), of Woodstock, Georgia; and great-grandchildren, Hunter, Kelsey and Jaeda Nesnick and Jackson and Evan Neldner. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews he loved dearly. He was predeceased by his parents Ira Gunter Thomas and Rhoda Louise Garrett Thomas; brother, Ira Gunter Thomas Jr.; sisters, Dessie Naomi Chester (Elmer), Lillian Terry (Talmadge), Stella Terry (Herbert), Willie Clyde Eason (Lloyd), Mary Carolyn Turner (Herbert), Louise Jackson (Sam), and Evelyn Marie Morgan.

Thomas was born in Canton, Georgia, in March 1933 in a small home still standing on East Cherokee Drive near Beavers Road. He farmed at a young age with his family and later worked at the Canton Cotton Mill. He found joy in building and worked construction and carpentry in Cherokee and surrounding counties. Thomas was happiest in the outdoors, frequently taking his boat on Allatoona Lake and camping at both Sweetwater and Victoria campgrounds. He enjoyed traveling to Panama City Beach, Florida, and fishing off the pier. He loved the area so much that in the 1960s, he and his family moved to Bay County, Florida, where he and his wife managed the Sandbox Gift Shop and a bait shop on the Panama City Beach pier. After returning to Georgia, he lived in Cobb County before returning to Cherokee County where he found the perfect property in the Free Home Community. He built his own fishing pond so he could fish whenever he wanted. He and his wife moved to Advance in 2010 to be close to their daughter. Thomas will be cremated, and a memorial service will be held in Canton, Georgia, at a later date. Vogler & Sons in Clemmons and Sosebee Funeral Home in Canton, Georgia, are serving the family.