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John Carrell Beale

John Carrell Beale died on Saturday, May 8, 2021. He was born on March 10, 1937, in Elkin to the late Dr. Seth and Lois Beale. In 1966, he and his wife, Linda, made Clemmons their home. He was preceded in death by his only sister, Judy Beale. Beale is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Griggs Beale, son Seth Beale (Nicole); daughter Elizabeth Hill (Mayne), and grandchildren, Seth, Zachary, and Elijah Hill, and Evie Beale. Beale was a graduate of Elkin High School and UNC Chapel-Hill and a member of Clemmons Moravian Church. After working in social work and with the Industries for the Blind, Beale displayed his compassion and empathy in how he treated his coworkers and loyal customers during the 30 years he owned Beth’s Hallmark in Clemmons with his wife Linda. “Mr. B” cherished finding the perfect card for someone, learning about people’s families and interests and would often follow-up such conversations with a thoughtful gift or a hand-written note. One of his greatest joys was exchanging letters with family, friends, or the graduate students he came to know during his treasured time participating in the “HELPS” Cardiac Rehab program for more than 20 years at Wake Forest University. A graduate of UNC, Beale was a true Carolina fan but as a lifelong cheerleader of family and friends, he would cheer and support all sports teams including the Wolfpack and the Deacons. As a child of a doctor and a nurse, he was very appreciative of all the excellent medical care he had throughout his life. Before his health declined, Beale’s love of travel and trains took him all over the United States and Canada. He was a lover of the outdoors and spent hours walking hiking trails and mowing the grass on his John Deere tractor. He loved his role as “Papa John” to his grandchildren, particularly when watching them play sports or when taking them for ice cream. While the term foodie is likely not one Beale knew, he is the original — loving all food at any time. Going out to eat combined two of his greatest loves, good food and good people. The family would like to offer special gratitude to the wonderful and caring employees of Trellis Supportive Care during the final months of his life. A graveside service following COVID protocols was held at Clemmons Moravian Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Memorial donations may be made to Clemmons Moravian Church, 3535 Spangenberg Ave., Clemmons, NC 27012, “HELPS” Cardiac Rehab Program at Wake Forest University, Ashlyn Swafford, P.O. Box 7628, Winston-alem, NC 27109, or a charity of one’s choosing. You can also honor Beale by treating others as he did — always making them feel special and loved.

Juanita ‘Nita’ McNeil Matherly

Mrs. Juanita “Nita” McNeil Matherly, 81, passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born in Wilkes County on Oct. 16, 1939. She became a Christian in 1948 during a vacation Bible school at New Hope Baptist Church and she was a faithful member of Robinhood Road Baptist Church for 55 years where she led the preschool department for most of her time there. She retired from W-S Forsyth County Schools with many years of service. Matherly was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend to so many people. She loved traveling and lived her life fully. She loved her flowers, gardening and enjoyed feeding her birds and watching them play in the backyard. She always had a puzzle on the kitchen table for anyone that came by to work on while there. She was a master of crossword puzzles. Her heart was of gold and she went through many trials in her life and stayed strong in her Faith. Matherly loved God more than anything and was always reading her Bible and in prayer. The family knows that she walked through the pearly gates and Jesus said to her, “Great job, Nita, my faithful servant.” Preceding her in death was her former husband, Ronald Matherly and a brother, Pat Martin. Surviving is a son, Gary Matherly (Yana) of Pfafftown; daughters, Karen Harper (Bobby) of Winston-Salem and Robin Oldham (Dennis Councilman) of Winston-Salem; grandchildren, Lauren Lambeth (Corey), Jonathan Oldham, and Cory Matherly (fiancé, Karlee Montuori); great-grandchildren, Ava Lambeth and Cordelia Royall; sisters, Bronda Nichols of Millers Creek and Judy Martin of Purlear; also surviving is a sister-in-law, Debbie Martin of Purlear and a special friend, Roby Walls. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Westlawn Gardens of Memory with Rev. John E. Hackworth Jr. officiating. The family has a celebration of life from 3-6 p.m. for friends at Robinhood Road Baptist Church. The family would like to send special thanks to everyone who helped take care of her during her illness, Dr. Terry Hess, Trellis Supportive Care, and to her many church friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Robinhood Road Baptist Church, Attention: Preschool Department, 5422 Robinhood Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.  Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel is serving the Matherly family.

Betty Whitman

Betty Bodford Whitman, 90, transitioned to the everlasting realm in heaven on May 9, 2021. A day of celebrations immediately commenced with her dearly departed family with a transformed glorious body with the ability to talk, walk and embrace loved ones again.

Long ago on a joyous February day in 1931 at a dairy farm in Winston-Salem, Oscar Franklin Bodford and Mattie Lee Bertha Spainhour Bodford welcomed their eighth and ninth children — twins Betty Mae and Bobby Gray. Whitman lived a blessed life filled with love from her parents and seven siblings (one infant brother died in 1917 from the flu pandemic). She enjoyed telling stories of her childhood on the farm including tickling a horse’s legs and getting kicked in the chin as well as all sorts of mischief with the youngest siblings.

In the early 1950s, her double cousin (their parents were bother and sister to Whitman’s parents) Curtis Spainhour introduced her to her future husband Henry Abraham Whitman. Initially, Betty did not want to meet this handsome young man from Tobaccoville, but her mother insisted. The rest is history and they married in December 1951, thereafter blessed with two daughters. Whitman’s soulmate tragically departed this earth suddenly in October 1978, which left her a widow at age 47. Whitman and her two daughters became closely intertwined with bonded unconditional love.

In 2017, Whitman became the only surviving descendant of her parents. Her predeceased siblings were Ruth Augusta Caudle (Sam), Henry Franklin Bodford (Elsie), Mary Aileen Simpson (Elmer), infant Harvie Bodford, Lindsay (Tip) Odell (Garnett) Bodsford, Mildred Victoria Miles (Sam), Andrew Grady Bodsford (Marceleen), and twin brother Bobby Gray Bodford (surviving wife Fannie). In 2017, Whitman lost her youngest daughter Robin Whitman Brittain to triple negative breast cancer that led to knowledge of a genetic mutation in the family. Whitman also had breast cancer and was a survivor of 20 years.

Surviving family members include daughter Dr. Debbie Whitman Herman, son-in-law Kenneth Herman, son-in-law Rickie Brittain, granddaughters Dr. Emily Huggins (Bobby), Olivia Cobb (Shaun), Mariah Brittain, and numerous nephews and nieces. The fourth generation includes great-grandchildren Wyatt Cobb, Madelyn Huggins, Gavin Cobb and Mason Huggins. They have spent their early years with Whitman as a central and very much loved member of the family through countless gatherings and celebrations including her 89th birthday party in 2020, which was attended by friends and family.

Whitman graduated from South Fork School and was voted the neatest and quietest in her graduating class with those qualities continuing through her life. She worked for a furniture store, dental office and Hanes Knitting Mill prior to getting married. Upon starting a family, she became a fulltime mother, homemaker and secretary for her husband’s H.A. Whitman Construction Company. Once becoming a widow, she resumed public employment at Sonoco and ending with Perry Craft upon retirement. Whitman enjoyed working outside in her yard, keeping an immaculate house, pie baking (especially her butterscotch pie), cooking, listening to country music, shopping and spending time with her growing family. She was a devout Christian who read her Bible daily and was a member of Pine Grove Methodist Church and later Jonestown Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Throughout her 90 years, Whitman demonstrated extraordinary loving compassion and provided care giving to several elderly ladies, her sister Ruth and brother Bobby at their end of life. Her gentle spirit, independence, strength, fortitude and legacy of love will reside in her family’s hearts through the generations.

In her late 70s, Whitman was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a debilitating frontal-temporal lobe dementia with the steady physical decline and eventual loss of communication skills. Despite life’s challenges, Whitman remained strong, humble and thankful for many blessings. The past six years, she has been lovingly cared for by her daughter and son-in-law. She regularly attended Bethesda Presbyterian Church with her family in Camden, S.C., and spent quality time with granddaughters, grandsons-in-law and great-grandchildren. Whitman and family traveled frequently to North Carolina, spent vacations in the mountains, beaches, Disney World (with hugs from Mickey Mouse and handicapped rides) and RV trips to Florida, Virginia, the Carolinas, Texas and all states in between.

The family would like to thank Alice Kershaw, who provided attendant care from 2015-2018 and Whitman’s physician Dr. Craig Maylath for whom Whitman gave her biggest smiles. In celebration of Whitman’s life, a private family graveside service in the midst of a pandemic will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, where her beloved daughter, parents, grandmother, brother, sister and cousin are laid to rest. Her late husband will be moved to join her from Jonestown Baptist Church Cemetery. At the family’s request, all funeral attendees are asked to avoid hugs or handshakes and remain socially distanced with a mask to protect loved ones. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the National Aphasia Association at PO Box 87, Scarsdale, NY 10583 or website www.Aphasia.Org. Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left online for the Whitman family at www.kornegayfuneral.com.

Marylyn Wood Wright

Marylyn Wood Wright went to be with her Lord and savior on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. She was born Sept. 7, 1936, to Osborne Glenn and Eunice Rogers Wood. Wright retired after 20 years from Wachovia Services. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. The love for her family was very evident. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Gary Wright; son, Joe Hawkins Jr. and brothers, Roger Wayne and James Edwin Wood. Left to remember Wright are brother, Glenn Wood (Pat); daughter, Tonya Lanier (Bobby); son, Jonathan Hawkins Sr. (Christine); grandchildren, Jennifer McCabe (Adam), Makayla Grant (Keith), Jonathan Hawkins Jr.; great-grandchildren, Hayden and Kara McCabe; also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Elaine Wood and Barbara Peeples, along with nieces, nephews and several very good friends. A service was held at 2 p.m. on  Monday, May 17, 2021, at Harmony Grove United Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Perdue officiating. The family received friends one hour prior to the service. Burial followed at Westlawn Gardens of Memory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harmony Grove United Methodist Church, 5041 Styers Ferry Road, Lewisville, NC 27023 or to the Alzheimer’s Association-Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Rd. Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.