Obituaries for the week of Jan. 6

Published 12:11 am Tuesday, January 4, 2022

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Vernon G. Hoots

Mr. Vernon G. Hoots, 88, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. He was born in Davie County on March 8, 1933, to William Hobart Hoots Sr. and Grace Foster Hoots. Hoots was a family man, first and foremost. He loved talking to anyone and he never met a stranger. Hoots served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He was a member of Old Town Baptist Church since 1962, where he served as an usher. Hoots coached baseball for the Northwest Forsyth Little League, where he also served on the board of directors. He enjoyed traveling with his family. Hoots was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie Davis Hoots; one brother; and three sisters. Surviving family includes his sons, Kent Hoots (Terri), Ray Southern (Janet), and Michael Hoots (Lynn); eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Ramona Hill. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Forsyth Memorial Park with Dr. Rick Speas and Pastor Brant Hoots officiating. The family would like to say a special thank you to Hoots’ caregivers, Francis, Rebecca, Susan and Sylvia, for the care and support given to him and his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Old Town Baptist Church, 4386 Shattalon Dr, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

James Lavern Matthews

James Lavern Matthews, 70, passed away on Dec. 29, 2021, at Novant Hospital in Winston-Salem. Matthews was born Sept. 22, 1951, in Forsyth County to James Franklin and Ola Lavern Doub Matthews.

Matthews had a love for kids and helping them hone in their hunter safety skills. Matthews spent countless hours and money over the years working with kids from Forbush Elementary and Forbush High School shooting teams, assisting Tommy Hughes, along with Doug McClure to secure several national championships. He later assisted Reagan High School and Barry Crews with their shooting team. He always had a gun to loan for any kid that did not have one and was always willing to take them to shooting events. The more kids he could help, the happier he was.

Matthews has been home bound for five years. He waited till he was 64 to marry for the first time, the love of his life, Darlene Carter Testerman Matthews.

Matthews was preceded by his parents. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Darlene; sister, Nancy Long (Larry); stepchildren, Brandon Testerman (Nikki) and Tyler Testerman (Emily); grandson Matthew Long; step-grandchildren Lily Testerman, Sam Testerman and Emma Testerman; sister-in-law Diane Hartley (Carlton); brother-in-law Tony Carter (Annette) and their daughter, Hayley.

Services are pending at this time due to COVID.

Hurley Theodore McNeill

Mr. Hurley Theodore McNeill, 90, of Bermuda Village passed away Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. He was born in Guilford County to the late Vernon McNeill and Fairy Cagle McNeill on June 8, 1931. McNeill served In the United States Navy on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier from 1952-1956. He had a 25-year career as an automotive mechanic and a second career at Wachovia Bank, retiring at the age of 69. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and gardener. McNeill was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church since 1965, serving as a deacon, usher, choir member and Sunday school teacher. He was a loving husband to his wife, Sadie, for over 71 years. He will be remembered for his integrity, quick wit, sweet prayers, passion for animals and love for his family. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lovella Spivey. He is survived by his wife, Sadie Brewer McNeill; children, Vicki Lagerwey (Niek), Bryan McNeill (Nancy); grandchildren, David O’Brien (Angie), Katie Carlton (Zack), Kevin McNeill (Veronica) and Erin McNeill; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Eloise Lawson. A graveside service was held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, at Westlawn Gardens of Memory with Pastor Al Fausch officiating. The family would like to give a special thank-you to The Bermuda Village staff for their loving care. He lived, he laughed, he loved, he left. And the world will never be the same. Online condolences may be sent to www.hayworth-miller.com.

Stanley ‘Stan’ Mock

Mr. Stanley “Stan” Mock, 76, passed away on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. He was born in Forsyth County on Aug. 28, 1945, to Philip and Mary Mock. Mock served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Teamsters. Mock attended Calvary Baptist Church. His favorite family activities were playing Rook and old-fashioned croquet. Mock truly enjoyed spending time with his siblings, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Rev. Dan Redding Jr. Surviving family includes his siblings, Phil Mock (Jean), Wiley Mock (Carolyn), Mary Snider (Mark), and Anita Redding; and numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at Lewisville Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Kerri M. Hefner officiating. Mock was very passionate about helping those in need, and he donated monthly to support orphans in Vietnam through the World Vision organization. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mock’s memory to World Vision, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Lewis Woodruff ‘Woodie’ Parker III

Mr. Lewis Woodruff “Woodie” Parker III went safely home to Jesus on Dec. 26, 2021, which is the feast of the holy family. Parker was born in Mobile, Alabama, the oldest of three boys. Parker graduated from McGill Institute, a Catholic boys school. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he graduated from Spring Hill College with a degree in sociology and went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University. After 40 years of government service, he retired as a professional social worker with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2012 after being life-long residents of Mobile, Woodie and wife, Lynn, moved to Vienna Village Assisted Living in Lewisville so that they could be closer to their children and grandchildren. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Lynn; daughter, Julie, and son, Chris (Heather); grandchildren, Victoria and Jacob Parker; and brother, Rev. Kenneth Parker. The family would like to thank the many wonderful and dedicated staff at Vienna Village for providing such exceptional care. Mass was held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.  The celebrant was Father Brian Cook. The family received friends 30 minutes prior to mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd, Winston-Salem, NC  27103.

Ethel Jarvis Singer

Ethel Jarvis Singer, 91, a resident of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, passed away on Dec. 28, 2021, at her home. Singer was born on May 16, 1930, in Sharpsburg, Kentucky, to the late William Duke Jarvis and Walter Mae Jarvis.  She married Julian Singer in 1951 and they resided in Lexington, Kentucky.  She traveled on the tobacco markets with Julian for 10 years until their children were born, and worked in various banks and tobacco warehouses in those towns. Singer was fun-loving and easily made friends. She loved to play bridge with all of her friends in Clemmons and Stamping Ground, Kentucky. She also loved to play golf and was a member of the Tanglewood Ladies Golf Association for many years while living in Clemmons.

In 1971, Julian was transferred to Winston-Salem by R.J. Reynolds. Singer told him that she would give it six months and if she didn’t like it they were moving back to Kentucky. She loved it and they lived in Clemmons for 21 years. She was often a volunteer home room mother, team mother and she was a volunteer P.E. teacher at Clemmons Elementary School for several years.

In 1992, Julian and Ethel moved back to Stamping Ground and retired on their family farm. She is survived by daughters Julie Singer Mackie (Chris) of Lewisville, and Jennifer Singer of Charlotte; grandchild, Sam Mackie of Lewisville; and close family friend Tammie Laney of Charlotte. Singer was preceded in death by her husband Julian Gayle Singer, sisters Mary Bell Jarvis and Peggy Ann Smith, brothers Robert Clay Jarvis, her twin brother Ray Jarvis and Porter Allan Smith. She is also survived by nieces Cathy Singer Younger (Richard) of Georgetown, Kentucky, Kathryn Jarvis Follett (Barry) of Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Beverly Jarvis Osser (Jerry) of Orlando, Florida; and nephews Chris Singer (Camille) of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, and Scott Jarvis (Linda) of Georgetown, Kentucky.

The family would like to give special thanks to Martha Wells and her staff for the great care and compassion that they gave in taking care of both of Julian and Ethel Singer in their final years. It allowed them to stay at home and for that, the family is forever grateful.

The family will be having a private ceremony to celebrate her life. In times like these it helps to remember one of Singer’s favorite sayings which was “You might as well laugh as to cry.” In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bluegrass Care Navigators located at 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, KY  40504.    

Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Jane Watson

Cynthia “Cindy” Jane Watson, 78, of Clemmons passed away on Dec. 28, 2021, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born March 8, 1943, in Gastonia to the late Alma Ferguson Hoffman and Jonas Hoffman.

Watson is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 59 years, Jon “Kenney” Watson; daughters, Christy Beasley (Frankie) of Hartsville, S.C., and Alex Watson and significant other, Jackie Brown, of Thomasville; son, Jon Watson Jr. of Statesville; grandchildren, Rachel Rhodes (Mike) of Princeton, Mara Webster (Matt) of Timmonsville, S.C., Alanah Turner of Chicago, Illinois, Morgan Watson of Blowing Rock, and Connor Watson of Hickory. Watson was preceded in death by her sister, Carole Hoffman Carter and brother, Joe Hoffman, both of Dallas, N.C.

Watson was very artistic and was known for her creativity. She was an avid gardener and loved working in her flower beds. She also loved trips to the coast where she could be found searching for shells and dancing. She was a loving and fun wife, mother and grandmother whose sweetness and sass will be missed greatly.

Visitation will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9, at Frank Vogler and Son’s Funeral Home, 2849 Middlebrook Drive in Clemmons, followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m. in the chapel. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to The Centers for Exceptional Children. www.thecfec.org/donate.

Bobby Greene Winter

Mr. Bobby Greene Winters, 85, of Mocksville passed away Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. He was born Nov. 27, 1936, in Davie County to the late Sampson Winters and Minnie Barney Winters. Winters had retired from Roadway Express Trucking after 30 years of service and was a member of Cornatzer Baptist Church where he was the head usher. He is preceded in death by son, Danny Blane Winters and brother, Wiley W. Winters. Surviving are his wife, Jacqueline Wagner Winters; daughter, Marilynn Kistler (Richard); son, Brent Winters (Melissa); grandsons, Eric Kistler (Tracy), Nicholas Kistler (Laura), Justin Winters (Candace), Kyle Winters (Natalie), Shane Winters, Joshua Winters (Elizabeth), Joel Winters, Josiah Winters, and Jacob Winters; great-grandchildren, Noah and Bryce Kistler, Kirby and Maisie Kistler, Logan, Eden, and Arden Winters, Christian Cooper, Joey and Danny Winters, and sister, Betty Potts (Gray). A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Cornatzer Baptist Cemetery, 1372 Cornatzer Road in Mocksville by Pastor Ottis Hurst and Mr. Tim Dunn. The family will receive friends following the service at the gravesite. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cornatzer Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.