Obituaries for the week of Feb. 10

Published 11:37 pm Monday, February 7, 2022

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Jerry Howard Atkins

Mr. Jerry Howard Atkins, 81, of Mocksville passed away Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. He was born on June 16, 1940, in Raleigh to Melvin and Eloise Whiteheart Atkins. Atkins was a member of Freedom Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Elaine Essick Atkins; daughter, Melissa Bendure (Don); son, Chris Atkins (Robin); grandchildren, Leslie Kay Scroggins (Norman), Timothy Bendure (Tori), Matthew Bendure, Meredith Atkins and Will Atkins; great-grandchildren, Caden, Karson, Kenzlie and Cohen Scroggins and Daniel and Noah Bendure; and sister, Jean Harmon Sidden. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

Donna Marie Watson Baskin

Donna Marie Watson Baskin, 98, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 30, 2022. She was born to the late Jacob and Alma Watson on Oct. 23, 1923, in Jefferson Township, Indiana.

In her youth, Baskin loved line dancing and ice skating. She was a talented pianist and accordion player — she was very musically inclined, a passion she passed down to her children and grandchildren. Baskin was a professional seamstress. The pieces she made were truly impressive.

Baskin was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Baskin; son, Michael Baskin; and four siblings. She leaves behind her children, Jennifer Taylor, Tim Baskin, Tom  Baskin (Kay), and Jeanine Baskin; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was a dedicated member of Clemmons Moravian Church. Baskin will be laid to rest in their God’s Acre in a private graveside service.

Brenda Gayle Behre

Brenda Gayle Behre passed away on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, at Forsyth Medical Center. 

Behre was born on Sept. 5, 1942, in Forsyth County to the late August Behre and Della Mae Whitman Behre. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many close friends. Behre received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Adventist University near Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was a member of the Winston Salem First Seventh-Day Adventist Church where she served as deaconess and sabbath school teacher. A favorite Bible passage was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Behre’s working career included Ligon Electric Co., Royal Cake Co. and Home Instead. A memorial service will be held at Winston-Salem First Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the Behre family.

Barney Alden Boger

Mr. Barney Alden Boger, 62, of Mocksville went to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He was born March 22, 1959, in Davie County to George Rodwell Boger and Margie Barney Boger. Boger had retired from the dryer facility with the City of Winston-Salem. He is preceded in death by his mother, Margie. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Janet Boger; daughter, Karen Boger; and son, Benjamin Boger. Also surviving is his father, George R. Boger. Boger loved his wife who stayed by his side through his many months of illness as did his son. Boger loved working on his farm with his son and father as well as helping others with any mechanical issues. Boger was great at solving vehicle and farm equipment problems for his many friends and family. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, at Cornatzer Baptist Church by Pastor Nunley and Pastor Hurst. The family received friends from noon-1 p.m. before the service at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Douglas Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Buie

Mr. Douglas Mitchell “Mitch” Buie, 50, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. He was born Feb. 27, 1971, in Forsyth County to the late George Douglas Buie Jr. and Daphane Wall Buie. Buie was a family man who loved to help others. He was a good friend with a great sense of humor who could tell the best stories. Buie was a member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church. He was also a decorated Eagle Scout. Buie is survived by his loving wife, Abigail Henson Buie; daughters, Hannah Hinkle (Cong) and Sarah Buie; sisters, Michelle Washem and Diana Young (Eddie); and uncle, Drew Buie (Pam). A graveside service will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Pine Grove United Methodist Church with Pastor Bob Richardson officiating. The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m. prior to the service at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethesda Center for the Homeless, 930 Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Robert Joe Cornelius

Mr. Robert Joe Cornelius, 87, of Advance passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He was born Sept. 16, 1934, in Yadkin County to the late Luther W. Cornelius and Emily Blanche Cornelius. Cornelius was a veteran of the U.S. Army and had retired from the research and development department at RJR Archer Inc. He is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Cook Cornelius; brother, Richard Cornelius; half -brother, Jim Hennings; and sister, Gail Bray. Surviving are brothers, Earl Cornelius of East Bend and Ralph Cornelius of Lake Okeechobee, Florida; sister-in-laws, Ola Boger and Jeanette Cook; and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery with Dr. Suzanne G. Michael officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 321 Redland Rd. Advance, NC 27006, Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Ln, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to the Clyde and Rosa Cook Scholarship Fund, C/O Davie Community Foundation, 107 N. Salisbury St. Mocksville, NC 27028. Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel is serving the Cornelius family.  Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

David Lee Reed

David Lee Reed, of Clemmons passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at Forsyth Medical Center. Reed was born on Oct. 22, 1931, to William Evan Reed and Carrie Flynn Reed. He was a graduate of Clemmons High School and retired after 40 years of service with Douglas Battery in Winston-Salem. Reed adored his grandchildren and always enjoyed spending time with them. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time on the lake. He was a devoted husband, father and friend to many. He enjoyed woodworking including building birdhouses, cutting boards and snowmen. Reed was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Verna Ketner Reed in 2015; sister Alta R. O’Farrell, and brothers, Paul Reed, Bill Reed, Ralph Reed and Bobby Reed. Surviving are daughter, Sandra R Hazelwood (Keith) of Arcadia; son, Scott D. Reed (Stacey) of Advance; grandchildren Katie R Murray (Jordan) of Madison, Alabama, and Bree Reed of Advance; sister, Betty R. Harborth; and brothers, Jack Reed and Raymond Reed. A private family service was held Friday, Feb. 4. In lieu of flowers, memories may be made to the MS Foundation or to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Merilyn ‘Elaine’ Gore (Willis) Tesh

Mrs. Merilyn “Elaine” Gore (Willis) Tesh, of Winston-Salem joined the angels in heaven surrounded in love by her family on Feb. 1, 2022, at Forsyth Medical Center. She was born on Dec. 19, 1945, to Howard Mason Gore and Ethel Marie McClamrock Gore at Camp Lejeune Marine base in Onslow County. She was voted the prettiest baby born on the base. Her beauty never stopped growing as she grew into the most beautiful person inside and out. She loved her faith, family, creating memories that last, and spreading the love and joy of Jesus.

Tesh grew up with her mother and second dad (Anthony ‘Tony” W. Lowder) in Winston-Salem and spent summers on her grandparents’ farm in Mocksville. She attended Southwest High School and graduated from there in 1963. After high school, Tesh attended Forsyth Technical School for two years, where she was a member of the first student council and earned a two-year business degree.

She worked approximately seven years for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in marketing and engineering as a secretary, until the birth of her daughter, Michelle, in 1972. She returned to work in the early ’80s as a transcriber for Petree Stockton law firm then a district secretary for Moore Business Forms. In 1995, she became a commercial property owner/manager, retiring in 2015 due to health concerns.

On Nov. 27, 1987, Elaine and Larry Tesh were married at Friedberg Moravian Church and she became a member there. They were very active in the church and members of the Willing Worker Sunday school class. Tesh enjoyed playing clarinet in the Moravian Easter Band at Old Salem. Elaine and Larry also enjoyed Bishop Bob Iobst’s Saturday morning prayer breakfasts.

Her powerful faith and testimony was shared with everyone around her, particularly in the crafted Angel pins she gave away as gifts. She participated in Campus Crusade for Christ and Women’s Bible Study Fellowship of Winston-Salem.

Her whole family was the light of her life. She always said that her grandchildren were the three babies that she couldn’t carry to term. They were a big part of her life and she helped raise them too. Tesh will be remembered by all that knew her for her contagious smile, positive attitude, kind faithful spirit, and the greatest of these is love.

Tesh was preceded in death by her parents, second dad, and brother, Danny Wayne Gore. Surviving are her husband, Larry Evans Tesh; daughter, Merilyn “Michelle” Willis-Ali; grandchildren, Anthony “Tony” C. Beaver, Michael E. Beaver,  of Winston-Salem, and Merilyn “Alicia” (Beaver) Condia (Ricky) of Mocksville.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. Pastors Jimmy Newsome and Dan Nelson officiated. Burial followed at Oak Grove Methodist Church Cemetery in Mocksville. The family received friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Please consider donations made to Friedberg Moravian Church, 2178 Friedberg Church Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127; or The Alzheimer’s Foundation; 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400 McLean, VA 22102. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.