Anne Sutherland Adkins, age 88, of Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston Salem, and formerly of Elkin, left her life on this earth Friday, February 16, 2018 for life within the Splendid Mystery of her Creator.
Anne was born May 24, 1929 in Haysi, VA, to Roy Leonard and Alta Counts Sutherland. She grew up in Grundy, VA, attended Emory and Henry and Madison colleges, and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. While living in Washington, D.C. during the Korean War, she worked for the U.S. Department of the Army at the Pentagon. After moving to North Carolina in 1954, she was a news reporter and columnist for The Tribune in Elkin and won several awards from the N.C. Press Association. She was a staff writer for Wake Forest University and also worked for the Dean of the College. In 1999 she audited a course in the opening semester of the Wake Forest Divinity School, and quickly became a fan of life-long learning, continuing some form of adult education as long as she was able. After her retirement Anne wrote columns for the Winston Salem Journal. Her other writings included published poems and books. In 1966, Anne began the first interpreting ministry to the hearing-impaired in the Elkin area and in First Baptist Church in Elkin and served as that ministry’s director for the next ten years. She taught sign language classes for Surry Community College and had a monthly series of programs in sign language on N.C. Public Television. During this time she co-founded the Piedmont Theatre of the Deaf, a touring group which performed in sign language in churches, schools, and other places throughout the state.
In Winston-Salem she served on Salemtowne’s Board of Trustees and for ten years she was on the Board of Advisors of Mars Hill College (now, University). She was a member of the initial Advocacy Board of the Children’s Cancer Patient Support Program at Brenner Children Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was a longtime volunteer and writer for the Adult Cancer Patient Support Program. Anne was a founding and life time member of Friends of the Elkin Public Library. In her final years, she devoted much time and energies to promoting better understandings of multiple sclerosis and blindness and their effect on the lives of patients and their families. Ecumenical in thought and spirit, she was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church, a former Episcopalian and a friend of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston Salem. As a resident of the Moravian-founded community of Salemtowne, she called herself a “BapEM”, which she said was “a Baptist Episcopalian happily living with a lot of Moravians!”
Anne’s family was, in her words, “why I get up in the morning.” Her husband of 42 years, Allen H. Adkins, passed away in 1989. Also, predeceasing her were their infant daughters, Carolyn and Carol and infant son Stephen Allen, a sister Charlene Joyce Sutherland, great-grandson Malaki Swaim and the companion of Anne’s later years, Dr. Carlton T. Mitchell.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy Adkins and Earl Leininger of Weaverville, Linda and Barry Swaim of Thurmond, grandsons, Richard Swaim and wife Dawn of Elkin, Harry Swaim and wife Katrina of Virginia, Christopher Leininger of Spartanburg, S.C., granddaughters, Deborah Weidenhamer and husband David of Cherryville, Melissa Daley and husband Ernest of Shelby, great grandchildren, Christian, Alexus, Ethan, Trendon, Bailey, Dominic, Lucas, Logan, Nick, Drew, Sam, Hannah and Mac, several nieces and nephews, her extended family of McLendons, Knapps, Mitchells, Millers, Greenes and Fullers, chosen “son” J.R. Reich and wife Sharon, and traveling buddy, Thel. “Carpe diem!”
Anne’s 37 years in Elkin with her husband their family were the touchstones for the remainder of her life. Her exceptional Salemtowne family of residents and staff gave her laughter, joy, understanding and loving care during the many years she lived among them.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Salemtowne Retirement Community in the Smith Saal, (190 Moravian Way, Winston Salem, NC 27106) with Chaplain Linda Brown officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
A private graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin with Dr. Bill Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Elkin Fellowship Hall.
Following Anne’s wishes, the family suggest memorials be made to Salemtowne Resident Assistance Endowment, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27106 or to the Elkin Public Library, 111 N. Front Street, Elkin, NC 28621 to encourage children to read.
Anne was born May 24, 1929 in Haysi, VA, to Roy Leonard and Alta Counts Sutherland. She grew up in Grundy, VA, attended Emory and Henry and Madison colleges, and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. While living in Washington, D.C. during the Korean War, she worked for the U.S. Department of the Army at the Pentagon. After moving to North Carolina in 1954, she was a news reporter and columnist for The Tribune in Elkin and won several awards from the N.C. Press Association. She was a staff writer for Wake Forest University and also worked for the Dean of the College. In 1999 she audited a course in the opening semester of the Wake Forest Divinity School, and quickly became a fan of life-long learning, continuing some form of adult education as long as she was able. After her retirement Anne wrote columns for the Winston Salem Journal. Her other writings included published poems and books. In 1966, Anne began the first interpreting ministry to the hearing-impaired in the Elkin area and in First Baptist Church in Elkin and served as that ministry’s director for the next ten years. She taught sign language classes for Surry Community College and had a monthly series of programs in sign language on N.C. Public Television. During this time she co-founded the Piedmont Theatre of the Deaf, a touring group which performed in sign language in churches, schools, and other places throughout the state.
In Winston-Salem she served on Salemtowne’s Board of Trustees and for ten years she was on the Board of Advisors of Mars Hill College (now, University). She was a member of the initial Advocacy Board of the Children’s Cancer Patient Support Program at Brenner Children Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was a longtime volunteer and writer for the Adult Cancer Patient Support Program. Anne was a founding and life time member of Friends of the Elkin Public Library. In her final years, she devoted much time and energies to promoting better understandings of multiple sclerosis and blindness and their effect on the lives of patients and their families. Ecumenical in thought and spirit, she was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church, a former Episcopalian and a friend of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston Salem. As a resident of the Moravian-founded community of Salemtowne, she called herself a “BapEM”, which she said was “a Baptist Episcopalian happily living with a lot of Moravians!”
Anne’s family was, in her words, “why I get up in the morning.” Her husband of 42 years, Allen H. Adkins, passed away in 1989. Also, predeceasing her were their infant daughters, Carolyn and Carol and infant son Stephen Allen, a sister Charlene Joyce Sutherland, great-grandson Malaki Swaim and the companion of Anne’s later years, Dr. Carlton T. Mitchell.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy Adkins and Earl Leininger of Weaverville, Linda and Barry Swaim of Thurmond, grandsons, Richard Swaim and wife Dawn of Elkin, Harry Swaim and wife Katrina of Virginia, Christopher Leininger of Spartanburg, S.C., granddaughters, Deborah Weidenhamer and husband David of Cherryville, Melissa Daley and husband Ernest of Shelby, great grandchildren, Christian, Alexus, Ethan, Trendon, Bailey, Dominic, Lucas, Logan, Nick, Drew, Sam, Hannah and Mac, several nieces and nephews, her extended family of McLendons, Knapps, Mitchells, Millers, Greenes and Fullers, chosen “son” J.R. Reich and wife Sharon, and traveling buddy, Thel. “Carpe diem!”
Anne’s 37 years in Elkin with her husband their family were the touchstones for the remainder of her life. Her exceptional Salemtowne family of residents and staff gave her laughter, joy, understanding and loving care during the many years she lived among them.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Salemtowne Retirement Community in the Smith Saal, (190 Moravian Way, Winston Salem, NC 27106) with Chaplain Linda Brown officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
A private graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin with Dr. Bill Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Elkin Fellowship Hall.
Following Anne’s wishes, the family suggest memorials be made to Salemtowne Resident Assistance Endowment, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27106 or to the Elkin Public Library, 111 N. Front Street, Elkin, NC 28621 to encourage children to read.
Anne Sutherland Adkins, age 88, of Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston Salem, and formerly of Elkin, left her life on this earth Friday, February 16, 2018 for life within the Splendid Mystery of her Creator.
Anne was born May 24, 1929 in Haysi, VA, to Roy Leonard and Alta Counts Sutherland. She grew up in Grundy, VA, attended Emory and Henry and Madison colleges, and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. While living in Washington, D.C. during the Korean War, she worked for the U.S. Department of the Army at the Pentagon. After moving to North Carolina in 1954, she was a news reporter and columnist for The Tribune in Elkin and won several awards from the N.C. Press Association. She was a staff writer for Wake Forest University and also worked for the Dean of the College. In 1999 she audited a course in the opening semester of the Wake Forest Divinity School, and quickly became a fan of life-long learning, continuing some form of adult education as long as she was able. After her retirement Anne wrote columns for the Winston Salem Journal. Her other writings included published poems and books. In 1966, Anne began the first interpreting ministry to the hearing-impaired in the Elkin area and in First Baptist Church in Elkin and served as that ministry’s director for the next ten years. She taught sign language classes for Surry Community College and had a monthly series of programs in sign language on N.C. Public Television. During this time she co-founded the Piedmont Theatre of the Deaf, a touring group which performed in sign language in churches, schools, and other places throughout the state.
In Winston-Salem she served on Salemtowne’s Board of Trustees and for ten years she was on the Board of Advisors of Mars Hill College (now, University). She was a member of the initial Advocacy Board of the Children’s Cancer Patient Support Program at Brenner Children Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was a longtime volunteer and writer for the Adult Cancer Patient Support Program. Anne was a founding and life time member of Friends of the Elkin Public Library. In her final years, she devoted much time and energies to promoting better understandings of multiple sclerosis and blindness and their effect on the lives of patients and their families. Ecumenical in thought and spirit, she was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church, a former Episcopalian and a friend of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston Salem. As a resident of the Moravian-founded community of Salemtowne, she called herself a “BapEM”, which she said was “a Baptist Episcopalian happily living with a lot of Moravians!”
Anne’s family was, in her words, “why I get up in the morning.” Her husband of 42 years, Allen H. Adkins, passed away in 1989. Also, predeceasing her were their infant daughters, Carolyn and Carol and infant son Stephen Allen, a sister Charlene Joyce Sutherland, great-grandson Malaki Swaim and the companion of Anne’s later years, Dr. Carlton T. Mitchell.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy Adkins and Earl Leininger of Weaverville, Linda and Barry Swaim of Thurmond, grandsons, Richard Swaim and wife Dawn of Elkin, Harry Swaim and wife Katrina of Virginia, Christopher Leininger of Spartanburg, S.C., granddaughters, Deborah Weidenhamer and husband David of Cherryville, Melissa Daley and husband Ernest of Shelby, great grandchildren, Christian, Alexus, Ethan, Trendon, Bailey, Dominic, Lucas, Logan, Nick, Drew, Sam, Hannah and Mac, several nieces and nephews, her extended family of McLendons, Knapps, Mitchells, Millers, Greenes and Fullers, chosen “son” J.R. Reich and wife Sharon, and traveling buddy, Thel. “Carpe diem!”
Anne’s 37 years in Elkin with her husband their family were the touchstones for the remainder of her life. Her exceptional Salemtowne family of residents and staff gave her laughter, joy, understanding and loving care during the many years she lived among them.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Salemtowne Retirement Community in the Smith Saal, (190 Moravian Way, Winston Salem, NC 27106) with Chaplain Linda Brown officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
A private graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin with Dr. Bill Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Elkin Fellowship Hall.
Following Anne’s wishes, the family suggest memorials be made to Salemtowne Resident Assistance Endowment, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27106 or to the Elkin Public Library, 111 N. Front Street, Elkin, NC 28621 to encourage children to read.
Anne was born May 24, 1929 in Haysi, VA, to Roy Leonard and Alta Counts Sutherland. She grew up in Grundy, VA, attended Emory and Henry and Madison colleges, and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. While living in Washington, D.C. during the Korean War, she worked for the U.S. Department of the Army at the Pentagon. After moving to North Carolina in 1954, she was a news reporter and columnist for The Tribune in Elkin and won several awards from the N.C. Press Association. She was a staff writer for Wake Forest University and also worked for the Dean of the College. In 1999 she audited a course in the opening semester of the Wake Forest Divinity School, and quickly became a fan of life-long learning, continuing some form of adult education as long as she was able. After her retirement Anne wrote columns for the Winston Salem Journal. Her other writings included published poems and books. In 1966, Anne began the first interpreting ministry to the hearing-impaired in the Elkin area and in First Baptist Church in Elkin and served as that ministry’s director for the next ten years. She taught sign language classes for Surry Community College and had a monthly series of programs in sign language on N.C. Public Television. During this time she co-founded the Piedmont Theatre of the Deaf, a touring group which performed in sign language in churches, schools, and other places throughout the state.
In Winston-Salem she served on Salemtowne’s Board of Trustees and for ten years she was on the Board of Advisors of Mars Hill College (now, University). She was a member of the initial Advocacy Board of the Children’s Cancer Patient Support Program at Brenner Children Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and was a longtime volunteer and writer for the Adult Cancer Patient Support Program. Anne was a founding and life time member of Friends of the Elkin Public Library. In her final years, she devoted much time and energies to promoting better understandings of multiple sclerosis and blindness and their effect on the lives of patients and their families. Ecumenical in thought and spirit, she was a member of Elkin First Baptist Church, a former Episcopalian and a friend of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston Salem. As a resident of the Moravian-founded community of Salemtowne, she called herself a “BapEM”, which she said was “a Baptist Episcopalian happily living with a lot of Moravians!”
Anne’s family was, in her words, “why I get up in the morning.” Her husband of 42 years, Allen H. Adkins, passed away in 1989. Also, predeceasing her were their infant daughters, Carolyn and Carol and infant son Stephen Allen, a sister Charlene Joyce Sutherland, great-grandson Malaki Swaim and the companion of Anne’s later years, Dr. Carlton T. Mitchell.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy Adkins and Earl Leininger of Weaverville, Linda and Barry Swaim of Thurmond, grandsons, Richard Swaim and wife Dawn of Elkin, Harry Swaim and wife Katrina of Virginia, Christopher Leininger of Spartanburg, S.C., granddaughters, Deborah Weidenhamer and husband David of Cherryville, Melissa Daley and husband Ernest of Shelby, great grandchildren, Christian, Alexus, Ethan, Trendon, Bailey, Dominic, Lucas, Logan, Nick, Drew, Sam, Hannah and Mac, several nieces and nephews, her extended family of McLendons, Knapps, Mitchells, Millers, Greenes and Fullers, chosen “son” J.R. Reich and wife Sharon, and traveling buddy, Thel. “Carpe diem!”
Anne’s 37 years in Elkin with her husband their family were the touchstones for the remainder of her life. Her exceptional Salemtowne family of residents and staff gave her laughter, joy, understanding and loving care during the many years she lived among them.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Salemtowne Retirement Community in the Smith Saal, (190 Moravian Way, Winston Salem, NC 27106) with Chaplain Linda Brown officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
A private graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin with Dr. Bill Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Elkin Fellowship Hall.
Following Anne’s wishes, the family suggest memorials be made to Salemtowne Resident Assistance Endowment, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27106 or to the Elkin Public Library, 111 N. Front Street, Elkin, NC 28621 to encourage children to read.
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