Haywood Flinn Stokes Jr.

Published 1:55 pm Monday, October 21, 2013

Haywood Flinn Stokes Jr., 82, of Newbern, died Sunday, Oct. 20.

He was born March 3, 1931, in Perry County to the late Haywood Flinn and Pearl Hanah Stokes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Haywood Flinn and Pearl Hanah Stokes; and brother, John B. Stokes.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Johnson Stokes of Newbern; daughters, Dena (Willie) Tucker of Newbern and Sharon Stokes of Newbern; son, Haywood Flinn “Woody” (Betty) Stokes III of Newbern; sister, Mary Westbrook of Linden; grandchildren, Jennifer Tucker of Newbern, Dr. Jamie Lynn Tucker of Columbus, Miss., Jaclyn T. (Matthew) Rogers of Greensboro, Sydney E. Stokes of Greensboro, and Kristopher F. Stokes of Tuscaloosa; great-grandchildren, Madeline Pearson, Marianna Pearson, Kate Marie Hewitt, Stokes Hewitt and Drew Rogers; and a dear and special friend Paul Owens.

He was the constable of the city of Newbern for more than 40 years. He served on the Newbern Council and was a vital part of the Newbern Volunteer Fire Department. He was one of the founding members of Southern Academy in Greensboro, serving on the board for 14 years. Every Sunday morning for more than 25 years, one would find him at Colonial Haven Nursing Home in Greensboro helping gather the patients in the recreation room for Sunday morning church services. He fought bravely in the Korean War and served our country proudly for 35 years in the Army Reserves.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. at Newbern Cemetery. The Revs. Jim Waters Jr. and Steve Vernon will be officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Greensboro Chapel directing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hobson Bethel United Methodist Church, the Newbern Cemetery Fund or the Newbern Voluntary Fire Department.