Mrs. Marilyn Stokes Sermons, 81, a resident of 105 Driver Road, Washington, died Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Ridgewood Manor.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Oakdale Cemetery and will be conducted by Dr. Michael Price.
Mrs. Sermons was born in Argyle, Ga., on Sept. 17, 1930, to the late Shafter G. and Kate Highsmith Stokes. On June 28, 1952, she married Wayland Sermons Sr., who preceded her in death on May 2, 1997. She was employed with the Department of Justice prior to her marriage, and for many years she was involved in the operation of the family-owned Carolinian Hotel in Nags Head. Mrs. Sermons served on the Historic Bath Commission, was a member of the First Christian Church of Washington, the Crescite Book Club, the Merry Makers Supper Club, and volunteered with many other civic and community affairs.
Survivors include two sons, Wayland James Sermons Jr. and wife Penny of Washington, Carl Winston Sermons of Washington; two daughters, Sue Sermons Tarlton and husband Vernon of Hickory, Carol Sermons Samuelson and husband Frank of Lilburn, Ga., and her three stepdaughters, Josie Sermons Roberts, Lois Sermons Edgerton and Ann Sermons Gillis and husband Jim Gibson. Mrs. Sermons is also survived by her brother, Lamar Stokes of Arizona and her grandchildren, David Rowe Mathison Jr., Elizabeth Kelly Mathison, Caroline Riley Mathison, Robert William Mathison, Elizabeth Aaron Sermons, Wayland James Sermons III, Mathew Joseph McCoy III, Frank Edward Samuelson III, Gunnar Winston Samuelson, Harry Lee Roberts III, Catherine Roberts Hoehn, Wayland Scott Roberts, Elizabeth Gillis Wann and Victor Seton Edgerton.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jean Miller, and one brother, Gerald Stokes.
She also loved and greatly appreciated her kind caregivers, Jo Ann Hopkins and the staff at Ridgewood Manor.
Lynn was a gracious wife, mother, hostess, and friend to all who knew her. She enjoyed playing bridge with her Honey Pod friends, gardening, and baking caramel cakes for her precious grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. today at the home of her son, Wayland J. Sermons Jr., 115 Honey Pod Farm Road, Washington.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Capital Campaign, 401 E. Second St., or the Marion Shepard Cancer Center, 628 E. 12th St., Washington, NC 27889.
You may address condolences to the Sermons family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Sermons family.