Winifred Thurkill

Hudson, NC – Mrs. Winifred Moore Thurkill, 82, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Catawba Hospice House in Newton, NC. There will be a celebration of life service Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church in Hudson, NC. The Reverends Mack Jarvis of the church and Howard Fleming of First United Methodist Church of Granite Falls, NC will preside. Winifred was born on June 14, 1935 in Caldwell County, NC, daughter of Fred Avery Moore and Fannie Eller Moore Baker. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Doug Moore and her husband the Reverend Robert Y. Thurkill. After graduating from Hudson High School in 1953 and Mars Hill College, she graduated from Meredith College with a degree in education in 1957. She also attended the Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY for a year before beginning her teaching career. She completed an add-on certification in exceptional children at Appalachian State University. Winifred began her teaching career in Charlotte before moving to Hudson in 1979. After brief stints at Baton Elementary and Hudson Elementary, she settled into teaching at Hudson Middle School. She retired in 1998 after years of instructing students with the care that was her trademark. Winifred valued education and people, and her life was a testament to both. She also taught in the Adult GED program part-time at CCC&TI. After her retirement, she orchestrated the birth of a tutoring program by retirees at First Baptist Church of Hudson for elementary students. Winifred was dedicated to students’ learning and success. Winifred was as devoted to church as she was to education. As a minister’s wife, her roles came easily – WMU director, GA leader, Bible school, Sunday School teacher. Her favorite role was being a minister’s wife, entertaining and interacting with the congregation graciously in Christian love. Her passion for education and caring for others combined during her final years in a battle with Alzheimer’s led her to donate her brain to the Medical University of South Carolina for research. Even in death Winifred chose to put others before herself. Survivors include her daughters, Lee Ann Thurkill (Steve) Luman of Hickory, NC and Becky Thurkill (Brian) Carver of Jupiter, FL; sisters Mary Belle (Gus) DeHertogh of Cary, NC, Eleanor (George) Kirby of Hudson, NC, and Bertha “Sammie” Moore (Joe) Gibbs of Granite Falls, NC; sister-in-law Pat Moore of Lenoir, NC; grandchildren Hannah Carver and Ben Carver of Jupiter, FL, Margaret Ann Luman and Clif Luman of Hickory, NC and Chelsa Fillers of Hickory, NC; her Thurkill family; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Catawba Hospice House, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658. The family is especially grateful to the staff of Catawba Hospice for their excellent care during Winifred’s final weeks of life. The family also thanks Visiting Angels, Brookdale Assisted Living of Lenoir, and Carillon Assisted Living of Newton for care during her declining years. Special friends she leaves behind include Johnnie Dugger and George Glover.