Joan Shumate Baity

Ms. Joan Shumate Baity, 85 of North Wilkesboro, passed away Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Ridge Valley Health at Wilkesboro.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Ms. Baity was born August 19, 1937 in Wilkes County to Theodore Roosevelt and Bessie Absher Shumate.  She was the Executive Director of the Old Wilkes museum from 1978 thru 2004 with a Nonprofit Management  Certification from Duke University 1998, Historical Preservation certification 1991 from the National Trust for Preservation Leadership, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa in 1994 and 2014 at Wilkes Community College, received the National Park Service Certificate of Recognition in 1994 for History Reenactment at Kings Mountain National Park, and  was detailed in an article in the December 1993 edition of  Southern Living Magazine describing her work to preserve the Old Wilkes Jail.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Audrey Elledge; one granddaughter, Lea Anne Elledge; two sisters, Ruby Hall and Olena Hunt; and one brother, Delmas Shumate.

She is survived by one daughter, Jill Baity of Wilkesboro; three sons, Terry Baity (Tamara) of North Wilkesboro, Robert Baity , Jr. (Jeanine) and Joey Baity, all of Winston-Salem; eight grandchildren, Kelly McCaslin, Becky Caudle, Jonathan Baity, Brianna Billings, Bryan Baity, Ashley Townsend, Kaitlyn Baity, and Jake Townsend; and eight great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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