Mrs. Nelta Shepherd Church
Retired Elementary School Principal and farmer, Nelta S. Church, passed away on the 8th of August 2022 at the age of 77 with her family by her side.
Mrs. Church was born in October of 1944 to Wayne and Mae Shepherd of Wilkes County. Growing up on her family’s farm, Nelta gained a passion for farming, a love of gardening, and a disciplined work ethic that carried to her many life achievements.
After obtaining a degree from Appalachian State University Teachers College in the Spring of 1966, Nelta wed the love of her life, Henry Church. At that time, Henry was serving in the United States Air Force and Nelta joined him in Fayetteville as he completed his basic training. When Henry’s service took him away from North Carolina, she returned to Wilkes and eagerly awaited the letters he would write to her. Upon completion of Henry’s service, he rejoined Nelta in North Wilkesboro where they built a home on the family farm and started a family. Nelta also began her career in education as the first Librarian of Mountain View Elementary School, an appropriate career for one who was an avid reader. While being a mother, librarian, and active participant on the farm, she obtained an MA of Specialist Education in the summer of 1982. Following this, Nelta achieved her goal of becoming a school administrator when she became Assistant Principal at Mountain View Elementary, CC Wright and later Principal of Moravian Falls Elementary school. She held this position for many years and retired as Principal of Mulberry Elementary school after more than thirty years in education and even being recognized as Principal Of The Year. After retirement from her formal career, Nelta could often be found on the farm, delivering beef, helping at the livestock market, gardening, or enjoying one of her favorite pastimes, reading.
Family, friends, farmers, and neighborhood children always found a welcoming seat at Nelta’s dining room table where delicious home cooked meals and sound advice were always readily available. This led to her being affectionately known by the endearing and reverent name, “Mother Nelta.” She was a member and active participant of Baptist Home Baptist Church, always wanting the best for everyone and trying to see to everyone’s needs. She gave without accepting recognition and loved to help the younger generations to succeed. She was known for her cooking, an expertise she learned from her mother, and would often share with the farm crew while in the field. At the time of her passing, Mother Nelta and Henry had enjoyed 56 years of marriage with 2 wonderful children and 4 amazing grandchildren and she still cherished those letters of correspondence that Henry had written while away in the service all those years ago.
She is survived by her husband, Henry; daughter, Sallie Ann and spouse Kevin Arvin of Thomasville; grandchildren Isabella and Elizabeth; son, Seth and spouse Shawna of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren Olivia and Parker; as well as her dear friend and sister-in-law, Betty Higgins Church.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Saturday, the 13th of August 2022 at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Following, Mother Nelta will be laid to rest with a graveside service at Baptist Home Church, North Wilkesboro.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care 1915 W Park Drive #200, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturidvant.com
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