Stokes Royal Pearson

Stokes Royal Pearson, 96, passed away Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Forsyth Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at Wilkesboro Baptist Church with Dr. Chris Hefner officiating.  The family will receive friends immediately after the service in the church fellowship hall.  COVID guidelines will be followed.  A private family burial service will be held at Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.  The service will be recorded and shown on Facebook at a later date to be announced.

Mr. Pearson was born Friday May 2, 1924 in Moravian Falls to Ernest Sparks Pearson and Bessie Lee Walsh Pearson.  He graduated from Wilkesboro High School in 1941.  After four years in the Navy (1941-1945) he enrolled in Berea College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education.  He received his teaching certificate from the University of Kentucky at Lexington.  In 1968 he received his Master of Industrial Arts degree from Appalachian State University.  He also did additional graduate work at N.C. State University. 

He began his teaching career at Wilkesboro High School and was involved with the consolidation of Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Ferguson High Schools into what became Wilkes Central High School.  He is the only individual to attend Wilkesboro High School, North Wilkesboro High School, and then teach in both schools and later teach in the consolidated school.

One of the highlights of his agriculture teaching career was during the summer of 1960 when he took his son and several FFA members on a 15-day tour of the northeastern states, and also Ontario and Montreal, Canada.

He left teaching in 1963 and worked as Breeder Flock Manager for Holly Farms Poultry until 1966.  Dr. Howard Thompson, with whom he had worked for nine years at Wilkes Central asked him to return to the field of education when Wilkes Community College first accepted students in 1966.  He began work at WCC as Extension Director and then became Vocational Director followed by Continuing Education Director and was later promoted to Dean of Continuing Education.

Following his retirement from WCC in 1984, he taught Woodworking Shop for WCC at the Wilkes Senior Center part time for 19 years.  He retired a second time on his 80th birthday.  Counting full time and part time he worked for 50 years in the field of education.

Mr. Pearson served on numerous committees over the years including Appalachian Law Enforcement Academy, Advisory Board at Wilkes Vocational Workshop, Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, Educator Advisory Board for the Navy, Second Century Club Executive Committee for Berea College, Wilkes Senior Center / Respite Care Board of Directors, Wilkes Senior Citizens Council (29 years as Chairman), and a life member of NC CC Adult Education Association.

Mr. Pearson joined Wilkesboro Baptist Church October 4, 1953 and was an active member serving as a deacon, assistant Sunday School teacher, Adult Department Director, and was secretary/treasurer of the Triplett Sunday School Class for over 40 years.  He was elected Deacon Emeritus in 2001.

He was proceeded in death by his parents; his wife of almost 72 years Carolyn Linney Pearson; one sister, Josie Pearson Zimmerman, one infant brother Joe Pearson; and infant daughter, Sylvia Pearson.

Mr. Pearson is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Pearson Lane of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Robyn Pearson Berry and Husband Bob, of Wilkesboro, one son, Ron Pearson and wife Cindy of Wilkesboro, a sister Ethel Ambrose of Little Rock, AK, two grandsons Brandon Berry and Jordan Berry and one step grandson, Jonathan Barnes, wife Kayla and daughters Lyndsay and Kaleigh. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wilkesboro Baptist Church P.O. Box 61, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

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