Kattie Lee Childress

     Kattie Lee Childress, age 86 of North Wilkesboro peacefully passed away on February 23, 2022 to her Eternal Home in Heaven with JESUS CHRIST, her LORD and SAVIOR.

   A Celebration of her life will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Greater Vision Baptist Church in Millers Creek with Pastor Shane Pardue officiating. The family will be receiving friends prior to the service from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in the church sanctuary. Services are being conducted by Davie Funeral Services of Yadkinville. Final resting place will be at Charity Baptist Church cemetery in Boonville; N.C.

   Kattie was born August 10, 1935 in Boonville in Yadkin County, NC to Vern Childress and Minnie Wagner Childress of Yadkin County. She was the youngest of 3 children. Kattie did not attend school, but received some in home educational services as she had a great passion for learning her whole life. Her mother passed when Kattie was a child, and later was cared for by her step-mother, Irene. When she was 18 years old Kattie moved into the Caswell Center and remained there until about age 40. Desiring to be closer to home, Kattie moved into Foster Richardson Rest in Wilkesboro. She resided there for about 20 years. The Lord opened up the door for Kattie to begin to work at Wilkes ADAP in 1998 when she was in her early 60’s, and soon after moved to Wilkesboro to reside at a Community Alternatives Wellbon Avenue Group Home. Kattie later attended the Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Health Care Program in North Wilkesboro. She also later resided at Accordius Health in Wilkesboro and most recently at Wilkes Health & Rehabilitation in 2021-2022 in North Wilkesboro.

   Kattie had many loving friends everywhere she went. She was known for her Kindness, Warmth, Smile, Great laugh, Charm, Spunky nature and her Love for JESUS and others. Later in life Kattie met the “Love of her Life”, Jeff, with whom she had a Loving friendship until he passed on to Heaven several years ago. She was also very close to Jeff’s mother, Betty, whom she called “Mom”. Kattie was a member of Greater Vision Baptist Church of Millers Creek and was Deeply Loved and Cared for by her Church Family. Attending Services, being with her CHRISTIAN FAMILY, and going to Church events was one of the GREAT JOYS of her Life because of her LIFELONG LOVE FOR JESUS.  Kattie was a social butterfly, enjoying just visiting with others about life and stories about her family, having a cup of coffee or a Mountain Dew and a hamburger with only Dukes Mayonnaise. She worked at Wilkes ADAP for many years and was known as the “Queen” of baking of Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. She also had many wonderful experiences at Wilkes ADAP including:  watching the Winston Salem Dash baseball games, attending the ADAP Prom, going to Merlefest and movies, swimming, going to parties at CHRISTMAS, birthdays and other holidays, and more. Kattie’s zest for life is exemplified when she was asked aren’t you ready to retire in her early 60’s, she confidently answered “No I’m just getting started”. Her new home at the Wellborn Avenue Group Home also opened up a world of opportunities for her including: going to Myrtle Beach, visiting the Outer Banks including Ocracoke Lighthouse, Dollywood, shopping with Lynn, eating out, attending Greater Vision Baptist Church and more! In recent years she loved her overnight trips to stay with the family of Elaine and Ted Podbielski and family for Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS. She loved listening to the music of Dolly Parton, and particularly Loretta Lynn, with her favorites being “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and the gospel Hymn, “How Great Though Art”. She had a passion for singing and loved performing in the Wilkes ADAP Idol program. She enjoyed collecting items with angels, cats, kittens and lighthouses. She loved movies with animals, the “Home Alone” movie series and Tyler Perry’s “Madea” movies.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Vern and Minnie Childress, step mother, Irene Childress, brother Bud Childress and wife, Virginia, sister Mary Ingold and husband Clarence, half-sister Nancy Childress, and Special Friend Jeff Plumley She is survived by numerous family members including niece Sharon Best, husband Billy, daughter Alison and her husband Stefano Paris, nephew Barry Childress, wife Jackie and daughter Ashley, nephews Kenneth and Ray Ingold, and other extended family members, her Church Family at Greater Vision Baptist Church, many Community friends, and Special friends, Betty, Elaine and Ted, Lynn, David, and Sue and Harry.

   The family would like to give a deep and sincere THANKS to all who have Loved and Supported Kattie over the years including her friends at:  Accordius of Wilkes, All Medical and Dental Care Providers, Boone Trail Optometric Eye Care/Dr. Swaringen, Community Alternatives Wellborn Avenue Group Home, Dr. Joe Pinkerton, MD, Foster Richardson Rest Home, Greater Vision Baptist Church, Physical Therapy Associates of Wilkes, Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Care Program, Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Medical Center Staff, Rehabilitation Program and Hospice Care Program, West Wilkes Dental Clinic, Wilkes ADAP, Wilkes Community College ABE Program, Wilkes Health and Rehabilitation and Wilkes Transportation Authority.

   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to (1) Greater Vision Baptist Church, 1090 N Minton Rd, Millers Creek, NC 28651, (2) Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Health Care Program, 1915 West Park Drive, Suite 200, North Wilkesboro, NC, 28659 or (3) Wilkes ADAP, P.O. Box 968, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.
online condolences may be made to www.daviefh.com

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