Roy Lee Southern

Roy Lee Southern, 71, slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus at the former Stokes Reynolds Hospital in Danbury, North Carolina on Monday, August 29, 2017. He had a lengthy illness with kidney failure. He was born on April 8, 1946 in the Meadows Community of Stokes County to Mozelle Mae Fulk Southern and Foster Philo Southern. Although he moved several times in his life, he never left Stokes County. Roy Lee lost the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Niten Southern, on September 21, 2010. They met on July 28, 1963 and were together until her death. Praise God, they are now reunited! They had two children, Mary Ann (James) Frady and Lonnie Lee (Joy) Southern and six grandchildren, Ashley Dawn Tilley, Kayla Marie Frady, Marion Nicole (Chole) Southern, Kara Hester, Hannah Elizabeth Southern, and Jordan Frady.

Roy Lee spent most of his working years at RJ Reynolds and was on disability towards the end of his life. He always had a memory of something that he wanted to share. Many times the person he told had no idea that the event had happened - and it involved them! This amazing memory came from his maternal grandmother. He also was fascinated with numbers and the connections of certain dates. He was always informing the family if the day had a significant meaning and if so, why. A hobby of his was collecting NASCAR Die-Cast cars and he has quite a collection. He also collected merchandise for the NASCAR drivers he loved. He never missed a race in his younger years and often shared his thoughts on the topic with his late brother-in-law, Johnnie Calhoun, Sr. and they discussed NASCAR, sports, and a multitude of other interests.

Roy Lee was preceded in death by his parents, wife, his brother, Lonnie Curt Southern, a sister Mattie Sue Mabe, a sister-in-law JoAnn Vaden Niten, and three brothers-in-law Johnnie Calhoun Sr., Joe Niten and Jay Niten. He was very close to his late mother and father-in-law, Nannie and Otto Niten.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, Roy Lee leaves to cherish his memories two sisters, Nancy Young and Mary Alice (Boyd) Mabe, four sisters-in-law, Virginia Lucille (Frank) Beasley, Irene Calhoun, Allene (Thaxton) Harrison, and Ann Niten, and three brothers-in-law, Benie (Joyce) Niten, Elwood Mabe, and Rayvon Young. He also leaves several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

The loves of his life, his fur babies, Jim and Jack will miss him greatly. Although many never knew, Roy had a lot of love for people that he had difficulty showing. The family hopes that his sweet soul is finally at peace.

A service will be conducted on Friday, September 1, 2017 at Cox-Needham Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. with Brother Don Collins officiating with interment following at Barnard Cemetery in Ararat, VA with military rites by Pilot Mountain VFW Post 9436 and Mount Airy VFW Post 2019. The family will receive friends at Cox-Needham Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017 and at the home of his sister-in-law, Irene Calhoun, at 1160 Calhoun Rd, Westfield, NC, at other times.

Cox-Needham Funeral Home of Pilot Mountain (http://www.coxneedham.com, www.facebook.com/coxneedham) is respectfully serving the Southern family.