Earlene Grey Shaw Epperson

Mrs. Earlene Grey Shaw Epperson, 80, of 312 Robin Road, Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 18, 2013, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. Mrs. Epperson was born October 6, 1932, in Carroll County, VA, the daughter of Evangelist Lonnie P. and Virginia Bobbitt Shaw. Mrs. Epperson graduated from Galax High School in Galax, VA, and earned a business degree from Radford College in Radford, VA. Earlene, along with her late husband, Ralph Deward Epperson, founded and helped organize WBRF 98.1 FM in Galax, VA. Earlene was a faithful member at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy for many years. She also served the church as a deaconess and was a member of the Rebekah Sunday School Class. Earlene had a true community servant's heart. She proudly served as a leader with Girl Scouts of America, was past president of the Modern Gardeners Garden Club, and past president and Woman of the Year of the Mount Airy Junior Woman's Club. She also served on the board of directors for The Salvation Army. She is survived by two children and their spouses, Deborah and John Stringer of Galax, VA, and Kelly and Jennifer Epperson of Mount Airy; six grandchildren and their spouses, Brian and Annette Sizer of Kissimmee, FL, Steven Sizer of Los Angeles, CA, Virginia and Lee Brown of Winston-Salem, and Hal Epperson and his fiancée, Lindsay Bowman, Jill Epperson, and Abby Epperson, all of Mount Airy; two stepgrandchildren, Elizabeth Stringer and Mary Plant and her husband, Jon, all of Galax, VA; three great-grandchildren, Michael Sizer, Aiden Sizer, and Micah Brown; a step-great-grandchild, Molly Plant; a sister, Betty Shaw Phillips of Greensboro; an aunt, Chris Sells of Galax, VA; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Epperson was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Deward Epperson; and a sister, Ruth Shaw. The funeral service will be held Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy, with Dr. Roger B. Gilbert, the Rev. Tony Hayworth, the Rev. Sam Bartlett, and Brian Sizer officiating. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030; First Baptist Church, 714 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030; or The Salvation Army, 651 South South Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the love and compassion shown by the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care and the staff of the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:30-31.