Eileen Branch Kidd

Mrs. Eileen Branch Kidd, 74, of Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday afternoon, September 25, 2018, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson.  Mrs. Kidd was born July 31, 1944, in Surry County, the oldest of six children born to the late William Claude and Lina Mae Brindle Branch.  Eileen was reared on a farm in the Dobson community and graduated from Surry Central High School in 1962.  She soon became the wife of Gary Allen Kidd, who had just joined the United States Navy.  After Gary’s four years in the Navy, he and Eileen moved back to Mount Airy and they started their careers.  Eileen worked as an administrative assistant at Surry Community College for 24 years, retiring in 1997.  Kidd tirelessly served her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.  She taught numerous Sunday school classes, served as the first coordinator of Kid’s Café, was a dedicated choir member and often sang special music, served on numerous committees, and was elected as the first female deacon in the church’s history.  Her lifestyle of praise and admiration for Christ told others what she knew about Him and what it meant to personally trust Him with his or her life.  She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Travis Sink of Advance; a son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Janel Kidd of Mount Airy; her grandchildren, Ben Sink of Winston-Salem, Joe and Allie Sink of Durham, Wesley Sink of Greenville, Jed Kidd of Charlotte, and Ellie Kidd of Mount Airy; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathy and Gary Horton of Dugspur, VA, and Jan and Garnett Beasley of Mount Airy; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Phillip and Wanda Branch and Andy and Treva Branch, all of Mount Airy, and the Rev. Alan and Kathy Branch of Pilot Mountain; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, Mrs. Kidd was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Allen Kidd; a brother-in-law, William Johnson; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Floyd Allen and Hulda Jane Cassell Kidd; and a sister-in-law, Gail Kidd Brintle.  A service of worship and celebration of Eileen’s life will be held Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 2:00 PM at Piney Grove Baptist Church, with the Rev. Mark A. Reece, Jr. and the Rev. Alan Branch officiating.  Inurnment will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 until 2:00 PM at Piney Grove Baptist Church.  The family wishes to express their gratitude for the love and compassion shown by Dr. Elizabeth Albertson and Dr. William Baker and his nurse, Sherry Coggin, with Novant Health.  Also, the family is truly grateful to the staff at Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care and Dr. Kim Kinsley and staff at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home for their tender, loving care.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Piney Grove Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1022, Mount Airy, NC  27030.  Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.