Mearle Jolly Sutphin

Mrs. Mearle Jolly Sutphin, 86, of Westfield, passed from this world into the arms of our loving Savior on Saturday, July 28, 2007. Mrs. Sutphin was the widow of John William Sutphin. She was born November 23, 1920, in Wilkes County, to S.M. and Flora Brooks Jolly. She married John on October 12, 1942, and enjoyed 62 years of happiness until his death in 2005. Mearle leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Charles Siau of Greenville, SC; a son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Kathy Sutphin of Westfield; five grandchildren, Wesley Siau, Paul Siau, Dawn Gwinn, Jonathan Sutphin, and Sarah Sutphin; a great-grandchild, Rebecca Whitmire; three great-stepgrandchildren, Josh McDaniel, Sam McDaniel, and Jason Gwinn; two great-great-stepgrandchildren, John Gwinn and Autumn Gwin; and a sister, Rexie Royal of Glade Valley. She is also remembered by many loving in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Other loved ones who departed this life before her include her parents; five sisters, Ruby Durham, Mozelle Caudle, Clara Mae Jolly, Lucille Anderson, and Arlene Ayers; and three brothers, Frank Jolly, Ross Jolly, and John Jolly. She received Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and was a faithful member of Westfield Baptist Church, where she served her Lord in leadership positions of the WMU, senior adults, her Sunday school class, and Bible school. Until her recent illness, Mearle served as a role model for the church's younger members by seldom missing a Sunday or Wednesday evening service. Not only was she a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, but she faithfully practiced our Lord's commandments to "love one another" in everything she did. Mearle graduated from Sparta High School in 1939 and the Martin Memorial School of Nursing in 1942. After marrying John, they made their home in Spartanburg, SC. While John was in combat during World War II, Mearle lived in Mount Airy and worked as a nurse. When John returned from Germany, they continued their marriage in Spartanburg, where Mearle worked as a nurse over the next 20 years at Spartanburg General Hospital and the Visiting Nurses Association of Spartanburg County. When John retired from the military in 1965, they moved to Westfield as Mearle continued nursing in Mount Airy, retiring as the nursing supervisor at Northern Hospital of Surry County. During their retirement, John and Mearle loved bus trips and visited all 50 states. She also loved to crochet and work with John in their garden. The funeral service for Mrs. Sutphin will be held Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 2:00 PM at Westfield Baptist Church, with burial following in the church cemetery. Her earthly body will lie-in-state one hour before the service as the family receives friends. The family will also receive friends afterward in the church fellowship hall and, at other times, at the home of her son, Phil Sutphin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Westfield Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o John Kuhl, 3230 Old Westfield Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the loving care given by the medical professionals of Northern Hospital of Surry County and Central Continuing Care who cared for Mearle during her illness. Also, a special thank you is extended to Violet Merritt of Senior Quality Care, Inc. who so lovingly made Mearle's final months on this earth as comfortable and happy as possible. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com