Mr. Billy Gray Belton

After a long seven year battle with illness, Mr. Billy Gray Belton went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday morning, August 10, 2012. Mr. Belton was born to Thomas Owen Belton and Connie Laster Belton Midkiff on September 22, 1929. Mr. Belton is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Inez Leftwich Belton, of the home; daughter, Amy Belton Hendrix and husband Perry of Arden; granddaughters, Sarah Brown and husband Chris of Crofton, MD, Mary Reid Lancaster and husband Michael of Winston-Salem; great granddaughters, Cambell Brown and Olivia Lancaster; his loving sisters-in-law, Henrietta Bingman and Norma Kallam and husband Steve, special cousin Peggy Dickerson; and a step sister, Wanda Roberts of Mt. Airy. Mr. Belton graduated from Franklin High School in 1948 where he starred on the basketball team. He married Inez Leftwich on November 29, 1951. Mr. Belton loved working in downtown Mt. Airy where he enjoyed seeing his many friends and where he practiced his Christian principles while running his furniture business. He began his retailing career with F. Rees Co. where he became a life long friend of Floyd "Flip" Rees. Bill was truly loved by everyone he met. Mr. Belton was an active sports enthusiast and earlier in life he played tennis; however, he had a real passion for golf as he loved playing, watching or just talking about it with friends. Bill was a dedicated and passionate supporter of Wake Forest University. Bill was very proud of daughter Amy and son-in-law, Perry who both graduated from Wake Forest. You could always get a smile from Bill with a simple "Go Deacs." Mr. Belton was a member of Haymore Memorial Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and truly enjoyed the fellowship of the church. He was a board member of the Housing Authority for many years. Mr. Belton will always be remembered as an humble, kind, generous and loving man. Mr. Belton was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Owen Belton and Connie Laster Midkiff. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 13, 2012, at 11:00 AM at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Robert McCrary officiating. Burial will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday night from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000 Boone, NC, 28607. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.