R.B. Southern

Mr. R.B. Southern, 79, of 4878 NC 268, Dobson, passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Mr. Southern was born February 3, 1929, in Surry County, to the late Dock and Mecie Miller Southern. R.B. served our country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He owned and operated Southern's Used Cars for 51 years. He was a member of the Carolina's Independent Automobile Dealer's Association and was a recipient of its Golden Wheel Club Award for Dealer Integrity and the Spark Plug Club Award. R.B. was a former member of the board of directors for The Community Bank in Dobson and a faithful member of Pine Hill Friends Meeting. He is survived by wife of 59 years, Maxie Boyles Southern of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Tim Marion of Ararat; a son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Eva Southern of Mount Airy; four grandchildren and a spouse, Peyton Marion and Jack Marion II, both of Ararat, Will Marion of Nashville, TN, and Amanda and Chris Fletcher of King; two great-grandchildren, Cassidee Fletcher and Jackson Fletcher, both of King; a sister, Faye Southern Johnson of Winston-Salem; a brother, James Ralph Southern of Dobson; a host of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Buena and Mule Powers, Rex Fulk, Martha and Jackie Lane, Claudia and Jimmy Anthony, Wesley Boyles, Sr., Gladys Boyles, Lura Jean Boyles, and Marvin Bledsoe; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special cousin, Everette Miller of Dobson. In addition to his parents, Mr. Southern was preceded in death by two sisters, Lillie Southern Bruner and Frankie Southern; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Hubert and Minnie Shinault Boyles; five sisters-in-law, Chris Southern, Ruby Boyles, Polk Fulk, Dorothy Gallimore, and Jessie Bledsoe; and four brothers-in-law, J.C. Boyles, Jerry Boyles, Wendell Bruner, and Calvin Johnson. The funeral service will be held Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 3:00 PM at Pine Hill Friends Meeting, 3968 NC 268, Ararat. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors by the American Legion Post 123. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Pine Hill Friends Meeting. Memorials may be made in floral tribute or to Pine Hill Friends Meeting, c/o Brenda McKinney, 925 Tom Jones Road, Ararat, NC 27007. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sanjay K. Gandhi, Pam Moran, RN, and the heart center staff at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center for their loving care during R.B.'s illness. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Southern family.