Rev. Raymond Needham

Rev. Raymond Coy Needham, 90, passed away Monday, August 31, 2020.  He was born August 3, 1930 in Forsyth County to the late Coy Raymond Needham and Eunice Holloway Needham.  Raymond grew up in Winston-Salem and was a graduate of Old Town High School.  After high school he attended Gardner Webb Junior College then Wake Forest University where he received his bachelor’s degree and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a bachelor of divinity degree.  In 1952 he married the love of his life, Linda Hudspeth.  They were married for over 60 years until her passing in 2013.  Raymond began preaching in 1953 and spent 42 years in full time ministry serving churches in Stoneville, Lawndale, Mayodan, Hertford and Reidsville, NC.  He continued interim pastoring for an additional 20 years.  Some of his greatest desires were to be a faithful husband, loving father, “Granddaddy”, and a good pastor to the congregations of the churches he served.  But his greatest desire was to one day see Jesus, and Monday morning he got to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  Raymond is survived by his son, Aaron Needham (Janet); daughter, Miriam Keslar (Kenneth); granddaughter, Ashlyn Lisk (Justin); and three sisters: Verta Ingbretsen, Lorena Rierson, and Marie Linville.  A funeral service will be conducted 12:00 Noon Thursday, September 3rd at First Baptist Church of King with Dr. Tommy Pillow officiating.  The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon prior to the service at the church.  Burial will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your local hospice or First Baptist Church of King, P.O. Box 481 King, NC 27021.