Catherine Lyerly

Mrs. Catherine MacRae Lyerly, 92, of Lewisville, NC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2023.  Catherine was born in Wilmington, NC on September 18, 1930, to the late Homer Angelo MacRae and Sallie Piner MacRae.  She graduated from New Hanover High School in 1948 and Woman’s College in 1953, now known as UNCG.  After graduating from college Catherine was proud to work at a work camp with the World Council of Churches in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon in France after which she traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland and attended the International Festival of Music and Drama.  Catherine loved to tell the story of how she found her way to Winston-Salem, NC.  While in Scotland, Catherine contacted her parents to find out her mother had accepted a job on her behalf with the WS/FC School System and R.J. Reynolds High School.  She taught 9th and 10th grade English at Reynolds High School until 1960.  Catherine left teaching to raise her three children and worked at Thalhimers Department Store from 1975 until 1987 and Old Salem from 1987 until 2019 where she was an Experienced Tour Guide for school groups and Historical Interpreter at Winkler Bakery.  She enjoyed playing golf, snow skiing, reading, playing bridge, and traveling across the world, including a trip to Thailand in 2004 with the Christian Children’s Fund where she created lasting memories including meeting the child she sponsored, and riding an elephant across a river.  She also enjoyed several return trips to Scotland researching her MacRae heritage.  Catherine was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and enjoyed going to games and making friends with the stadium staff.  She enjoyed belonging to bridge clubs, Lawndale Garden Club, and her membership at Forsyth Country Club.  Catherine also enjoyed teaching drama in schools, especially with special needs students as well as the ACT Program and The Little Theater.  Catherine was a faithful member of Lutheran Church of the Epiphany in Winston-Salem where she shared her faith through children’s messages for over 30 years.  Catherine loved the beach and her childhood experiences growing up in Wilmington which created a lifelong love of saltwater and spending time at the North Carolina coast.  In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, William Voigt “Bill” Lyerly and one brother, Thomas MacRae.  She is survived by her three children, John Lyerly (Irene), Mac Lyerly, and Jane Lyerly; and four grandchildren, Adele Lyerly, Heather Lyerly, Mary Tellup, and Madison Tellup.  Catherine’s greatest love were her children and grandchildren, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.  A service to celebrate Catherine’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 20, 2023, at Lutheran Church of the Epiphany with Pastor Russell Peek officiating.  Inurnment will follow the service in the church columbarium.  A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, 5220 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.  Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the family of Mrs. Lyerly.