Elaine Forward Lyerly

Mrs. Elaine Forward Lyerly, age 95, wife of Mr. James A. Lyerly, of 2101 Homestead Hills Drive, Winston-Salem, NC, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2023. Mrs. Lyerly was born in High Point, NC on September 24, 1928, to John and Amy Carr Forward. Mrs. Lyerly taught home economics in Pleasant Garden, NC prior to moving to Winston-Salem. She returned to college to obtain her Library Sciences degree and served as school librarian/media coordinator at The Children’s Home, Moore Elementary, Old Richmond Elementary, and finally Clemmons Elementary, where she served for 20 years before retiring. Her article entitled “Using Volunteers in the Media Center” was published in The State magazine. She was a member of Augsburg Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she served on numerous committees. She loved sewing, needlework, reading, the Atlanta Braves, attending many musical performances appearing in Winston-Salem, ACC basketball, and her favorite team was the UNC Tarheels. She loved vacationing at the beach with her family. She enjoyed her friends in Faculty Wives Club, her bridge club, the teachers bowling league, and especially her friends at Homestead Hills Retirement Community. Mrs. Lyerly was preceded in death by her husband James and her sister Virginia (Lawrence) Leonard. Survivors include her son, Ronald (Carol) Lyerly of Winston-Salem and her daughter, Ann (Garland) Ladd of Lewisville, grandchildren Melissa (Adam) Peeler, Amy (Michael) Cruz, Robert (Catherine) Lyerly, and Troy Smith, and great-grandchildren Hallie Cruz, Salem Peeler, Julian Cruz, Stellan Cruz, and Wells Peeler. The family will have a private graveside service at Forsyth Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Augsburg Evangelical Lutheran Church Charity Fund, 845 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC, or a charity of your choice.