Frank Stearns, Jr.

A gentle soul and kind wanderer, Frank Ellis Stearns, Jr. ended his life’s journey on October 7, 2022, and began his heavenward ascent after 78 years. The son of Captain Frank Ellis Stearns and his wife Jessie May Pleasants Stearns, Frank, Jr. was born in Winston-Salem NC on January 24, 1944, a wartime baby who did not see his father for 18 months. His sister, Carolyn Pleasants Stearns, was born in 1949 in High Point NC to complete the family.

Frank’s early life was spent in High Point and Winston-Salem where he was a member of Mount Tabor Methodist Church. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout, attending camporees, summer camps, and a memorable trip to Raven’s Knob. He advanced through the ranks of Boy Scouts to achieve the God and Country Award.

He attended Old Town School in Winston-Salem, and later was the winner of the United Nations World Peace Speech Contest at Northwest High School.

Frank attended Campbell College in Buies Creek, NC and was graduated from Mitchell College in Statesville, NC on May 29, 1966. He was also graduated from High Point University and received a Masters Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Frank was employed at Walmart and Hanes Corporation where he had several jobs, once as a catalog model for a line of Hanes activewear. For many years, he served as a ministerial counselor helping clients overcome problems and make good choices.

Always interested in politics, Frank was a member of the Mizell Team, wearing a political button shaped like a baseball when he worked for “Vinegar Bend” Mizell who was running for the North Carolina 5th Congressional District. Frank always was impressed with Wilmer Mizell’s athletic prowess on the Saint Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburg Pirates and the New York Mets and Mizell’s interest in making the world better.

Frank is survived by his wife, Wanda Williams Peoples Stearns, first a friend for eight years and then a wife for their next eight years at their home in Winston-Salem.  Special members of Wanda’s family who were close to Frank are her son, Thad Peoples and his wife Stefanie, their sons Tristan, Tyson, and Lennox; and stepdaughters, Denise Fulton, Monique Peoples, and April Weber.

Formerly of Brussels in Belgium, Frank’s daughter Alice is an artist, poet, and award-winning film maker now living in Berlin, Germany. Her most recent film is “Only an Hour Ago.”

Family members from Sanford, NC are Frank’s sister, Carolyn Stearns York, and her husband, Guy and Frank’s niece, Emily Pleasants York, nephew Jonathan York, and great nephew Christian Noah Bourdon.

Ken Wilson was Frank’s long-time friend since high school, and now lives in Manassas, Virginia.

In his life’s journey, Frank was a strong supporter of the church, religious studies, and spirituality. He had a wealth of knowledge on movie trivia and especially enjoyed classics from the 1950’s and the 1960’s. He was interested in history, especially of the Civil War, and enjoyed jogging and visiting the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina, the home of Great Grandmother Key’s family.

A visitation will be held at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel at 1:00 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2022, with the funeral service following at 2:00 PM at the funeral home. The funeral will be conducted by Wanda Stearns’ brother, Reverend Steve Williams, and Emily York, Frank’s niece, will be soloist. Burial will follow in Forsyth Memorial Park.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com