Willie Richard Frye

Willie Richard Frye, 81, of Winston-Salem, NC, died Monday, September 9, 2013, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 14, 2013, at Winston-Salem Friends Meeting, 3151 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC. Philip Raines, pastor, and the Reverend Bill McElveen will officiate. There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Building. Willie Richard Frye was born in Henry County, Virginia on September 26, 1931, to Willie Richard Frye, Sr. and Hester Draper Frye. He graduated from John Wesley College in High Point, NC and from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. He married Agnes Jones Frye in 1951. Willie was a Quaker pastor who served meetings throughout North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends for thirty-nine years. After his retirement from the ministry, he worked at Forsyth Technical Community College until the age of eighty. Willie took seriously the scriptural commandment to love his God with all of his heart and to love his neighbors as he loved himself. Even though it was often unpopular and he met with resistance, Willie was an activist for social justice. He advocated for civil rights, pacifism, and gay rights. During the Viet Nam War, Willie traveled to Paris to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Willie and Agnes helped to organize support groups for LGBT individuals and their families. Willie savored life and enjoyed hobbies such as woodworking, writing, building furniture, and traveling. He cherished time with his wife and family and their friends. He is survived by his wife of the home; his daughter Kathy Adams and husband Bill of Pfafftown, NC; his son Rick Frye and partner Scottie Carratello of Jamestown, NC; his son Bob Frye and wife Nancy of Gilbert, AZ. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Nathan Adams and wife Mary Beth; Jessica Williams; Brooks Frye and wife Sarah; and Brandon Frye. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Justin Williams and Oliver Adams; a brother Buford Frye (Wanda) of Burlington, NC; sisters Mollie Arrington of Bassett, VA; Doris Ferguson of Collinsville, VA; Loretta Saben (David) of Waynesboro, VA; Mary Ziglar (Fred) of Collinsville, VA; and Ruth McColley (Dean) of Hurst, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Winston-Salem or to Winston-Salem Friends Meeting. The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to the doctors and staff of Hospice for their tender care of Willie over the last fifteen months. His home nurse, Jenn Haag, is like a member of our family.



Visitation:
There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Building.

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