Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameRev. Dr. John “Wilford” Lyerly 
Birth31 Mar 1915, Rowan County, NC
Death7 Jan 2003, Mt Airy, Surry County, NC
Burial11 Jan 2003, Christiana Lutheran Church Cemetery, Granite Quarry, Rowan County, NC
FatherJohn Calvin Lyerly (1887-1968)
MotherMary Frances Elizabeth Trexler (1893-1989)
Spouses
Birth22 Jul 1936, Cleveland County, NC
Death28 Dec 2023
Burial4 Jan 2024, Christiana Lutheran Church Cemetery, Granite Quarry, Rowan County, NC
Marriage1979
Notes for Rev. Dr. John “Wilford” Lyerly
Rev. Dr. John Wilford Lyerly
MOUNT AIRY - The Rev. Dr. John Wilford Lyerly, 87, of 125 Taylor St., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at his home. Dr. Lyerly, a native of Rowan County and a former resident of Salisbury, was the son of the late John Calvin Lyerly and Mary Trexler Lyerly.
He was a member of Christiana Lutheran Church of Granite Quarry. He graduated from Granite Quarry High School and continued his education at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was also a member of the college Letterman's Club, earning his letter by playing on the varsity tennis team.
He served with distinction as chaplain of the Northern Hospital of Surry County and was a member of the hospital staff. He resigned as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church to give more time to the hospital ministry.
He also served as chaplain of the N.C. Paraplegic Association, ministering to people in wheelchairs. He was named Lion of the year by both of these clubs. On the district level, he served as zone district governor, won two Melvin Jones Fellow awards and a Jack Stickley Fellow award, among the highest awards in the Lionism. He had traveled extensively since 1967, organizing and escorting tours to all parts of the world. He was called a "world traveler."
He married Betty Jane Conley of Shelby and Elkin, a home economist, who served as consumer-education representative for Duke Power Co. in Elkin. They had escorted groups to seven continents and 90 countries, many of which have been repeats, even seven times to the Holy Land.
He served as Protestant chaplain on a number of famous cruise ships.
On Dec. 31, 2002, Lyerly retired as chaplain of Northern Hospital of Surry County and chaplain of the N.C. Paraplegic Association.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jane Conley Lyerly of the home; a sister, Katherine Elizabeth Lyerly of Salisbury; a sister-in-law, Willene Kesler Lyerly of Salisbury; a niece and spouse, Kathy L. and Jimmy Davis of Greensboro; a nephew and spouse, J. Brent and Patti Lyerly of Salisbury; and two great-nieces, Laura Davis and Leigh Davis, both of Greensboro.
In addition to his parents, the Rev. Dr. Lyerly was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Lucille Lyerly; and by a brother, James C. Lyerly.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, at Central United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dale Cline, Dr. David Sparks and Mr. Bill James.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Ladies Parlor of the church.
A service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Christiana Lutheran Church of Granite Quarry. Burial will follow in the Christiana Lutheran Church Cemetery. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the N.C. Lutheran Synod Mission Fund, 1988 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144; or to the Northern Hospital of Surry County Chaplaincy Fund, P.O. Box 1101, Mount Airy, NC 27030.
Winston-Salem Journal, 9 Jan 2003
MOUNT AIRY - The Rev. Dr. John Wilford Lyerly, 87, of 125 Taylor St., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at his home. Dr. Lyerly, a native of Rowan County and a former resident of Salisbury, was the son of the late John Calvin Lyerly and Mary Trexler Lyerly.
He was a member of Christiana Lutheran Church of Granite Quarry. He graduated from Granite Quarry High School and continued his education at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was also a member of the college Letterman's Club, earning his letter by playing on the varsity tennis team.
He served with distinction as chaplain of the Northern Hospital of Surry County and was a member of the hospital staff. He resigned as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church to give more time to the hospital ministry.
He also served as chaplain of the N.C. Paraplegic Association, ministering to people in wheelchairs. He was named Lion of the year by both of these clubs. On the district level, he served as zone district governor, won two Melvin Jones Fellow awards and a Jack Stickley Fellow award, among the highest awards in the Lionism. He had traveled extensively since 1967, organizing and escorting tours to all parts of the world. He was called a "world traveler."
He married Betty Jane Conley of Shelby and Elkin, a home economist, who served as consumer-education representative for Duke Power Co. in Elkin. They had escorted groups to seven continents and 90 countries, many of which have been repeats, even seven times to the Holy Land.
He served as Protestant chaplain on a number of famous cruise ships.
On Dec. 31, 2002, Lyerly retired as chaplain of Northern Hospital of Surry County and chaplain of the N.C. Paraplegic Association.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jane Conley Lyerly of the home; a sister, Katherine Elizabeth Lyerly of Salisbury; a sister-in-law, Willene Kesler Lyerly of Salisbury; a niece and spouse, Kathy L. and Jimmy Davis of Greensboro; a nephew and spouse, J. Brent and Patti Lyerly of Salisbury; and two great-nieces, Laura Davis and Leigh Davis, both of Greensboro.
In addition to his parents, the Rev. Dr. Lyerly was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Lucille Lyerly; and by a brother, James C. Lyerly.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, at Central United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Dale Cline, Dr. David Sparks and Mr. Bill James.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Ladies Parlor of the church.
A service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Christiana Lutheran Church of Granite Quarry. Burial will follow in the Christiana Lutheran Church Cemetery. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the N.C. Lutheran Synod Mission Fund, 1988 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144; or to the Northern Hospital of Surry County Chaplaincy Fund, P.O. Box 1101, Mount Airy, NC 27030.
Winston-Salem Journal, 9 Jan 2003