WILMINGTON — Lydia McKeithan Stokes passed away peacefully on November 8, 2021 at age 91. She is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, William Cashwell (Bill) Stokes, and two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, as well as countless friends.
Surviving family members are children Lydia Stokes Finlayson and her husband Marc of New Bern, NC; William Wilson (Bill) Stokes and his wife Heather of Charlottesville, VA; grandchildren William Bryan Finlayson and his wife Virginia of Wilmington; Dalton Peter Stokes and his wife Casey of Richmond, VA; John Wilson Finlayson and his wife Kristan of New Bern, NC; Alexandra Stokes Muffly and her husband Scott of Iowa City, IA; and Katherine Stokes Finlayson of Raleigh, NC; and great-grandchild Eli Trotter Muffly.
Lydia Stokes was born Lydia Maye McKeithan on December 16, 1929 in Raeford, NC to Herbet and Gertrude McKeithan. She was predeceased by her brother Herbet McKeithan, Jr. and Jane McKeithen Purcell, both of Laurinburg, NC.
She graduated from North Carolina Women’s College (Now UNC-Greensboro) in 1951 and embarked on a thirty year career as a teacher in the North Carolina public school system. She met and fell in love with Bill Stokes of Charlotte and the two were married in 1958. The two moved to Wilmington with their two young children in 1969 and made their home and their life in the Port City.
Among her many interests and passions were church, gardening and serving others. She was an elder at First Presbyterian Church and was active in Circle number 4 for many years. She was active in the Cape Fear Garden Club and eventually achieved the distinction of Master Gardener. She always shared cuttings with friends and loved nothing more than cultivating her flower beds and pots. She was a regular volunteer at the Arboretum as well.
For years she was a member of the “Bag Ladies,” a group of dear friends who met faithfully with their brown bag lunches to share fellowship and the latest news. Later in her life Lydia took up painting and was dedicated to capturing the beauty of her garden, local marshes and views of Wrightsville Beach from the Carolina Yacht Club.
Most of all though she was dedicated to her beloved Bill, her children and grandchildren and her many friends. She always had a kind word or gesture for everyone she met and she was loved by all who knew her as wife, mom, aunt, colleague and dear friend. She will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held for Lydia Stokes at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington on Thursday, November 11 at 2:00pm. The family will have a visitation at the church immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lydia’s honor to First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington’s Music Program at 125 S 3rd St. Wilmington, NC 28401.
