Obituaries

Pearl Loretta Steelman Poole, 89, of Winston-Salem, died August 13. Born October 4, 1922, in Hamptonville, NC, she was the daughter of the late William Stanford Steelman and Mary Stella Everhart Steelman. She graduated from Appalachian State University and received her doctorate degree in education from North Carolina State University. Dr. Poole is survived by her husband of 65 years, Robert Wade Poole; two sons, Robert “Bob” Wade Poole, Jr., and William “Bill” Jackson Poole and his wife Sarah Cheney-Poole; two grandchildren, Jackson Davis Poole and Mollie Greer Poole; a sister, Emma Gray Steelman Mansfield, all of Winston-Salem; and many nieces and nephews of whom she was very fond. In her professional career, she served 23 years in the Raleigh/Wake County Public Schools, including teacher and counselor at Daniels Junior High School, assistant principal of Broughton High School, and principal of Wiley Elementary/Wiley International Magnet School (1978-1986). She was an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University. After retirement she served as interim principal for several Raleigh schools. She was a member of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.Dr. Poole was a dedicated member of the Baptist church in each of her home communities, including Statesville, New Orleans, Louisville, KY, Winston-Salem, Beaumont, TX, and Raleigh. She was involved at Tabernacle Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Raleigh where she served as Deacon and a leader in various ministries for the homeless, and most recently an active member at First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem.Her capacity for friendship, loyalty to her church, passion for missions and education, and devotion to her family marked a life filled with dignity and grace.Visitation will be held at the Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, Wednesday, August 15 from 6:00- 8:00 PM. The service will be held Thursday, August 16 at 11:00 AM, at First Baptist Church Winston-Salem with the Reverend David Hughes officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Brown Room, First Baptist Church. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Statesville. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem, Wiley International School Library (Pearl Poole Collection), or a charity of one's choice.