Bryan Staley

KERNERSVILLE - Wilson Bryan Staley, II, 77, passed away peacefully at his home after a courageous battle with ALS on February 3, 2026. He was born on January 8, 1949 in Guilford County to Wilson and Margaret (Barringer) Staley. In his early years, he learned many skills from his parents, such as woodworking, gardening, cooking, finances, and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle, which all helped shape the man he became. His strong work ethic started at the age of 12 with a newspaper route and he continued to work in different roles throughout school and college at NCSU, eventually becoming a career Civil Engineer with the NC Department of Transportation.

Bryan was a member of Sedge Garden United Methodist Church and served in many capacities, but he is most known there as being Scout Master of Troop 779 - so much so that the Scout building was named after him. He was involved with Scouting for 66 years, his journey beginning in Greensboro with Troop 307 and later serving as Scout Master for Troop 779 for over 30 years, where he taught the importance of goals, life skills, and respect for nature and self. It was during his Scouting years that he became an avid hiker and planned trips for the Scouts to hike the Appalachian Trail, of which he almost completed.

Bryan was strong in his faith and in his role as son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. As an acts of service man, he freely gave of his knowledge and time to help problem solve, give advice and guidance, prep and cook meals for events and at home, including his homemade beef jerky, and was always ready to step in to fix any need the family had. He truly became the go-to man and rock of his family.

Bryan was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Dana Forman. He is survived by his wife of over five decades, Margaret D. Staley; a son, Chris Staley (wife, Anne); a daughter, Brittany Baynes (husband, Kevin); six grandchildren, Jacob, April, Andrew, Nycholas, Nyah, and Nataley; one great-granddaughter, Jamie; a sister, Billie Forman; nephew, Jeff Forman (wife, Mary) “and them”; and many loving extended family members.

A funeral service to celebrate Bryan’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Sedge Garden United Methodist Church with Pastor Keith Edwards officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at a later date at Dr. Clyde Gilmore Memorial Park, Julian, NC.  The funeral service will livestreamed on the Facebook page for Sedge Garden United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Boy Scout Troop 779 - checks mailed to 794 Sedge Garden Road, Kernersville, NC 27284 or can Venmo @BSA-Troop-779 (name on Venmo will show Scout Master’s name); or Appalachian Trail Conservancy - online donation www.appalachiantrail.org or mail checks to P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.

(Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel)