Gene Edward Plott

Mr. Gene Edward Plott, 87, died on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, surrounded by his family.

He was born December 31, 1938, in Davie County, NC, to the late Annie Lee and Milton Artist Plott.

Gene was a great dad, a great man, a great friend and one of the nicest people you could ever meet. In his final weeks, he also proved to be one of the toughest and strongest people that God ever made.

He learned the guitar at a young age and developed a love for country music. In the mid/late 1950s, he was a member of the country band "The Trailblazers", who toured throughout North Carolina. It was during this time that he had the honor of playing on stage with one of his idols, Ernest Tubb. He formed lifelong friendships with Harrell Powell, Jr. and Leslie Frye, leading to many trips to Nashville for disc jockey conventions and shows from classic country music stars of the day. Gene’s love of music continued throughout his life, and he and Harrell wrote and published many songs. One of their songs was included in the Disney World Country Bear Jamboree exhibit and continued as part of the show throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. In 1965, Gene and family moved to Clemmons, NC, which at the time was a very small village sitting far beyond the Winston-Salem city limits. He was a founding member of the Jaycees where he and other businessmen worked to develop an early foundation for what was to come. 

As a young man, Gene had lifeguarded at a public pool located in Davie County. In the late 1970s, he had a vision to revitalize and reopen that same pool, Lake Hideaway in Mocksville. Working with Dock Brown to rebuild, they were able to provide a respite from the hot summers, as well as rekindle a part of Davie County history. He took great pride in this accomplishment. While working in a cotton mill in Davie County, he was able to obtain a job with Western Electric, which led to a career with Western Electric and AT&T, retiring from Lucent in 1995. He loved his job and the people with which he was able to work. Of all of his accomplishments, he was most proud of his family. Gene had one son, Timothy, and they were best friends. Gene was a great dad, passing along his respect and caring for others, but also his great sense of humor. He could make even a routine trip to the dentist office an opportunity for laughter, and he made many friends everywhere he went.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother and father; his brother, Artist Lee “Pedro” Plott; and his sister, Christine Plott.

Left to carry on the legacy he built are his son, Timothy Plott; Timothy’s wife, Tina; and their children, Jack, Tyler and Gabriel. He was blessed to have an extended family in his “harem” of caregivers who provided not only care and love, but also friendship.

The family wishes to thank the outstanding group of doctors and nurses in the Wake Forest Baptist Medical ICU unit, as well as his longtime personal physician Francis X. O’Brien for their care and compassion.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Clemmons Moravian Church. Burial will immediately follow the service in the church cemetery.

Given Gene’s love of history, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Davie County Museum, Inc., P.O. Box 124, Mocksville, NC 27028.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is assisting the family of Mr. Gene Edward Plott.