Geraldine Hill Musten

Geraldine Hill Musten, 92, of Kernersville, NC passed away peacefully on September 8, 2025, at her home. She was born to the late Helen Hill on January 18, 1933, in High Point, NC.

Geri first began her career at the original Kernersville News. It was there where she found many relationships that she would hold to such high value throughout her lifetime. She went on to be the first secretary at East Forsyth High School where she worked for over 30 years. Geri took on many different but important roles at the school as it continued to grow over the many years she served. After retiring in 1992 she began to work as a substitute in the Forsyth County school system.

Geri accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at Main Street Baptist Church, in her 20’s, and recently reaffirmed her belief and faith to her family. Her dedication to reading the Word of God first thing in the morning and keeping her mind active with word search activity books, continued until she declined.

Geri was a proud member of First Baptist Church in Kernersville. She was involved in the church from the very beginning. Geri served the Lord faithfully by helping with the children’s ministry, church women’s groups, and church projects in and outside of the church. Geri was especially proud of the flag project which provided a flag not only to the church but a flag to Glenn High Schools baseball field, in honor of her late husband, Bynum who loved baseball.

Geri had a love for education and was known to always push children to strive to do their best in school. She thought learning was an important tool and would fill her car with US State map quarter books to give out to children to encourage them to learn all the states.

She truly loved watching the students from East Forsyth grow up in the community. When the bell rang between classes her fondest memories were handing out pencils to students without one. She especially enjoyed flagging down students to hand out scholarship applications through the window of her office to keep students through the years informed about upcoming deadlines.

She was lovingly known as the “purple lady” around the neighborhood for spending countless days taking care of her purple phloxs that covered her yard.

In addition to her parents, Geri was preceded in death by her first husband, Carl B. Musten; second husband, S. G. Smith “Smitty”; four siblings; and one child lost at birth.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Lynn Musten, and Jan Musten Miller (Barry); grandchildren, Carleigh Nester (husband, Brandon Shields), Jacob Nester (Abby), and Michael Bauguss; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family burial was held in honor of Geri at Mt. Gur Cemetery in Kernersville.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to East Forsyth High School at 2500 W Mountain St, Kernersville, NC 27284 in honor of Geri.