Guillermina Gardea Watts

Guillermina Watts Gardea, 86, of Winston‑Salem, passed away on May 1, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. 

She was born on February 10, 1940, in San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Jovita Torres and Antonio Gardea. Guillermina grew up in a close‑knit family with her four sisters, Leonor, Manuela, Teresa, and Magdalena Gardea, forming bonds that remained strong throughout her life. As she leaves this world, she is reunited not only with her beloved parent and sisters but also with her late husband, Donato Salcedo, whose memory she carried with her always. 

In 1982, she courageously migrated to the United States with her four children, building a new life rooted in hard work, faith, and devotion to her family. A proud Catholic, Guillermina was deeply involved in her church community, always ready to volunteer and lend a helping hand. Her faith guided her, and her generosity touched countless lives. 

For 15 years, she owned and operated a candle‑making business, pouring her creativity and dedication into every piece she crafted. Outside of work, she found joy in cooking, visiting flea markets, and keeping the traditions of her Mexican heritage alive, especially her beloved Christmas tamales, which became a cherished family ritual. 

Guillermina is survived by her four children- Antonio Salcedo, Miguel Salcedo, Patty Quiñonez‑Salcedo, and Rosy Sanchez, along with their spouses, whom she welcomed as part of her family. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 11 great‑grandchildren, all of whom were blessed by her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love. 

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. A reception in the R.F.Miller Center will be held directly after the service. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the memorial service at the funeral home. 

Guillermina will be remembered for her strength, her kindness, and her deep commitment to preserving the traditions that shaped her life. Her legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured and the values she instilled. In the quiet moments, we will feel her presence- in the scent of a candle, in the warmth of a crowded kitchen, in the traditions she so lovingly passed down. Guillermina’s life was a tapestry of faith, family, and devotion, woven with hands that worked tirelessly and a heart that loved without limits. Though she has left this world, her spirit lives on in every gathering, every shared meal, every story told around the table. Her love is our inheritance, her strength our guide, and her memory a light that will never fade.