Joe Sykes

Mr. Joe Rufus Sykes passed away at the age of 101 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was born in Clinchco, Virginia and was the son of James "Elbert" and Mary M. (Rose) Sykes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Emma Clara (Pierce) Sykes, a sister, Flossie Sykes of Clinchco, Virginia and a brother, Leonard "Den" Sykes of Bristol, Tennessee. He is survived by a daughter, Linda (Don) Stewart of Clemmons, North Carolina, a son, Timothy (Mary) Sykes, a grandson Steven Sykes all of Libertyville, Illinois and a grandson, Matt (Kate) Sykes, two great grandchildren, Claire and Evan, all of Worthington, Ohio. Mr. Sykes, a former resident of Memphis, Tennessee graduated from the University of Tennessee Pharmacy School in 1941. He served in the US Army during World War II at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. After the war he was the Pharmacy Director at City of Memphis Hospitals in Memphis, Tennessee until retirement in 1972. He then went to work at the the Baptist Memorial Hospital Pharmacy Department in Memphis and worked for another 10 years before retiring permanently. He was an excellent gardener and a wonderful cook who enjoyed a daily crossword puzzle, a good book or a game of golf. He was a dearly beloved grandfather, known as "Papaw." In 2002, Mr. Sykes moved from Memphis, TN to Clemmons, NC to be close to family. He volunteered at Forsyth Medical Center delivering flowers and loved making people smile. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Winston Salem, NC and was previously a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN where he served as Sunday school teacher and Deacon for over 60 years. Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be at Forest Hill Memorial Park Midtown Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC. Special thanks to the staff of Brighton Gardens for their loving care. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

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