Delores Kirkman Lewis

Delores Kirkman Lewis, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2023 at FirstHealth Hospice House following complications from a fall. She was born May 11, 1937 in Asheboro, NC to the late Jesse Kirkman and Mae Kirkman.

Delores graduated from Asheboro High School in 1955 and completed her Diploma Degree in Nursing from Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC in 1958. She began her 30 year career as a Registered Nurse at Asheboro Hospital. One of the friends she made at the hospital was another RN, Margaret Monroe, of Eagle Springs. Margaret happened to have a single cousin, W.T. Lewis who also lived in Eagle Springs. Margaret introduced Delores to W.T. at a Halloween party and the rest was history.

Delores and W.T. fell in love and were married January 28, 1961. There was snow on the ground the first day they moved into their new home in Eagle Springs where they spent the rest of their lives. After marrying W.T., Delores began a long career at Moore Regional Hospital, now First Health, initially working in labor and delivery and the emergency room. Her last 17 years were spent in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) aka recovery room. She retired from her career in nursing in 1997.

Delores had a very caring, compassionate heart with a love of helping others. She would often visit church members and family to see to their needs in the hospital or in their home giving insulin shots, seeing if a child needed stitches and changing bandages after surgery. This was one of her many gifts that God blessed her with.

Another gift of Delores’ was the gift of musical talent. Her love for music began as a child when she took piano and voice lessons. She shared those talents with her church, Bensalem Presbyterian, in Eagle Springs where she served as choir director for over 11 years. She served faithfully in the church in many roles including numerous committee chairs, choir member, youth VBS music director, church Elder, and women’s circle. She was recognized with the Bensalem Honorary Life Membership Award in 2003.

W.T. and Delores were married for 52 years before W.T.’s death in 2013. Delores is survived by their three children: Julie Stephen (Pete) of Kernersville, NC, John Lewis (Marion) of North Augusta, SC, and Jill Strickland (Jon) of Raleigh, NC. Her heart belonged to their grandchildren: Eryn Stephen, Logan Stephen, Chris Lewis, Nick (Helen) Lewis, Maggie Strickland Burgess (Turner), and Lindsay Strickland.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Ms. Thelma Bowden whose love, devotion, friendship, and care for Delores was never wavering.

A memorial service celebrating Delores’ life will be held Wednesday, December 27 at 11:00 AM at Bensalem Presbyterian Church in Eagle Springs. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bensalem Presbyterian Church at PO Box 157, Eagle Springs, NC 27242.

Briggs-Candor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.