Whisonant, Flavella Ruth

Mrs. Flavella Ruth Whisonant, 73, of 1948 Maryland Ave., Winston-Salem, passed away Friday, May 21, 2004, after an extended illness. She was born March 3, 1931, in Wadesboro to Lillie Mae Nivens and Willie Jackson Nivens. She was a retired in-home aide for the Forsyth County Department of Social Services. A lifetime member of Goler Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, she was past church secretary, pastor's aide and a member of the Deaconess Board, the gospel choir, the Sunday school, the board of Christian education, and Post 220. Her first husband, Charles J. Jeffries Sr.; three brothers, Tom Smith, Charlie Nivens and Walter Nivens; and a grandson, Brian Patterson, preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Owen H. Whisonant of Winston-Salem; a daughter, Charletta Patterson of Winston-Salem; two sons, Charles J. Jeffries Jr. of Durham and Kevin Whisonant of Winston-Salem; a daughter-in-law, Mary Porter-Jeffries of Durham; a brother, Boyce Nivens of Brooklyn, N.Y.; three sisters, Mary McCants, Dorothy Butterfield and Delorise Golden, all of Winston-Salem; a sister-in-law, Elsie Jean Smith; four grandchildren, Nicholas and Hannah Jeffries of Durham and Brooke and Brandon Patterson of Winston-Salem; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and a devoted and loving church family. The funeral service will be held at noon Saturday, May 29, at Goler Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, 1635 E. Fourth St., Winston-Salem, with the Rev. William Conrad officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until noon Saturday at the church. The family requests that memorials be made to the church. (Russell)