FRANKLIN — After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Lois Davis Minetree, 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at Cone Health Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, North Carolina.

The widow of James Allen Minetree Jr., Lois was born on Nov. 11, 1924, in Toombs County, Georgia. The daughter of the late Charles Clifford and Georgia Haskins Davis of Leesburg, Florida, she was pre-deceased by her son, James Allen Minetree III; an infant child, Harold Frederick Minetree; and a sister, Frances Christine Davis.
In 1942, Lois attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, then later earned her B.A. degree in Elementary Education from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and a minor in music. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She was also in the Glee Club at both schools.
After World War II, she and Allen were married on Jan. 31, 1946, in Florida. Following moves to Charlottesville, Emporia and Henderson, North Carolina, the family moved to Franklin in 1964.
She was an elementary school teacher in the Franklin Public School system and a librarian at Franklin Library. She was also active in the Friends of the Library and served on the board. She gave over 20 years of faithful and dedicated service to the “Friends,” and while serving authored a history of the library with the late Pat Clark, and donated a quilt she made called “Dewey Decimal” to the organization, which can be seen on display at the library.
A member of Franklin Baptist Church, Lois was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, member of the Women’s Missionary Union, taught Vacation Bible School and worked in the church library helping restock and restore the books after the flood.
Active in the community, Lois was a Girl Scout leader and a longtime member of the Franklin Book Club, which she enjoyed so very much. She sang in the Franklin Community Chorus, helped with Relay For Life, collected for the March of Dimes and contributed to the Special Olympics.
She was an avid seamstress and quilter and was a member of the “Quilters,” a group of friends who gathered weekly to quilt and join in fellowship.
Lois loved living on Homestead Road in the Camp home place. She considered it a privilege and made the historic house a home where she welcomed all. She was blessed to have longtime friends from her college days and many, many friends from her beloved town of Franklin and the Franklin Baptist Church family.
She taught her children to write thank you notes, be appreciative of all blessings and most importantly that in order to have friends, you needed to be a friend first. She was a good neighbor full of Christian grace; practiced kindness; loved her family, friends and God and was loved in return by all.
Survivors include her daughters, Ann M. Shuler (Bob) of Mebane, NorthCarolina; and Lucy M. Wallace of Manteo, North Carolina; brother, Steve Davis (Carol) of Lake Panasoffkee, Florida; grandchildren, James A. Shuler of Carrboro, North Carolina; Courtney D. Wallace of Raleigh, North Carolina; Ashley M. Key of Houston, Texas; and Alexandria Minetree of Galveston, Texas; three precious great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Emma and Molly Key, and their grandmother, Betty Whitaker and her husband, Bruce, all of Houston; several cousins in Georgia and Florida; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Friends of the Library, 280 N. College Drive, Franklin, VA 23851 or Franklin Baptist Church, 208 N. High St., Franklin, VA 23851.
The private graveside service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, at Poplar Spring Cemetery, followed by an open celebration of life service in the Franklin Baptist Church sanctuary at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Steve Gibson officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.
www.wrightfuneralhome.org.