Geraldine (Gerri) Cockerham Hume, age 80 of Winston Salem passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after an extended illness. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all those she met. Gerri was born a twin February 4, 1932 in Wilkes County to the Reverend Carl and Tessie Durham Cockerham. At the age of 9 she was stricken with polio and confined to a bed for 6 months. She went on to graduate from High School in Ronda, attended Catawba College in Salisbury and Draughon's Business College in Winston Salem. Gerri retired in 1998 from the North Carolina Department of Correction after 29 years of service. She was...
Geraldine (Gerri) Cockerham Hume, age 80 of Winston Salem passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after an extended illness. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all those she met. Gerri was born a twin February 4, 1932 in Wilkes County to the Reverend Carl and Tessie Durham Cockerham. At the age of 9 she was stricken with polio and confined to a bed for 6 months. She went on to graduate from High School in Ronda, attended Catawba College in Salisbury and Draughon's Business College in Winston Salem. Gerri retired in 1998 from the North Carolina Department of Correction after 29 years of service. She was a member of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) and served for many years as a delegate to the state convention. She was an advocate in the Post-Polio Support Group, a member of the Winston Salem Mayor's Council for Persons with Disabilities and a member of Northwest Baptist Church. Gerri was an inspiration to many with her independent nature and zest for life. She enjoyed creating wonderful meals, quilting, reading and spending time with family and friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, J. Frank Hume; brothers, Junior Cockerham and Ralph Cockerham; four sisters, Ivadine Walls (twin), Nell Stickel, Ruby Byrd and Grace Burcham. She is survived by two loving daughters Carla Hume-Sears (John) of Thurmond, Amanda Benbow (Tom) and cherished granddaughter Jessi Benbow of Clemmons; sisters Virginia Luffman of Elkin, Ruth Yarboro of Roaring River; sister-in-law, Olga Salvio of New York, NY, Ethel Racz of Fenton, Michigan and many special nieces and nephews. Interment will take place on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 11:00 am at Salisbury National Cemetery, 202 Government Road, Salisbury, NC followed by a celebration of her life conducted at 1:00 pm at Northwest Baptist Church, 407 Petree Road, Winston Salem, NC with the Reverend Brandon Hudson officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 6, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Frank Vogler & Sons Reynolda Road Chapel, 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston Salem, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Winston Salem Mayor's Council for Persons with Disabilities (MCPD), P.O. Box 30764, Winston Salem, NC 27130 or Northwest Baptist Church Quilting Ministry, 407 Petree Road, Winston Salem, NC 27106. Online condolences may be made to www.frankvoglerandsons.com. The family would like to extend a very special thanks to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center North Tower 8th floor nursing staff, Ardmore Tower 11th floor Palliative Care nursing staff, Hospice of Winston Salem, Forsyth County and Tina S. Gladden's wonderful nursing staff, Care with Love. Special thanks to Essie Lewis (Goldie) who's loving, kind, professional care made all the difference.