WINSTON-SALEM - Cortlandt Preston Creech, affectionately known by friends as "Cokey," died unexpectedly Sunday, April 28th. Cokey was born January 9, 1914 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the daughter of Julia Christian and Edmund Randolph Preston. She spent her childhood in Charlotte, second-in-command to older sister, Anna (Shaffner), and ruling the roost over her three younger siblings, Julia (McAfee), Ran, Jr., and Tom. Her first-born brother John died at 14 months of age. She graduated in 1935 from Salem College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and German. As a senior, she followed in sister Anna's footsteps as May Queen. After graduating, she sold women's clothing for a short time at Garfinkle's in Washington, D.C. At age 22, she accompanied her father, who at the time was a judge in the Federal Trade Department, to Panama, working as his official secretary. After leaving Panama, she returned to Washington. Jobs in the mid-1930s were scarce, but she was offered employment working in public relations at Salem College and traveled extensively throughout the southeastern United States. She was put under the magic spell of furniture-maker John Spach Creech, a Davidson college graduate, who taught her to fish and play golf. His lucky day fell on September 23, 1937, when they married in a "no-frills" ceremony in Charlotte. They built a house at 2830 Forest Drive in Winston-Salem (which Cokey designed), and lived there 53 years, raising four children, Corty, Kat, John and Tink, along with a myriad of dogs, cats, rabbits and the occasional snake. She taught dyslexic students for 15 years under the tutelage of June Orton and the Center for Language Disabilities at Salem College. She taught Sunday School for 30 years at the Home Moravian Church. Many a Bible verse, the Books of the Bible and the 12 Apostles have been memorized under her "watch." She was a sustaining member of the Junior League and served for many years in the Emma Bahnson Service League. In 1991, she and John moved to Salemtowne Retirement Community, the second couple to occupy a cottage in Salem Village. "Volunteer" was her middle name! She served as president of the Residents' Council; initiated the now-profitable Salemtowne gift shop; authored many "Facts and Fancies" for Reflections, the campus newsletter; led her fellow "pool-aholics" in water aerobics until the age of 95; founded The Nineties Club, and partied with other nonagenarians at every opportunity. She was fondly known around the community as "the light of Salemtowne." She was an avid supporter of the Komen Race for the Cure and took part in the walk for the past 11 years. She was pre-deceased by her husband John, who died in 1992, and her daughter Katherine, who died in 1994. She is survived by daughter Corty Freeman and husband Bill, daughter Tink, and son John, Jr., all of Winston-Salem. She had nine grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. George Boss, Jr., of Greensboro; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Boss of Winston-Salem, Mr. and Mrs. Hansel Creech of Washington, D.C.; Mr. Johnathan Creech of Costa Rica; and Mr. and Mrs. Robb Freeman of Bangor, Maine. She was a great-grandmother to Whitney, Jack, Lacey, Johanna, Kailo, Ian and Halsey. She was the joy of our lives. The family will receive friends at Salemtowne in the parlor on Thursday, May 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, with visitation in the church parlor following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Home Moravian Church.

Winston-Salem Journal (NC) - Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Note:
Great granddaughter of Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863)

Contributor: SBR (49039178)