MURFREESBORO – Mr. Lonnie Gray Skinner, age 78, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

He was a native of Bertie County. He was the son of the late Ioma Mae and Levy Gray Skinner.  He was deacon and Sunday school teacher of Creech Memorial Baptist Church in Ahoskie.

He showed continuous dedication and service to the Ahoskie Rescue Squad and Fire Department, serving as a volunteer for most of his life.  Mr. Skinner was an area director of the NC Association of Rescue and EMS.  Due to his excellent service he received the Paul Harris Award, the highest award given for dedicated service.  This award was presented by the Ahoskie Rotary Club.  Mr. Skinner on three occasions was presented the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism as well.  He was a loving and compassionate family man that will be missed greatly.  In his later years Mr. Skinner became a fixture in the area nursing homes, visiting and expressing his love for all the residents.

Survivors include his wife, Katherine Futrell Skinner of the home; two daughters, Karen S. Cole and her husband, Joe, of Jackson, and Joyce S. Harden and her, husband, Charles of Windsor; two sons, Randy Skinner and his wife, Cindy, of Hertford, and Allen Skinner of Nashville; one step daughter, Anita P Jones and her husband, Michael, of Murfreesboro; and one step son, Robert C. Parker of Murfreesboro.  Also surviving are five grandchildren, Michelle Cole, Abbigail Gray Harden, Jessie Harden, Charles Harden and Elizabeth Gray Skinner and one step grandson Michael Jones.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Creech Memorial Baptist Church in Ahoskie with the interment following at the Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro.  Officiating will be the Rev. David Duncan, the Rev. Lonnie Armstrong and the Rev. J.N. Baggett.

The family will receive friends at Sykes Funeral Service in Rich Square on Friday evening from 7-8:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Creech Memorial Baptist Church, 501 Lloyd St. South, Ahoskie, NC  27910 or to the Salvation Army.

Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square is handling the arrangements and online condolences my be directed to the family at www.sykesfuneralservice.com