Mr. Herbert Hoover Southern, age 86 of Jonesville, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at his home. Mr. Southern was born February 23, 1926 in Stokes County to Wakefield Roosevelt Southern and Myrtle Tilley Southern. Herb was retired from American Efird Mills of Maiden and was a member of Ronda First Baptist Church and the senior adult Sunday school class. He had a love of the outdoors and could often be found doing yard work or tending to his flowers. He always produced a large garden, mostly for the purpose of sharing with friends, family, and neighbors. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, taking care of animals, and he constantly kept check on his friends and neighbors. He loved his family and his church family, but most of all, he loved his Lord. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Elizabeth Southern; brothers, Garfield Southern and Gene Southern; a sister, Bessie Hoover, and two great grandchildren, Grace Lewis and Hayden Lewis Survivors include: son, Jack Jones and his wife Aundria of Maiden; daughter, Lois Suddreth of Jonesville; son-in-law, Kent Suddreth, Sr. of Jonesville; brothers, Reid Southern of High Point, Jimmy Southern of Crabtree, PA, Ronny Southern of High Point, and Donnie Southern of High Point; sister, Francis Cox of High Point and Joanne Gardner of High Point; grandchildren, Kim Ford and her husband Lanny, Becky Lewis and her husband David, Angie Gilbert and her husband Clay all of Maiden, Teresa Tharpe of State Road, Kent Suddreth, Jr. and his wife Teresa of Jonesville, Barry Suddreth and his wife Julie of Sherrils Ford, Susan Baker and her husband Brian of Jonesville, and Beth Pence and her husband Matthew State Road; 23 great grandchildren, two of which are currently serving in Afghanistan, and a special friend, his dog, Speedy. John 14:1-2 Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. in Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Ronnie McMillan and Mr. Tommy Nixon officiating. Burial will follow in Crestwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family will accept flowers or memorials may be made to Ronda First Baptist Church, Landscaping Fund, PO Box 159, Ronda, NC 28670.
