Rachel Almedia Templeton York

Mrs. York was born on July 21, 1926, in Iredell County to Jonah Wilson Templeton, Sr. and Dessie Mayberry Templeton. She was the fourth of six children. She was a graduate of Statesville Senior High School. In her earlier years, she had been employed by Newberrys, the State Theater, and was a telephone operator for Southern Bell Telephone. She was quite an exceptional roller skater and loved playing basketball as well. Daddy and Mama attended many sporting events of their grandchildren and after Daddy's passing, she became an official basketball grandmother! For most of her married life, she was a homemaker and willingly gave of her time to care for her grandchildren as well as other young ones for many years. Mama was a wonderful Southern cook and an excellent seamstress for herself and for her daughters. She even made tiny Barbie doll clothes. Gardening and canning were some of her other talents. Her most prized possessions were her Lord, her husband, her daughters, their husbands and her five grandchildren. On a snowy Jan. 31, 1948, she married the love of her life, Larry Stewart York, at Western Avenue Baptist Church. This year marked their 65 wedding anniversary. As a young girl, she became a Christian while attending Western Avenue Baptist. After she was married, she and Daddy joined Diamond Hill Baptist on Aug. 1, 1955. For many years, she was a Sunday school department secretary and nursery worker. She even chaperoned the Youth group on several occasions. A virtuous woman truly describes her life. Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, Hazel T. Morrow; and two brothers, Foy L. Templeton, Sr. and Kermit E. Templeton. Mrs. York is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Y. Sprinkle and husband, Roger, of Statesville, and Kim Y. Lippard and husband, Barry, of Troutman; her five loving grandchildren, Shane Sprinkle, Teyah S. Hodge and husband, Joe, and Aron, Rhett, and Landon Lippard; one sister, Phyllis T. Feimster and husband, Frank; and one brother, J.W. Templeton, Jr. and wife, Nancy, all of Statesville. We extend our gratefulness, first of all, to Dr. Joshi for his watchful care over Mama. Also to the staff of Jurney's Assisted Living and Brian Center Nursecare of Statesville for making her transitions of life easier. To the staffs of Iredell Memorial Hospital and Forsyth Medical Center, we thank you. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 at Diamond Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Carl Williams, the Rev. Larry Holleman, and Dr. Ray Benfield officiating. The family will receive friends following the memorial service at the church. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service at Iredell Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Roger Sprinkle, Barry Lippard, Shane Sprinkle, and Aron, Rhett, and Landon Lippard. Memorials may be made to Diamond Hill Baptist Church, 2320 E. Broad St., Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences may be made to the family at nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries. Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Mrs. York.