Nancy Haynes Wilkinson Hedges

February 26, 1939 - January 17, 2019

Nancy Haynes Wilkinson Hedges, 79, (Nana, Gran-Nana) of Clemmons, NC and formerly of Bluefield, WV passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019, just short of what would have been her 80th Birthday. She was given the gift of passing in her own home surrounded by her four children, Karen, John, Lisa and Marc. Nancy was born in Columbus, OH to Carlos and Hazel Haynes that later made their home in Bluefield. Nancy graduated from Bluefield High School and went on to marry her love John (Johnny) Wilkinson. They raised their children and made a life together in Bluefield. Together they formed W & H Contracting, Co. and Asphalt Industries, Inc. Nancy and John went on to be owners of various businesses until John’s unexpected death in 1982. She was preceded in death by her sister Barbara Balbat. She is survived by two sisters: Joan O’dell (Dwain) of Shreveport, LA, Susan Franklin (Wayne) of Cape Carteret, NC. She leaves to carry on her deep rooted legacy to her children, daughter, Karen Poole (Michael) of Glendale, AZ, John Wilkinson (Kathy) of Abingdon, VA, Lisa Richardson (Donald) of Winston-Salem, NC and Marc Wilkinson (Dorata) of Kingsport, TN. Eleven grandchildren: Wesley Ingraham (Scott), Kevin Richardson, Susan Terry (Christopher), David Poole (Lydia), Jason Richardson (Laura), Daniel Poole (Jessica), Katie Poole, Lindsey Alexander (Drew) , John Norman Poole (Jackie), John Riley Wilkinson (Audrey), Anna Elizabeth Legge (James) and Fifteen Great-Grandchildren. After John’s unexpected death in the middle of their prime, with her strong faith, deep love and dependence on her God she picked up the broken pieces of her life. She would call it “pulling up her boot straps” to which she had to do so many times during her life. Years later, she remarried Joseph Hedges. They were married 28 years until his death in 2016. During those years, she became an accomplished artist. To her delight, she was inducted into the Virginia Watercolor Society. A celebration of life will be held at Mercer Funeral & Cremation Saturday, January 26, 4pm to 6pm with a memorial service to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to charities of her choice, in her honor: • Cleveland Clinic Foundation, PO box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655 • Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611 • Trellis / Hospice Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103