On the afternoon of September 16—15 days after her 79th birthday, Sonya Lankford Carver passed away at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital where she was surrounded by her loving family.
Sonya is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Douglas Carver, and her beloved children, daughter Melissa Phillips (and son-in-law Joey), son Jeff Neer (and daughter-in-law Katherine), and her even more beloved grandchildren, granddaughter MaKayla Phillips Hudgins (and grandson-in-law Austin), and grandson Carson Phillips, and her very precious great grandson, Porter Hudgins. She is also survived by her loving brother, Eddie Lankford, her dear brother-inlaw Don Waldroup, and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and her family of the heart—close friends and her church family.
Family, friends, and faith were defining elements of Sonya’s life. The second to youngest of 16 children, Sonya found great joy through her close relationships with her siblings, their spouses and children.
Sonya was a caring and giving woman who always put her loved ones first, facing good times and bad with grace, gratitude, humor, humility, and courage. As most who knew her would recognize, although she was small in stature, she had a big and meaningful presence. She shared her wit, wisdom, grit, and tenacity with her children and proudly instilled the importance of family, doing what is right, working hard, and enjoying life’s blessings—big and small—with three generations.
We are grateful for the precious gift of Sonya’s love and will be sustained by everlasting memories of her glorious smile, the ever-present twinkle in her eyes, and her incredibly infectious and distinct laugh.
We find solace for our grief in that she will now be reunited with her sisters Doris, Willene, Shirley, Lorraine, Blanche, and Mary Lou and her sisters-in-law Brenda and Kathleen in heaven in God’s embrace where she will find eternal peace.
On Monday, September 22, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., the family will receive friends at Freedom Baptist Church, followed directly by a memorial service with Rev. Blake Glenn & Rev. Bruce Cannon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sonya’s honor to Mitchell Baptist Church care of Linda Duncan, 55 Breezeway Dr., Bakersville, NC, 28705.
Words of comfort may be e-mailed to the family by going to the website; www.webbfh.com, selecting Sonya Carver’s name and then you may sign her guestbook.
Webb Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Mrs. Carver and is honored to be serving the Carver family.
Mrs. Carver’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook for viewing.
