Johnnie Vernil Queen

Johnnie Vernil Queen, 76, of Fisher Street, died Monday, May 25, 2009, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, following a five week illness. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2009, at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel, with the Revs. Marty Wilson and Stan Martin and Pastor Jerry Bowen. Entombment will follow in Forest Hill Memorial Park Mausoleum. Mr. Queen was born October 25, 1932, in Swain County, to James Madison Queen and Betty Van Dora Watkins Queen. He was owner/operator of J&D Paint and Repair; retired from Stanley Furniture and a part-time instructor at Davidson County Community College. He was a member of Meeting House UCA; Jean Leonard and the Singing Laymen and Traveling Christian Quartet. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers, Virgil Henry Queen and Oscar Lee Queen. Surviving are his wife, Betty Beck Queen of the home; daughters, Darlene Beeson and husband, Steve, and Marlynn Queen, all of Lexington; grandchildren, Johnny Eugene Smith and wife, Billie Jean, Tommy Lee Smith, Christopher Dale Lakey and Aimee Lynn Lakey; and great-grandchildren, Jordan, Savannah, Ariana, Michael, Levi, Jaelyn, Colin and Trey. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the funeral home and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Meeting House UCA, Old Wesley Chapel Road, Lexington, NC 27295.