Walter Taylor Portis Jr.

With a great sense of loss, we remember our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Walter Taylor Portis, Jr., age 101, who entered the life eternal on September 18, 2024, following several months of declining health.

He was born on December 20, 1922 to the late Walter Taylor Portis and Myrtle Alice Spicer. He grew up in Rural Hall, Winston-Salem, and Midway. He spent his final years in Clemmons residing with his son and daughter-in-law. On January 11, 1942, he married Vazelle Smith, and celebrated seventy-seven years together. For all of his married life he was a resident of the Midway community. He retired from Dogwood Hosiery Mill in Thomasville.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a daugher, Jane Marie Cockrum; his brothers, Archie Ray Portis and Elmo Gray Portis; and his sisters, Brooksie Portis, Erma Griffin, Betty Thrift, Bobbie Shore and Peggy Keaton. He is survived by his sister, Ann Berrier and sister-in-law Louise Portis; his children, Wanda (Leonard) Shirk of Prospect, Ohio, Priscilla (Steve) Cockrum of Mt. Airy, Mary (Larry) Wooten of Lexington, Marcus (Janice) Portis of Clemmons, and Darlene (Larry) Pope of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Walter was the oldest living member of Midway Methodist Church. A service celebrating his life will be in the church sanctuary on Tuesday, September 24th at 2:00pm followed by internment in the church cemetery. Visitation with the family will be in the sanctuary from 1:00pm to 1:45pm prior to the service. The family greatly appreciates your memorial gifts to Midway Methodist Church, 9795 Old US Highway 52, Lexington, NC 27295.