Gertrude Stacks Curtis

Gertrude Autry Stacks Curtis, age 93 died Wednesday June 27, 2012. Gertrude's life was always centered around being a disciple of Christ. Her core belief that we all are God's children formed the basis of her interactions with everyone she met. She loved everyone, believed in the goodness of everyone, and lived a life of service. For most of her adult life, Gertrude was a seamstress for the Davidson College Laundry. She was a country girl who never shirked hard work and thought nothing of mowing her acre-plus lawn on into in her 80's. That is when she moved into the Taylor Glen Retirement Community, where she was able to join two of her sisters, Geneva Taylor and Marian Preslar, and brothers-in-law Carrol Taylor, Mark Preslar, and John Munn. Even after her health began to fail, she was uncomfortable having people do things for her, because she believed that she was here to serve others, not to be served. Gertrude was the mother of three children. Although she was never able to attend college, she was determined that her children would be well-grounded in the teachings of Christ and would complete college. Thanks to the hard work and the sacrifices she and her husband Clyde made, all three children not only graduated from college, but went on to attain advanced degrees. Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, Alma Jane and Jessie Autry; husbands Clyde Wilson Stacks and Joseph Ray Curtis; brothers Lindsey, Roland, and Alvin Autry; and sisters Ollie Threat and Beulah Munn. She is survived by her children and their spouses: C. W., Jr., and Leslie Stacks, Vickie and David Shallcross, and J. L. and Jean Stacks. She also is survived by grandchildren Andrew, Erin, and Alden Shallcross; Claudia, Parker, and David Stacks; step-children Phyllis Caldwell, Carolyn Jamerson, and J. C. Curtis; brother Lewis Autry and wife Cynthia, sister Geneva Taylor and husband Carrol, sister Miriam Preslar, and sister Bernice Dennis. Gertie, as she liked to be called, had a wonderful, gentle sense of humor, and she was quick with a smile. In recent years, as her memory started to diminish, she often would comment to her children, "I must be slipping, I must be getting up there in agehow old am I now?" Gertie will never slip from the minds of those who were fortunate to know this profoundly kind and remarkably strong woman. A private graveside service will be held in Mimosa Cemetery in Davidson, led by the Rev. B. Scott Davis of Pitts Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held at Taylor Glen Retirement Community on Thursday at 4 p.m., led by the Rev. Davis and the Rev. Harold McDonald. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com