Mrs. Fannie Hairston Lyons passed on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Annie Penn Memorial Hospital in Reidsville, North Carolina.  Graveside services will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Elm Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Highway 29 Business, Reidsville, North Carolina.  Public viewing will be held on Saturday at McLaurin Memorial Chapel from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m.

"Fannie Bell", as she was affectionately called, was one of four children born to the late Clarence W. Hairston and Laura H. Hairston in Ruffin, North Carolina on December 16, 1944.

Fannie joined Bluestone Baptist Church at an early age.  Later, she became a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church and served faithfully until her health declined.  She dearly loved her God and she loved singing in the choir.

After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in 1964, she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where she earned her Nursing degree.  Her caring spirit was epitomized in her love for the Nursing and the health care profession.  While in Tennessee, she met and married the love of her life, Howard Lyons, Sr.  To this union were born two children, Jennie and Howard, Jr.

Fannie spent her leisure time working puzzle books and watching westerns and soap operas.  She also enjoyed cooking, working in her flowers and was an avid collector of bells of all types.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary H. Price and Harriet H. Williams; and one nephew, Christopher R. Price.

She leaves to cherish her memory:  a daughter, Jennie R. Lyons, of the home;  a son, Howard Lyons, Jr., (Marcia), of Browns Summit, NC; two step-daughters, Deborah Washington, of Washington, DC, and Donna Drakeford, of Maryland; six grandchildren, Aaliyah, Jayden, Gabriel, Erin, Derek and Devon; three step-grandchildren, Jhermaine, Avi, and SaRa; one sister, Betsy Adams, of Ruffin, NC; God-daughter, Faye Brown, of Reidsville, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ashton and Yolanda McLaurin and the staff of the McLaurin Funeral Home are serving the family. Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required.

At the designated date and time, you may connect to the Virtual services via teleconference call by dialing (701) 802-5263 and then access code 6545855# or FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home's FB page.  To join via YouTube, click here