Derwood Winstead

Derwood Leo Winstead, 93, of Wilson, went to be with the Lord on February 17, 2025.

Funeral, Sunday, February 23, 3:00, at Grace Baptist Church, 202 Kincaid Ave N, Wilson, followed by visitation immediately afterwards in the sanctuary. 

Growing up in the small town of Elm City taught him big values. Derwood had a servant’s heart all his life. After graduating from Elm City High School, he was able to enjoy his passion for baseball by playing for both the Wilson Tobs and the U.S. Army while stationed in Germany. 

Derwood was dedicated to his church, Grace Baptist, where he served in many capacities for decades including being a deacon, head of outreach and the van ministry. He also wrote the monthly newsletter for Grace for years, encouraging others spiritually. His witness for Jesus Christ was the preeminent driving force in his life. He often would break out in song, singing an old gospel hymn, even if he could not sing a note. Derwood also supported many worldwide ministries, especially the American Bible Society. 

After 30 years with Carolina Telephone Company, Derwood retired and enjoyed volunteering, especially for the Hope Station in Wilson. He tirelessly volunteered there for 17 years, a ministry that helps the underserved in the community. He took his role seriously and could always be counted on to show up. Dependability epitomized Derwood’s life, especially when it came to helping others.

Since baseball was his favorite sport he was a trivia expert with all things about pro ball. He coached little league baseball in his early years and his excitement about the World Series was contagious. He also was an avid Tarheel fan when it came to basketball and had much admiration for Dean Smith, always following the team closely. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing but that hobby was replaced with his favorite pastime–hunting junk. He had a long time business that could be classified as “junktiques” or antiques, depending on the beholder. One man’s junk was his treasure. His many vintage signs, artifacts, and other collectibles were highly sought after and the hobby gave him many years of enjoyment.

He loved children and went to great strides to make others laugh. He was a colorful storyteller, and loved to pull pranks, as well as tell corny jokes. When the children were young, the neighborhood kids would often ring the doorbell so they could hear a funny story, or watch him perform a magic trick or perhaps juggle. Many of the children thought he was a real magician. 

His own kids and grandkids loved his traditions, especially his cooking fried cheese toast on a cast iron skillet on Christmas morning. No one made better barbecued chicken on the grill than D-Daddy, and it was requested every time the children came home. The secret was the sauce! He never met a stranger and absolutely loved shooting the breeze at McDonalds and Bojangles in the mornings over a cup of coffee and a ham biscuit with any passersby. Even at the end of his life, he could often be found there cutting up with someone. 

Derwood is survived by his wife, Edna Rouse Winstead; daughter, Rhonda Winstead Coumas (James Coumas); son, Brett Winstead (Lisa Winstead); sisters, Patsy Stone and Bonnie White; grandchildren, Mary Claire Brown, Caroline Silvious, Graham Brown, and Jarrett and Joel Winstead; great-grandchildren, Hardison Brown, Lucas and Savannah Silvious, and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by brothers, Herman, Horace, Val, and Mitch Winstead, and sister, Rebecca Winstead. 

The family requests no flowers, but donations can be made in Derwood’s memory to the Hope Station, PO Box 2164, Wilson, NC 27894 or to the outreach of Grace Baptist Church, 202 Kincaid Ave N, Wilson, NC 27893.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com