Gail Douglas

WILSON - Gail Barksdale Douglas, 75, died Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Funeral, Wednesday, 2:00 PM, First Presbyterian Church, followed by a time of visiting and sharing.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Sam P. Douglas, Jr.; son and daughter-in-law, S. Preston Douglas, III and wife, Caroline, of Boulder, CO; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Morse and husband, Michael, of Raleigh; son and daughter-in-law, Scott B. Douglas and wife, Diane, of Washington, DC; grandchildren, Sam and Mary Scott Douglas, Annie and Stewart Morse, Malcolm and Philip Douglas; sister, Barbara Clowse of Chapel Hill; nephews, Dr. Martin Clowse and family, Stephen Clowse and family. Preceding her in death were her parents, Henry Franklin and Elizabeth Cranford Barksdale; brother-in-law, Converse Clowse.

Gail graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur, GA and received her Bachelor's Degree from Duke University where she was an officer in student government and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In 1962, she earned a Master's degree in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church where she served as Elder, Deacon and President of the Women of the Church, Honorary Life Member of the Presbyterian Women and an original member of the church hand bell choir. She served several terms as chairperson of the church's Week Day School and as a teacher for 17 years. Her volunteer work at Wilson Medical Center included countless hours in the hospital gift shop, serving as both a 21 year member and twice president of the Women's Auxiliary Board, and on the WilMed Health Care Foundation. Her most recent work was with the Community Task Forest created to research the future of the hospital.

Gail particularly enjoyed reading, tennis, gardening, playing bridge, serving as Sam's assistant bee-keeper and most of all, spoiling her grandchildren! Her commitment to the art of cooking was evident in the joy of those friends and family who experienced her exquisitely prepared meals and who will, in her memory, continue to use her recipes of many years to come.

Her boundless energy and passion for life will forever be remembered by her family and the many close friends she held dear to her heart. The kindness of her spirit and the dedication to her family, church and community was a light of inspiration to all.

Memorials are suggest to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 3184, Wilson NC 27895-3184, or to the Health Care Foundation of Wilson, 2505 Nash Street NW, Wilson NC 27896-1311.