Lillian Grace Dyer Meredith

“Lil” had a variety of interests. She held Bachelor and Master degrees in Education and worked as a teacher and a principal. She was a civil rights activist serving as executive director of the Stouffer Foundation and the Committee for Education, which provided scholarships to southern preparatory schools and colleges to over 140 high-achieving minority and disadvantaged students. She was the founder and proprietor of a number of local businesses including the first health food store in the city, Aquarius 2000, which survives to this day. She served as president of the Medical Center Guild at the Wake Forest School of Medicine and was an artist, collector, and patron of the arts.

Lil Meredith was a force, and anyone who knew her will feel her loss. Decades after she left teaching, she received letters from students describing the impact she had on their lives. Although the walls of her home in Winston-Salem are filled with evidence of her husband’s achievements there was never any doubt whose pride in and support for him were being expressed. Her Silver Life Master certificate from the American Contract Bridge League hangs proudly among his awards. Bridge players across the southeast will mourn her loss. Artists, politicians and the first families of Winston Salem shared her table along with friends and family, all of whom will miss her wit, intelligence and boundless energy. If Lil Meredith thought well of you, you were in good company.

Lillian was preceded in death by her father and mother, her siblings Stella Dyer Greer, Frank Dyer, Ruth Dyer Griffith, Gay Dyer Fiske, and her daughter-in-law Deborah Earnhardt Meredith.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Dr. Jesse H. Meredith of Winston-Salem; her sons Dr. Wayne Meredith (Gayle) of Winston-Salem, Dwight Meredith of Greensboro, and Michael (Rebecca) Meredith of Seattle; six grandchildren, Russell Meredith of Cary, Amanda Meredith of Winston-Salem, Jesse D. Meredith and Matthew “Bobby” Meredith of Greensboro, Justin Meredith (Christine) of Seattle and Andrew Meredith of Seattle; her brother, Robert Dyer of Burlington; myriad nieces and nephews; and her dear friend and caregiver Ms. Jovita Thomas of Winston-Salem.

There will be a visitation from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday, June 5 at Frank Vogler & Sons Funeral Home Reynolda Chapel, 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem and a memorial service June 6 at 4:00 PM in the Brendle Recital Hall at the Scales Fine Arts Center on the campus of Wake Forest University.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Meredith Student Research Support Fund which provides support for minority medical students to become researchers and sent to WFBMC Office of Development, P.O Box 571021, Winston-Salem NC 27157-1021 (336) 716-4718.

Online condolences may be made at www.frankvoglerandsons.com. Arrangements made by Frank Vogler & Sons Funeral Home Reynolda Chapel.