Leila George Cram Sikes

July 6, 1912 - March 14, 2013

Leila George Cram Sikes ( Mrs. C. Henry Sikes) passed away on March the 14th at her home of many years in Greensboro, NC. She was born more than a century ago on July 6, 1912 and spent her early years in Columbus, Ohio. At the age of 12 she and her parents, George A. Cram and Leila Shreve Martin Cram, moved to Greensboro where she has lived ever since.

She graduated from Greensboro High School in 1930 and from Randolph- Macon Woman's College with honors in 1934. Her first employment was as the Director of the Glenwood Community Center in Greensboro. In the 1950's and 60's she served on the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Board where she was the first women chairman. She was a strong advocate of the development of summer swimming programs and was instrumental in the creation of the Lindley Park Swimming Pool

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She was president of the Guilford County Medical Auxiliary and was counselor for District 8 to the N.C. Medical Auxiliary from 1954 to 1957. She also served as president of the N.C. State Medical Auxiliary. In 1997 the N.C. Medical Society Alliance made her an honorary member.

Leila George volunteered as a girl scout troop leader and for 12 years was on the regional committee of the Girl Scouts of the USA. She served as president of the Triad Council of Girl Scouts of America and as president of the Guilford-Randolph Area Girl Scout Council. She received the Golden Eaglet award, the highest award in Girl Scouting at that time.

She was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro which she joined in 1937 and taught Sunday school there for many years. She was a long-standing member of the Sunset Hills Garden Club serving as president of the club and twice as president of the Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs. She was a Board Member of the Natural Science Center for 10 years also serving as president. She was chief judge for the Greensboro Youth of the Month program for more than 30 years. In 1955 the Quota Club of Greensboro honored her as Greensboro Woman of the Year.

She was most proud of her service over 30 years on the original Greensboro Coliseum Commission, being the first woman appointed to that commission by the Greensboro City Council. She was elected Secretary and wrote the dedication for the plaque still hanging in the War Memorial Auditorium. On July 4, 2012 on the eve of her 100th birthday, Leila George Sikes was honored at the Greensboro Coliseum by the mayor of Greensboro who recognized her for a lifetime of outstanding leadership and for her contributions to thecreation of the War Memorial Coliseum.

Her devoted husband, Dr. C. Henry Sikes preceded her in death and she is survived by a daughter, Leila Caroline Sikes Cowan and husband Dr. Robert J. Cowan, a son, Charles Henry Sikes, Jr. and wife Lenna Loveland Sikes, four grandchildren: Caroline Martin Cowan Morris and husband, Robert Scott Morris, Barbara Haynes Cowan Scott and husband William Joseph Scott, Lindsay Sikes Horning and husband Joel Glen Horning, and Charles Joseph Sikes and Connie Bland Langley, and seven great grandchildren: Catherine Sikes Morris, Grace Haynes Morris, William Cowan Scott, Samuel Haynes Scott, Leila Mary Horning, Charlotte GraceSikes and Lucas Henry Horning.

Following a private burial service a memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at 2 o’clock Monday, March 18. The family will receive visitors at the church following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, 617 N. Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401 or Girl Scouts-Carolina's Peaks to Piedmont Council, 8818 W. Market St Colfax, NC 27235.

Online condolences may be made to haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.