Theophilus Overture Stokes, Jr., 97, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Masonic rights will be performed on Sunday, May 3, 2026at Hargett Funeral Service, Inc., 905 E. Market Street, Greensboro at 3:00 pm.

A homegoing celebration will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Providence Baptist Church, 1106 Tuscaloosa Street, Greensboro; visitation with the family begins at 12:30 pm followed by the service at 1:30 p.m. 

Final Statement and Life Story of

T.O. Stokes, Jr.

"My family, relatives, friends, and acquaintances, if you are reading this, then by and by, I have flown away to be with my heavenly father in that house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. Try not to grieve my absence, but rather, try to celebrate a fulfilling and beautiful life well lived. Don’t let your hearts be empty because you can no longer see me, instead let them be full of the love and memories we shared and know that now I’m free. Say or write what you wish about me, but please know that I tried to live not that my name would be known, but that I truly tried through my faith in God and the way that I lived, that Christ’s name would be known to all that knew me. Indeed, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by faith, the elders obtained a good report with God (Hebrews 11: 1-2). Hold on to your faith and may God bless each of you, until we meet again!" T.O. Stokes, Jr.

On April 26, 2026, Theophilus Overture Stokes, Jr. boarded the wings of angels that arrived to take him to his destination before the throne of God. Born April 27, 1928 in Middlesex, Nash County, NC, he was the youngest of seven children born to Theophilus O. Stokes, Sr. and Anna Pridgeon Stokes. He attended Middlesex Elementary School and Spaulding High School in Spring Hope, North Carolina, where he met the love of his life and wife of over 74 years, Alma Pulley. In 1952, he graduated from North Carolina A&T State University and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corp from 1953 to 1955. As a young man growing up in Nash County, “Junior” as he was widely known, was considered one of the most outstanding baseball players in eastern North Carolina and was recruited by several professional teams as a hard throwing right-handed pitcher; however family necessities prevented him from going pro. He accepted and began to follow Christ at a young age at Stokes Chapel Baptist Church in Middlesex, North Carolina, which was named in honor of his grandfather Theodore Stokes, who donated land and timber to build the church that continues to serve that community today. Upon settling in Greensboro, he joined Providence Baptist Church where he was a Deacon for over sixty years and church treasurer for fifty years.

Following college and his military service, Mr. Stokes settled in Greensboro and soon opened his own business, consisting of a full service gas station and convenience store. For more than thirty-five years, first on old Ashe Street and later on the former Asheboro Street (MLK, Jr. Dr.), his business served the southeast Greensboro community and was a popular place for people from all walks of life to visit for a warm conversation or maybe even for a helping hand from Mr. Stokes.

Mr. Stokes’ love and concern for others led him to become one of this area’s most outstanding fraternal and civic leaders. In 1956, he was made a mason in St. John’s Lodge #12, Greensboro Consistory #106, and a Shriner in Khalif Temple #144, where he is a Past Potentate. As a 33rd degree mason, Mr. Stokes revived the C.W. Lawrence Lodge #837 in the mid-1980’s and while serving as Master, membership in the lodge rose from twelve active members to forty-five active members in just two years. As a civic leader, “T.O.” was a former member of the Board of Trustees of the L. Richardson Memorial Hospital, organizer and first President of the N.C. A&T National Booster Club, past recording Secretary of the North Carolina Desert Conference, Life Member of the North Carolina Congress P.T.A., former member of the Greensboro NAACP Advisory Board, member of the Environment Commission of Guilford County, member of the African American Leadership Initiative of the United Way, member of the Greensboro Minority Business League, the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, and the Greensboro Cancer Society.

He was a Past President and emeritus member of the Greensboro Men’s Club, an emeritus member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Beta Epsilon Boule, and former Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee of the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, where he was a life member of the Board of Management and member of the Hayes-Taylor YMCA Hall of Fame. Twice named the Hayes-Taylor YMCA’s Man of the Year, Mr. Stokes also received the “2 Those Who Care” award from WFMY-TV and was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award by the Governor of North Carolina, one of the highest civilian awards presented by the state of North Carolina.

Mr. Stokes enjoyed helping others and was happiest when outside planting gardens or vegetables with his wife, Alma, or mowing his yard, which he took pride in maintaining in a pristine manner. His love for the outdoors was surpassed only by his dedication to Christ and his love for his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family members. An entire generation of past and present members of the Greensboro community was blessed with the advice, consideration, and care from Mr. Stokes.

Mr. Stokes leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Alma, children, Orsure Wray, Rhonda, and Theophilus O. III (Pella), grandchildren, Brianna, Kristin, Alexis, Pella, Ellis, and Torre, and great grandchildren, Xavier, Leo, Nicholas, Alex, Zuri, Slade, and Stone, and beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of faithful friends.

Please do not send any flowers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hayes-Taylor YMCA of Greensboro, NC in Memory of T.O. Stokes, Jr. Thank you.