Janet Elizabeth (McDonald) Stone

Janet Elizabeth McDonald Stone, 82, of Winston-Salem, formerly of Lillington, NC, passed away, Monday, May 27, 2024 at her home in Winston-Salem.

Janet was born January 1, 1942 in Harnett County, NC, to the late John Daniel and Josie Avent McDonald. She was raised in and loved her hometown of Lillington; she graduated from Lillington High School where she fondly remembered playing point guard for the girls basketball team and the close friends she made. She went on to graduate from East Carolina University where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority.

Her career path was always about service to others, as was her life. After living briefly in Great Falls, Montana, she worked at the Department of Social Services in Lillington, later moved to Newark, Delaware where she raised her family and served her church faithfully as a long time member of Bethany Baptist Church.  She continued her career as Director of Social Services and Director of Admissions at Ingleside Care Center and Brandywine Nursing Home in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as other nursing homes in Dover, Delaware and Easton, Maryland. She loved her residents and spent her time trying to improve their days and the lives of their families. 

Janet enjoyed flowers - arranging them and gardening, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, sewing and crafting, and even rooting for her favorite football, basketball or baseball teams.  Her pride and joy was always her family—spending time with her siblings, children and especially her grandchildren whom she adored beyond measure. She was sincere, warm, loving, selfless and, above all, faithful. She will be deeply missed and the world will not be the same without her.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Edward McDonald, and sister, Dorothy Louise McDonald Bishop. 

Janet is survived by her daughters, Marnie Stone Marlette and husband, Ernest; Letha Stone Palmer and husband, Fred; son, Foy Cullen Stone II;  their father, Foy Stone; brother, Leo McDonald and wife, Pat; grandchildren, Beau Marlette, Hunter Marlette, Caleb Shindledecker, Jacob Shindledecker, and Anna Shindledecker; and her much-loved nieces and nephews.    

The funeral service will be held 1pm Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Mt. Ariel Church, 3950 NC Hwy 27, Lillington, NC 27546.  Burial will follow the service at Ephesus Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 530 Peach Farm Rd., Lillington, NC 27546.  The family will receive friends 12pm – 12:45pm prior to the service at Mt. Ariel Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North American Mission Board (www.namb.net/give)

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