Corinne Pipkin Giles

Corinne Pipkin Giles, 93, of Silver Creek Rd. in Morganton died Saturday, December 20, 2008 at home after a period of declining health. She was born February 3, 1915, in Burke County to the late Ralph Waldo Pipkin and Effie Belle Walker Pipkin.Corinne was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morganton since the late 1920s and was a member of the Heilhecker Sunday School class. She was one of the founding members of the church and previously served on the Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. She held various offices with the church as well as the district. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for more than 25 years. She and her husband, Buddy, helped organize the Morganton Dutch Club, which was founded in the 1930s and continued as a member for 60+ years. Corinne loved playing bridge and golf, was an avid reader, and was well-known locally for her endeavors in the kitchen, including baking, cooking, and making her candies. To her loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren she was known as "Granny" and she was always available for a hug and a little something sweet.Corinne is survived by her son-in-law, Robert "Bobby" Kirksey, and her grandchildren: Jimmy Kirksey and his wife, Dotty, of Morganton, Margaret Caldwell and her husband, Dan, of Lawton OK, Giles Kirksey and his wife, Christy, of Greensboro NC, and Corinne Alavi and her husband, Jamal, of Raleigh NC. Her niece, Mary Cameron Phillips Dillingham and her husband, Elmer, of Ponte Vedra, FL, also survive her She leaves an enduring legacy in her great-grandchildren: Lyndsey and Hannah Kirksey of Morganton; Elizabeth and Wilson Caldwell of Lawton, OK; Christopher, James and Isabella Kirksey of Greensboro, NC; Robert, Susan and Caroline Alavi of Raleigh; her great-niece, Cameron Dillingham Paschal and her husband, Stephen; her great-nephew, James Jamieson; as well as a number of cousins in the Walker, Pipkin, Giles, and Pitts families.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph "Buddy" Giles; a daughter, Corinne "Betsey" Giles Kirksey; and a sister, Naomi Phillips.The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2008 in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church. A celebration of Corinne’s life will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the church with Rev. Dr. Sydnor Thompson, III and Rev. Holly Adams officiating. A private family burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent in Corinne’s memory to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. King Street, Morganton NC 28655.Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.