Judge Richard Cannon Erwin, 83, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, at Arbor Acres. A native of Marion, he was born to John Adam and Flora Cannon Erwin on Aug. 23, 1923. He was educated in the public schools of Marion and received a bachelor's degree from Johnson C. Smith University in 1947. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the end of his junior year of college. He served three years and was discharged as a First Sergeant, QMC. Judge Erwin received a L.L.B. Degree (Law Review) from Howard University School of Law in 1951, Doctor of Laws Degree from Pfeiffer College on May 4, 1980, and a Doctor of Laws Degree from Johnson C. Smith University on May 17, 1981. At Johnson C. Smith, he created the Richard C. Erwin Endowed Scholarship Fund and was a member of the Myers Society. He was a member of the Century Club at Howard University. He practiced law in Winston-Salem from 1951 to 1977 and was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly in 1974 and 1976. Judge Erwin was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in January, 1978, and was elected statewide for a second term. On Oct. 31, 1980, he was sworn in as a Federal Judge. Professionally he belonged to the N.C. Association of Black Lawyers, The American and National Bar Associations, the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, the National Bar Association, and the Federal Judges Association. Fraternally, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and was the founding member of Kappa Gamma Boule of Sigma Pi Phi. He later served as the Southern Area Sir Archon. Judge Erwin served on numerous boards and committees. Among them were the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University School of Law, Forsyth County School Board (1961-1968), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bennett College, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Paul United Methodist Church, Trustee of the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church, President of the Forsyth County Bar Association, The Winston-Salem Foundation, and Board of Directors of the NAACP. He enjoyed traveling, playing golf and card games, and dancing. Upon retirement in 1988, he became a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Married for 60 years, he is survived by his wife Bunny; his beloved son and daughter, Richard C. Erwin Jr. of Yadkinville, and Aurelia Whitley Erwin of Charlotte; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Adeline Erwin of Merriville, Ind., and Mrs. Mary Sherard of Washington, D.C.; nieces, Janet (Milton) Hall of Lawton, Okla., Bernice and Wendy Jones of Silver Springs, Md., Joe Nina Abrons of Nashville, Tenn., Judy (David) Neville of Merriville, Ind., Ursula Sherard and Irene (Drew) Franklin, both of Washington, D.C.; other relatives and friends. A service of celebration will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at the St. Paul United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Donald Jenkins, pastor, officiating with Dr. James W. Ferree. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richard C. Erwin Scholarship Fund, Division of Institutional Advancement, 100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216, or the Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels, 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105. The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the Arbor Acres staff for their loving and compassionate care during the illness of our loved one. Online condolences may be made at www.russellfuneralservice.com. (Russell)
