Samuel Hairston Sr. and Marian Hairston

Rev. Samuel F. Hairston Sr.

Marian Sloan Hairston

SALISBURY - Rev. Samuel F. Hairston Sr., age 89, of 201 S. Institute St., died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at his residence. His wife, Mrs. Marian Sloan Hairston, of same address, died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, at the home.

Rev. Hairston was born May 17, 1918, in Winston-Salem to the late Samuel and Martha Baron Hairston. He attended Kimberly Park and Atkins High School, Winston-Salem, Phyllis Wheatley and Piedmont Bible Colleges. He preached his initial sermon Jan. 3, 1954, at New Bethel Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, was ordained Feb. 6, 1956, by Dr. R.M. Pitts, Moderator of the Rowan Baptist Association; and pastored New Light Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church, Mocksville, St. John Baptist Church, Climax, and his last pastorate and where he retired from, Smith Grove Baptist Church, Hiddenite.

His affiliations included past vice moderator of the Yadkin Davie Association; past Grand Pursuant for the state of North Carolina, Price Hall Mason for 28 years; past Grand Master, member and past Patron of Meridian Chapter 308 OES; and Past Master of Salem Lodge 139. He was also a member of the National Hairston Clan Inc.

He was preceded in death by wives Emma Anderson Hairston and Marian Sloan Hairston.

Survivors are sons Samuel F. Hairston Jr. (Terri), Sacramento, Calif., and Ronnie Staples, High Point; daughters Martha Edwards (Thurmond), Winston-Salem, and Leretha Hairston, of the home; stepsons Rudy Hairston (Betty), Fresno, Calif., Alvin Anderson (Mary), Wellford, S.C., Thomas Anderson (Frankie) and Harold Anderson, both of Greer, S.C.; stepdaughter Pauline Arnold, Taylors, S.C.; brother Robert Lee Hairston, Winston-Salem; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Mrs. Hairston was born April 10, 1923, in Salisbury to the late Rev. William L. and Jessie Partee Sloan. She attended public schools of Rowan County and after graduating from J.C. Price High School, she entered Steward's School of Cosmetology, Asheville. After graduating there, she was an operator at Randall's Beauty Parlor for 13 years. Marian was a loyal and dedicated wife to her first husband, the late Robert R. Keaton for 39 years. In 1955, she became a nurse's assistant at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury and retired in 1983 after 28 years.

Mrs. Hairston was a lifelong member of First Calvary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Deaconess Board, Willings Workers, Missionary 5, Sunday School and other activities of the church.

In 1993, she was united in marriage to the late Rev. S.F. Hairston of Winston-Salem and became a loving supporter to him and the church he pastored, Smith Grove Baptist Church, Hiddenite.

Mrs. Hairston was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy S. Mitchell, and two brothers, William Sloan Jr. and David Sloan.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory a brother, Thomas Sloan (Edith), Salisbury; sisters Virginia Lockett, Philadelphia, Pa. and Jessie Childers, Salisbury; stepsons Samuel F. Hairston Jr. (Terri), Sacramento, Calif., and Ronnie Staples, High Point; stepdaughters Martha Edwards (Thurmond), Winston-Salem, and Leretha Hairston of the home; niece Gloria C. Thompson (Benjamin), Salisbury; nephews Lonnie Childers, Christopher Childers (Rena`), Douglas Mitchell, Rural Hall, William Mitchell, Charlotte, and James Mashore, Philadelphia, Pa.; other nieces, nephews, cousins, brother-in-law Robert Lee Hairston, Winston-Salem, and friends.

Service: The joint funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Leamon Brown, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Rowan Memorial Park.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Hairston Funeral Home, Inc. is serving the family. Online messages may be sent to Hairstonfh@bellsouth.net or visit our Web site at www.Hairstonfh.com