John Garden Shields

ASHEBORO- John Garden Shields, 70, died December 30, 2006, at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro after a courageous three year battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2007, at Central United Methodist Church, 300 S. Main Street, Asheboro, with Dr. Mark Key and the Rev. Barry Queen officiating. The family will receive friends before the service in the church narthex from 12:30 until 2 p.m.

Born October 6, 1936 in Tarboro, N.C., he was the son of Elizabeth and Robert Shields and raised in Scotland Neck, N.C.

He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1958 and served in the National Guard. He was employed almost 19 years with Klopman Mills in Asheboro and retired from Day International, Greenville, S.C. in 1998 after 20 years employment as a textile products sales engineer. He was a faithful member of Central United Methodist Church until he was no longer able to attend.

He loved people and enjoyed volunteering at church, the Christian United Outreach Center in Asheboro and many other agencies. John's unyielding faith during his long illness comforted and inspired his family and friends. He continued to bless every new day that the Lord gave to him. Beloved husband, father, brother and friend to many, John was a kind and patient man who shared his love and faith generously and unconditionally. He greeted every one with a radiant smile.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Alexander Shields of the home; daughter and her husband Susan and Wayne Hotchkiss of Earlysville, Virginia; daughter, Patricia Shields of Asheboro; brother and his wife, Bob and Sarah Burton Shields of Boone; sister, Betty Lou Shields of Asheboro; brother-in-law and his wife, Bain and Cathy Alexander of Jacksonville, Florida; niece Millie Morris of Rocky Mount; nephews Robert Shields Jr. of Overland Park, Kansas; Bradford Shields of Boone; Edward Alexander of Jacksonville, Florida; and Steve Alexander of Nashville, Tennessee.

John gave of himself to others throughout his life, and in death he bequeathed his body for research and study to Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston Salem, N.C. His hope at the end of his life was that knowledge gained from this effort might serve to help others who are still struggling to find a cure for their cancer.

A very special thank you to Dr. Christine McCarty and her very special caring staff at Randolph Cancer Center who fought John's battle so earnestly with him and always kept his spirits up during his weekly visits. Also, thank you to the staff of Hospice of Randolph for their extraordinary care and support during John's illness at home and in the hospital.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 300 S. Main Street, Asheboro, NC 27203; Randolph Cancer Center, 713 South Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203; Hospice of Randolph, PO Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204; or Christians United Outreach Center, PO Box 784, Asheboro, NC 27204.

Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is assisting the Shields family.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.pughfuneralhome.com or news-record.com/nr/obits/