Glennette Frye Ranson

1942 - 2026

Glennette Frye Ranson

Jun 6, 1942 - Jan 10, 2026

Glennette Frye Ranson, born on June 6, 1942, in Charlotte, N.C., died Saturday, January 10, 2026, after a years-long battle with dementia.

Glennette was a fun-loving Grammy, a cat rescuer, a steadfast leader, and an excellent cook.

She loved her granddaughters more than anything else. When they were young, Glennette sewed handmade dresses for them to wear at Easter and Christmas. There were many visits which involved ice cream and cookies for breakfast. She passed her love of crafts to her granddaughters, and they spent hours making Christmas ornaments with family. Glennette could always be counted on to provide a spark of silliness to brighten the day.

An avid cat owner, she ran an underground railroad for wayward felines. With regularity, new strays would show up at her back door, knowing they would be placed in loving homes. Experience with vet bills led her to point out that "There is no such thing as a free cat." Her crowning adoption included a cat mother and four kittens, which lived with her until she moved to Homestead Hills.

Glennette was the first in her family to attend college. She began her education at UNC Greensboro in the medical technology program and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill.

After the passing of her husband, David, in 1977, she became a single parent to her son, Patrick. She worked and saved tirelessly to lead their family on one income. She later would run a large laboratory for LabCorp until her retirement.

It was at First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem that Glennette got her second wind. She led many efforts, including bible studies, circle, and Wednesday night kitchen crews.

In her retirement, Glennette served joyfully as the President of the Presbyterian Women. She found much joy serving as a Sunday morning greeter, cutting up with church members, and paying special attention to young children.

Glennette embraced her country roots. She often reminisced about spending time on her Granny's farm as a child, where crops and animals were part of everyday life. Country music was her favorite. She even managed to appear on stage during a Randy Travis performance at the Grand Ole Opry. As time passed, Glennette loved to exaggerate a country accent she had never exhibited before. She claimed it was her duty to make sure that the accent lived on.

But nothing else demonstrated her country upbringing like her cooking. Just like her mother, Glennette was an excellent cook. All special occasions were marked with special menus. You could taste the love in the food. Her talents were evident in scratch-made cookies, coconut cakes, sweet potato pies, fudge, Thanksgiving dressing, (not stuffing!) home-grown green beans, and her famous sourdough bread. She loved to entertain for her dear family and friends.

Glennette was preceded in death by her husband, David. She is survived by her son, Patrick Ranson; her daughter-in-law, Kristin Ranson; her granddaughters, Anna and Ashleigh; and her brother, John Frye and his wife Brenda.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Ranson has been rescheduled for 11:00 AM Saturday February 21, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church, 300 North Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC. The family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall.

Salem Funeral and Cremation

120 South Main Street, Winston-Salem NC 27101