Warren Sparrow's Wife Passes

Lydia Rebecca Sparrow passed away  Sunday, March 20, 2016 
surrounded by her husband Warren and their four children.


Lydia Rebecca Smit Sparrow 

July 1, 1938 – March 20, 2016

Lydia Rebecca Smit Sparrow, 77, of Winston-Salem, died on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home  in Winston-Salem.

Lydia Rebecca was born July 1, 1938, in Johnston, RI, to the late Carel J. and Theodora deSitter Smit.  She is survived by her husband Warren Sparrow and their four children, daughters  Catherine Peele (Alex) of Chesterfield, MO, Barbara Sparrow of Durham, NC, and Theodora Sparrow of Winston-Salem, and son Arthur R. Sparrow (Julie James) of Winston-Salem.  Lydia Rebecca is survived by six grandchildren:  Lydia Peele Kinkade  (Kyle) of Overland Park, KS, Melanie Peele Krier (Kyle) of Salina, KS, Charlotte Peele of Manhattan, KS; Hammond Sherouse of Durham, NC, Gabrielle Hill of Winston-Salem,  and Warren Hill of

Lydia Rebecca is survived by two brothers, Neil Smit (Katherine) of Duxbury, MA, and Maarten Smit (Mary Jane) of Newbury, VT, and a sister, Agnes Smit of Bar Harbor, ME.  Lydia Rebecca was preceded in death by her sisters  Eleanor  Levin (Phil) of Gloucester, MA, and Barbara Young (John P.) of Oakland, CA, and  her brother Jac Smit of Washington, DC.

Lydia Rebecca was a CPA, having served as the financial officer at the Blumenthal Jewish Home and
Horizons Residential Care Center.  In 1994 she was YWCA Board Member of the Year.  Before earning her masters in business administration at UNCG in 1980, she was a registered nurse.  In 1958 she graduated first in her class at St. Joseph’s School of Nursing, Nashua, NH.  As a nurse she held staff positions at various hospitals— two in Europe (Germany and Holland) and others in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and North Carolina (NC Baptist Hospital for 15 years).

She was an internal auditor for the North Carolina Department of Human Resources from 1984 to 1987. Prior to service as a state auditor she was a health-care administration consultant and tax accountant.

Lydia Rebecca was treasurer of the West End Association, the West End Garden Club and the YWCA.

She was vice president of the East Winston Restoration Association.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Salem Funeral Home’s Chapel, 127 South Main Street,  Winston-Salem, NC 27101. 

 In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.