Barbara Dawn Orrell sailed off with Jesus on her 67th birthday, living from January 10, 1959 to January 10, 2026.

She is survived by her twin brother, Tim Orrell, her only child, April Dawn Jones, her four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Although she was born, raised and died in Winston Salem, North Carolina, she lived many places in her life. Most notably a seven year stint living on a sailboat with her favorite husband. She had many careers, from Reynolds Tobacco, to sailing to ports opening West Marine stores. For a long time she worked in the mail room at Baptist hospital, and even a short time at her granddaughter's University bookstore, Western Carolina. Dawn was a free spirit, who loved to play guitar, swim in the ocean (past the breakers,) and ride horses. Through her life she had many dogs, some small weiners and some big mutts, her last dog Charly is who I think to be her spirit animal, and I chose to believe he is with her, guiding her to the light. It is only those left behind that suffer now, in her mourning; Dawn was a believer and I am sure her spirit is on to greater adventures. May her spirit guide us, and her stories live on with us, as we continue in this life. Now, her spirit is truly free, flying among the angels.

At the request of the family, private services will be held at a later date.