Mrs. Gracie Mae Cheeks Summers, 75 formerly of 508 NE 15th Street passed away on Friday, June 27, 2008 at the home of her daughter, Angela, following a brief illness.

Mrs. Summers was born March 29, 1933 in Winston-Salem, NC to Willie C. and Mattie C. Cheeks. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church where she was a faithful member of the Senior Usher Board, the Spiritual Choir, Pastor's Aid, the Missionary Department, a dedicated advisor for the church Nursery, and many other auxiliaries.

She was a graduate of Atkins High School and furthered her education at Forsyth Technical Community College.

She was a former employee of Experiment in Self-Reliance and a faithful worker at the Samaritan Soup Kitchen. She worked tirelessly for the Forsyth County Board of Elections and countless Community Services before her health began declining.

Mrs. Summers was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Summers; and a grandson, Shawn Hamlin.

Ms. Gracie leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Donna Hamlin, Angela (Vern) Summers, and Alice P. Summers all of Winston-Salem, NC; one son, Johnny (Yvonne) Cheeks; her extended children, Cester (Jimmy) Lynch, Linsey and Marion Summers; thirteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Apkan of Boston, MA and Barbara (Ernest) Burts of Winston-Salem, NC; two brothers, Aaron and Andrew Cheeks both of Winston-Salem, NC; two loving and devoted nieces and caregivers, Shirley Cheeks and Ruth Lankford of Petersburg, VA; a special friend Awilda Baldwin; and a host of nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Thursday, July 3, 2008 from the Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Deborah Hauser-Odom officiating and Bishop John H. Heath eulogist. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 1pm until 2pm on Thursday at the Church.