Karen Michelle Winningham was born in Winston-Salem, NC on July 1, 1967 to Thomas A. Winningham, Sr. and the late Zoleen Winningham. She transitioned to glory on May 30, 2015 after a short illness.

Karen was a graduate of East Forsyth High School in 1985. She received her Bachelor's degree from East Carolina University and her Master's degree from North Carolina State University. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Karen was employed by the State of North Carolina working in State Bureau of Investigations' Crime Lab as a DNA Analyst. She was a member of Raleigh North Christian Center singing on the choir until her health prevented her service.

Karen enjoyed traveling extensively with her mother and friends going to places such as Argentina, Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Bahamas, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Labadee, Brazil, Uruguay, England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Portugal, and Jamaica just to name a few. Traveling was not her only passion she loved her "fur babies" - Chestnut, Cinnamon, Romeo and Winston.

She leaves to rejoice in her memory her father, Thomas A. Winningham, Sr.; brother, Thomas A. Winningham, Jr.; niece, Niyokki (Michael) Terry; great-nieces, Sharaeka and Asunta and her great-nephew, Michael, Jr.; aunts, Ruth Williams and Virgie Alexander; a host of family and friends; special friends who assisted her during her illness, Sharon Hinton, Cheryl Locklear, Ivy McMillan, Pam Moore, Natassha Robinson, Tonya Rush, Elaine Staley, and Robin Todd.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Friday, June 5, 2015 at Saint Andrews United Methodist Church with Reverend Ronnie E. Roseboro officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Friday at the Church.