Lou Todd Hutchens

Lou Todd Hutchens Lou Todd Hutchens of Yadkinville passed away peacefully on November 26, 2013, at Yadkin Valley Community Hospital. She was born in Yadkin County on May 24, 1931. She was the oldest of eight children and was preceded in death by her parents, William (Bill) and Louisa Shermer Todd, and her sisters, Peggy Todd Spillman and Gloria Todd Long, all of Yadkinville. She is survived by her husband, Paul, her stepdaughter, Stephany Hutchens, grandchildren, Travis (Jessica)Murphy, Tara Steelman, Tanner Hutchens, and great-grandchildren Riley and Karley Murphy all of Yadkinville. In addition, she is survived by her sisters, Nellie (Garlon) Hall, Frieda (Fred) Pepper of Yadkinville, Norma Todd Johnson of Clemmons, Sandra (Paul) Gianini of Port Orange, Florida, and one brother, William (Lisa) of Yadkinville as well as many cherished nieces and nephews. Lou graduated from Yadkinville High School and received a Bachelor's degree in Art Education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, and a Master's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her teaching career spanned 35 years and included time in Newton, GA, and Farmington High School in Yadkin County. For 20 years, she taught various subjects in the art department at Forbush and Starmount High Schools. She served as a role model for hundreds of students and influenced many to pursue a career in art education. On August 8, 1955, Lou became a member of the Yadkin Order of the Eastern Star # 233 and served as Worthy Matron in 1961. She belonged to Maplewood Baptist Church where she and her husband were founding members. She directed the choir for a short time, taught Sunday School and was responsible for placing flowers at the church alter for 30 years. Lou was an artist in every sense of the word, from planning her all-white, Christmas Day wedding to Paul, to the creation of the many works of art she made for family members and friends. After she retired from teaching, she owned her own art store, Lou's Everything Art, and created hundreds of special baskets for customers, friends and family. She loved her family and especially cherished her great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her family and many friends, including the hundreds of students from 35 years of teaching and all of her friends at Aces Diner. The family will receive friends at 2:00 Sunday, December 1, 2013, at Maplewood Baptist Church, and the service honoring her life will be held at 3:00 P.M. It will be officiated by the Rev. Richard Eskew and the Rev. Jimmy Lancaster. Pall Bearers include her nephews Kent Pepper, Todd Casstevens, Rodney Casstevens, Ryan Marcum, Fred Phillips, and Ronnie Vestal. Burial will be in Yadkin Memorial Gardens following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Maplewood Baptist Church, PO Box 576, Yadkinville, NC 27055 in memory of Lou Todd Hutchens.