Miriam Williams Haines

Miriam Williams Haines, after years of declining health, passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit at the Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on December 11, 2023. Born in Westville, NJ to the late Joseph C. Williams and Annie E. Williams, Miriam grew up in a bustling home in Westville, which doubled as the base for her father’s plumbing business. Miriam’s life was punctuated with many family actives. She spoke often of the joy of sharing life with sixty-five first cousins – many of whom she continued a life long relationship. After graduating with honors from Woodbury High School, Miriam worked for a short time as an administrative assistant for Campbell Soup Corp. in Camden, NJ. In 1950 she married Ralph Haines and for fifty-seven years they lived together on the family farm where she kept business records and raised their family. Much of Miriam’s life was centered around the Repaupo United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, acted as Communion Steward and served as the organist for forty years. In 2007 Miriam and Ralph moved the Arbor Acres Retirement Community in Winston-Salem North Carolia, where she lived happily for the last years of her life. Miriam will always be remembered for her caring nature, her ability to tell a good story and her easy laugh that was punctuated with an infectious smile. Miriam was preceded in death by her husband Ralph E. Haines, her parents, Joseph and Annie Williams, sisters Doris Carhart and Joann Williams, as well as brothers Joseph (Grace) Williams and Everitt (Jean) Williams. She is survived by her sons, Stephen (Nancy) of Salisbury, NC and Donald of Ephrata, PA; her grandchildren Sarah Loxton (Dave) of Clareville, NS, Australia, David of Salisbury, NC and Kathryn Haines-Rabbitt (Mitchell) of Murfreesboro, TN; along with her great grandsons Benjamin and Theodore Loxton. The date for Miriam’s celebration of life will be in April of 2023 in Repaupo, New Jersey. It is requested that any memorial gifts for Miriam be made to the Repaupo United Methodist Church, Repaupo, New Jersey, Arbor Acres Retirement Community in Winston-Salem or Trellis Supportive Care in Winston-Salem. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Haines family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.