Gerald Winborne

James Gerald Winborne, 84, of Sims, died Friday, April 24, 2026.

A visitation will be on Saturday, May 2nd, at Nobles Chapel Baptist Church from 10:00 - 11:00 AM followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Gerald, along with his five siblings, was born and raised on the Winborne family farm behind Nobles Chapel Church. As a young child, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, and remained active in his faith throughout his life. He was a youth leader, a deacon, and a member of numerous church committees. One of his proudest accomplishments was his work with the Family Food Basket, which provides food to community members in need.

He loved spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren and hosting large family gatherings that always included his “special sauce” BBQ chicken.

As a teenager he drove the school bus for the Rock Ridge area and played first base on the Rock Ridge High School baseball team. His love of baseball led him to many years of coaching the youth summer baseball league in the New Hope community, where he was also the last surviving original member of the Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Although he held several jobs throughout his life, he is most remembered for his 40 plus years in the insurance business as the founder of Winborne and Associates, Inc.

He loved working in his yard, and you would often find him on his John Deere tractor. His two favorite pastimes were dancing and golf. For many years he spent his free time during the day on the golf course and on the dance floor at night.

Gerald always respected his mother by being clean shaven and well dressed every day. Even though he will be deeply missed, we take comfort in knowing he is in the arms of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and is rejoicing with family that have passed before him.

He is survived by his wife Peggy Blackman Winborne; daughter, Cathy Winborne of Wilson; sons, Jamie Winborne (Karen) of Rocky Mount and Joey Winborne of Wilson; grandchildren, Baker Franklin (Dustin), Beau Sharpe (Kaitlyn), Deas Winborne, Melissa Anderson (Billy), and Zane Winborne; great-grandchildren, Audrey Lane Sharpe, Brayden, Georgia, and Grayson Anderson, and Houston Joyner; step-grandsons, John Bozard (Sara) and Andrew Bozard (Taylor); step-great-grandchildren, Cayson and Payton Bozard; sisters, Helen Walston (Harry) of Sims, Evelyn Galloway of Wilson, and Peggy Raper of Davis.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Romer Battle Winborne and Gladys Lucas Winborne; sister, Jean Anderson; brother, Brooks Winborne.

Memorial contributions may be made to Nobles Chapel Baptist Church, 7330 Old Raleigh Rd, Sims, NC 27880 or Family Food Basket, 6321 Old Raleigh Rd, Sims, NC 27880.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com