Rita G. "Neely" Childers

Rita G. “Neely” Childers, age 89, of Forest City, died at her residence on Friday, January 3, 2025.

A native of Rutherford County, she was a daughter of the late Carthul J. Goode, and Mary Etta Henderson Goode. Neely was a 1953 graduate of Tri-High School, dedicated to the Methodist faith, and was retired from the Rutherford Hospital. Neely was loved by each of her grandchildren and was an accomplished grandmother. She was an avid reader, a crossword puzzle aficionado, and a master of Scrabble.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of seventy-two years, Billie W. Childers; and her son, William “Chili” Childers.

Left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Abbe C. Byers (P.J.), of Forest City; sister, Trina G. Hoyle, of Myrtle Beach, SC; four grandchildren, Christopher Byers (Cassie), Cameron Byers (Sarah), all of Forest City, Dallas Childers, of Newton, NC, and Christian C. Brotherton (Seth), of Conover, NC; five great-grandchildren, Jackson, Jillian, and Jeryn Byers, and Memphis and Merit Byers, all of Forest City; daughter-in-law, Julia Lee Childers, of Newton, NC; and several nieces and nephews.

The memorial service will be conducted at 2 o’clock on Friday, January 10th, in the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Roy Byers officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caroleen Methodist Church, P.O. Box 187, Caroleen, NC 28019.