Charlotte Longworth

Martha Charlotte Leigh Arnold Longworth, 89, passed away Saturday night January 25, 2014  at Southminster Retirement Community in Charlotte following a prolonged illness.  She was born in Forsyth County on August 7, 1924 to Bertha Reavis Arnold and George Washington Arnold.
 
Charlotte attended grade school in Yadkin County and graduated from Gray High School  in Winston-Salem (now part of the UNC School of the Arts), where she excelled in writing, and was a fierce competitor in sports, particularly soccer and basketball.  Her high school nickname was "Tot", because she was the "Tallest  On the Team".  She also served on the Gray High school Publicity and Traffic committees.
 
She was married to James Lephoe Longworth of Winston-Salem on August 9, 1941,and they remained together until his death in June of 2010.
 
After living at Carolina Beach during World War II, then briefly in Baltimore, Maryland, Charlotte and James settled in Winston-Salem, where they would remain until retiring to Charlotte in 2005.  
 
Mrs. Longworth worked for the Wilber Kinsey movie theatre company in the late 1940's, then became a full time homemaker until 1968, when she went to work for Hunter Publishing in Winston-Salem.  While at Hunter, she edited thousands of high school and college yearbooks, some from as far away as Spain.  She also served as an instructor for new hires.  She retired from the company in 1988.  
 
Charlotte was active in community organizations and served on the local Board of the American Cancer Society, where she was a tireless fundraiser. She was also active in the Republican Party, first as a member of the Young Republicans, and later serving as an impartial election judge and registrar. 
 
Charlotte and her husband James taught Sunday School at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem for over 25 years, where they innovated a number of teaching methods, including educational materials for blind students.  She also served on the Altar Guild and as a Choir Mother, and supported Children's Ministries.
 
Affectionately known as "Honey" by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and close friends, Charlotte was a good listener, and loved to engage in discussions about politics and current affairs.  In her final years, Charlotte rekindled her long time interest in and talent for crafts by creating custom jewelry for family and friends.
 
Mrs. Longworth is preceded in death by her parents Bertha and George Arnold, her husband of 69 years James Lephoe Longworth, brothers Bill and George Arnold, and sister Peggy Jean Arnold. She is survived by her daughter Linda Couch (Charles) of Charlotte, and a son, James L. Longworth, Jr. (Pam) of Kernersville; and by four grandchildren: Trip Couch (Tiffany) of Sugarland, Texas, Kimberly Hanson (Greg) of Charlotte, Kevin Couch (Holly) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Ashley Couch of Mesa, Arizona; and by several great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
 
She is also survived by her sister Mary Doris Creedmore of Statesville, and by nieces Dawn Kouba, Marsha Skjaerris, Kathy Nyerges (Alex), and Angela Arnold, and by a nephew Robert A. Arnold (Mona).
 
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 4, at 12:30 PM,  at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem.  The family will receive guests at a reception in the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East 7th Street, Charlotte NC 28204, or to the American Cancer Society, 1900 South Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.