Cleo Johnson McCoy died May 5, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born on March 2, 1932, in Iredell County to the late James Lewis and Naomi Goforth Johnson.

She attended Iredell County Schools and received her GED from Mitchell College. In 1946, she married the late Thomas Vernon McCoy; they shared 49 happy years together. She worked at Beauty Maid Mills and retired from JC Penney Distribution Center. Mrs. McCoy was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and was currently the oldest member there. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was a member of the United Methodist Women, and helped with many other activities. She loved music, traveling and her family and friends. She never met a stranger and was a great listener to everyone she knew.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a son, Thomas Michael McCoy; daughter-in-law, Linda Price McCoy; son-in-law, Gregory Hanes; grandson, Christopher Ashley Brown; and sisters, Addie Curlee, Ruth Sharpe, Virginia Shoemaker, and Erbie Grant.

Those left to cherish her memory include daughters, Margarette Gryder (Buddy), Vickie Brown (Steve) of Statesville, Robin Castorina (Rich) of Indian Trail, and daughter-in-law, Diane McCoy of Statesville. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Mark McCoy (Nikki), Traci Gaither (Brian), Emily Speece (Corey), David Gryder, Scott Brown (Kristi), Amy McHargue (Brad), Kris Meredith (Mary), Kin Dellinger (Lamar), Jimmi Perri, Billy Winowitz, and Scott Winowitz; 14 great-grandchildren, Max McCoy (Ashlynn), Austin McCoy, Kyle Gaither, Cade Gaither, Kendall Gryder, Madison Gryder, Brandon Brown (Tiffany), Sage Brown, Mia Brown, Tyler McHargue (Kara), Colby McHargue, Summer Pareira (Jared), Dylan Dellinger, and Rylee Dellinger; and a sister, Lucille Williams of Statesville.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Chapel Hill UMC with Pastor Keith Nichols officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers will be her great-grandsons.

A special thanks to her caregivers, Melinda Hayes, Cynthia Gray, Hospice nurse, Lindsey Hinkle, CNA, Shauna Smith, for their wonderful care.

Memorials may be given to Chapel Hill UMC, 109 Chapel Hill Lane, Statesville, NC 28677 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to serve the McCoy family.