Nellie Bly (Dillard) Vannoy

Nellie Dillard Vannoy, 91, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home after a short illness. Nellie was born in Ashe County, NC on June 26, 1933, to the late Ned Dillard and Nancy M. Dillard. She was the ninth child of eleven and the last remaining of this family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Elton Vannoy, and her parents; brothers Bruce, Clarence, Bob,and James Dillard; sisters Faye McGinnis, Georgie Hartzog, Hazel Smith, Helen Winebarger, Betty Bledsoe, and Dot Hilton Lakey; and granddaughter Kalen Noelle Vannoy.

Nellie married Leonard on January 21, 1950, and she is survived by a daughter Jeanette (Ken) Weyandt; son Barry (Kelly) Vannoy; and a grandson, Kaleb Vannoy. Many of Nellie’s nieces and nephews have stated that she was their favorite aunt. She will be missed by her family, neighbors and many friends from her church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, where she was a member for over five decades. As a homemaker, Nellie loved to garden, can vegetables, sew, and keep a clean house. 

A private celebration of Nellie’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gospel Light Baptist Church, 890 Walkertown Guthrie Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27101, or to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.