Cleo Chilton Lawson

Cleo Chilton Lawson, 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2026, surrounded by her family.

A funeral service will be held at Lawsonville Road Baptist Church on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 2:00pm with Pastor Ron Tuck officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8pm on Thursday August 6, 2026, at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Cleo was born in Rockingham County to the late JP Chilton and Mary Elizabeth Carter Chilton. Cleo was a faithful wife, loving mother, and devoted grandmother who cherished the family she built with her beloved husband, Parks. She was a devoted member of Lawsonville Road Baptist Church, where her faith was the foundation of her life. She retired from Lorillard after many years of dedicated service. Following her retirement, Cleo and Parks enjoyed traveling across the country in their Holiday Rambler, visiting new places and sharing many special moments together.

Cleo found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She had a special love for antiques and dolls and enjoyed the many treasures she collected over the years. She and Parks shared that passion together, owning an antique shop, hosting yard sales at their home, and setting up at the Hillsville Flea Market for many years. Their love for antiques became a special part of the life they built together.

In her younger years, you could often find her out on the water boating and water skiing, riding horses, or playing softball.

She was a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan with a lifelong love for baseball, but nothing brought her greater happiness than cheering on her grandchildren from the stands as they played the game she loved.

Above all else, Cleo cherished her family. As the beloved matriarch, she was the heart of every gathering, offering unwavering love, wisdom, strength, and encouragement. She enjoyed playing canasta throughout her life and working puzzles in her later years, creating many special moments with family and friends. She expressed her love in countless ways, especially through her cooking. Her chicken pot pie, homemade biscuits, and chocolate cake became family favorites that will always be remembered and never quite be duplicated. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, laughter, and love, where everyone gathered and memories were made.

Cleo’s legacy of faith, love, and devotion to her family will continue to live on through the traditions she passed down, the memories she created, and the generations who will forever cherish her.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 78 years, Parks Lawson; and 20 of her siblings.

She is survived by her children, Regina Lovett (Jack), Dale Lawson (Tammy); grandchildren, Jennifer Cooper (Blake), Katie Lee (Keatts), Kelsey Pruitt (Rodney), Hunter Lawson (Kerryn); great grandchildren, Dakota and Colby Cooper, Grayson Robinson, Parks and Salem Lee; sisters, Josephine Ward and Mary Smith; grandchildren in love, Ashley English (Ashley) and BJ Lovett (Sara); great grandchildren in love, Carter Pruitt, Aiden, Alex, James and Wyatt Lovett, Anikin and Camden Danner-English; as well as a large and loving group of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Lawsonville Road Baptist Church at P.O. BOX 1584 Reidsville, NC 27320.