Phyllis Johnson Qualheim

A memorial service for Phyllis will be held Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 1:00 pm at First Methodist Church, 340 Hawthorne Road, Elkin, NC 28621. There will be an informal reception following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Phyllis was born to Harry Lester Johnson, Sr., MD and Louise Marie Theobald on July 26, 1926. She spent her formative years in Elkin, Hickory and Newton and completed high school at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, NC. She then attended Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC and continued her education, graduating from the School of Nursing, University of Cincinnati. She met her future husband, Robert Edward Qualheim, MD while in Cincinnati. Following completion of their studies, they married in Elkin. They spent several years abroad in England and Germany where Dr. Qualheim completed an Army obligation serving as a General Medical Officer. They returned to Kansas City, Kansas in 1956 where Dr. Qualheim began a chief residency position in Pathology at the School of Medicine, University of Kansas. Following his untimely death in February of 1957, Phyllis returned to Elkin with her 3 small children to live with Dr. and Mrs. Johnson. Dr. Johnson was the first surgeon at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in 1931.

Over the course of her life in Elkin, she was involved in many activities, especially at the First Methodist Church, where she was an active member of the choir. In addition, she was a charter member of the Community Chorus and sang for nearly 50 years. She was also active in Girl Scouts, Junior Woman's Club, Red Cross, and Study Club and was honored on several occasions with "Mother of the Year" and "Woman of the Year". She worked for a time as the secretary at the Methodist Church before returning to nursing which was her first love. She spent decades involved in the mental health system with the Surry County Mental Health Clinic. Later in life, she also volunteered with additional organizations, including Hospital Auxiliary, Habitat for Humanity and especially Grace Clinic.

Phyllis was preceded in death by a daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Qualheim Church (Larry) in 1982.

She is survived by a daughter, Martha Ann Qualheim Sparrow (Marti) and her husband, David, of Raleigh; 2 grandsons, Avery ( Jessica) and Andrew (Meredith) and 6 great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by a son, Robert Everett Qualheim, MD (Bobby) of Elkin, and 4 grandchildren, Rob, Katie, Chris ( Lydia) and Evan ( Daisy) and 3 great-grandchildren; and Cathy's son, David Church of Elkin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Phyllis' memory may be made to Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley, 948 Johnson Ridge Road, Elkin, North Carolina, 286721 ( http://www.graceclinic.org) and First United Methodist Church, 340 Hawthorne Road, Elkin, North Carolina, 28621 (http://www.elkinfumc.org ); or to the ministry of one's choice.

Services are being provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.brownwynneraleigh.com for the Qualheim family.