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Retired Watauga High School Librarian Lera Randall Passes

Last Updated on June 17, 2019 8:25 pm

Editor's Note – As part of my high school electives I chose to work in the library during my four years at WHS. Mrs. Randall, along with all the other librarians, made such an impact in different ways in my life moving forward. She was a special woman and will be missed

A retired Watauga High School librarian passed away on Friday.

Lera Randall, age 92, died Friday, June 14, at her home in Boone, according to Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

She retired from WHS in 1990 after an extensive career. Her educational background also included receiving her M.A. degree in Library Science from Appalachian State Teachers College which would later become Appalachian State University.

Visitation with the family will be at Austin and Barnes Funeral and Crematory, 194 Queen Street, Boone, NC 28607 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2019. A combined memorial service for Lera and Frank will be scheduled between mid-July and late August, date to be determined


Obituary from Austin and Barnes Funeral and Crematory

Lera Britt Randall, 92, retired Watauga High School librarian, died Friday, June 14, 2019, at her home in Boone, NC. Born in 1926 in rural Robeson County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Alex and Swannie Britt of Chadbourn, NC. After graduating from Chadbourn High School, Lera received an A.A. degree from Mars Hill College, an A.B. degree from Carson-Newman College, and an M. A. degree in Library Science from Appalachian State Teachers College.

After teaching English for two years at Cerro Gordo High School in Columbus County, she served as school librarian in Walkertown and Kernersville, NC, as well as in Alpena, MI, Columbia, SC, and Boone, NC, for a total of forty-one years. She retired from Watauga High School in 1990. While working in these schools she was very supportive of the academic, vocational, and extracurricular programs for students.

Lera is survived by her son, Richard, and two grand dogs, Baxter and LibyMaye, of Durham and Watauga County, NC, and by five of her six siblings: sisters Marjorie Lambert (Presley, deceased) of Charleston, SC; Geraldine Haggins (Luther, deceased) of Red Springs, NC; Edith Langston (Buddy, deceased) of Red Springs; and brothers Roger Britt (Phyllis) of Spartanburg, SC; and Douglas Britt (Amanda) of Chadbourn, NC. On the Randall side, she was the last survivor of the eight siblings and seven in-law spouses of her husbands generation. Also surviving are her other formerly-Boone children, Betsy Randall-Schadel (Bill), Tanya Shook Wilder, Myra Shook, and Bill Randall (Judy).

She was predeceased by her husband, J. Frank Randall (2014), her parents, her sister Jennie Lou King (Lawrence, deceased) of Columbia, SC, her nephew, Robert Randall, Jr., and her niece, Caroline Woodrow, as well as her dear friend, Mary S. Shook.

She is survived by many other well-loved and loving nieces, nephews, and family friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Watauga County Public Library, 140 Queen Street, Boone, NC 28607 or to Watauga Humane Society, PO Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607, or the charity of your choice.

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