Mrs. Savannah Lousie Shoaf Adderton, 86, of Wafford Rd. was born in Davidson County on September 16, 1936 to Alonzo Franklin Shoaf and Sallie Eller Thomas Shoaf. Vann, as she was affectionately called, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center after a brief illness.


Savannah graduated from Dunbar High School and received a BS from Winston-Salem Teachers College. Never satisfied with the minimum education, Vann earned a master's degree from UNC Chapel Hill in Education. She worked at South Lexington Elementary School as a teacher and also owned a small café and community store.

Mrs. Adderton joined Chestnut Grove United Methodist Church at an early age and was a lifelong member. She served in many capacities in the church. Her membership in various organizations included Southside Senior Citizens of Lexington/Davidson County, former member of NAACP, N.C. Retired School Personnel, NCAE and Winston-Salem State University Alumni Association. Vann was a faithful member of Thomas-Eller-Tuttle-Young Family Reunion and the Crump-Fitzgerald-Shoaf-Evans Family Reunion.

She loved her God, Church, family and friends. Mrs. Savannah had a smile that would brighten up a room and a sweet spirit that will remain in the hearts of all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William "Dad" Adderton; her brothers: Fred Shoaf, Willie (Erma) Shoaf and Ernest Shoaf and two sisters, Minnie B. Shoaf and Cora S. (Samuel) Hargrave.

She leaves the legacy of love to her son, Brad A. (April) Adderton of the home; a step-daughter, Yvette (John "Woody") Neely of Winston-Salem, NC; ; five grandchildren: Alonzo Alexander Adderton, DeMarco William Adderton and Josiah Kortez Adderton all of the home, Morie B. Neely and Stormi Neely both of Winston-Salem; brother-in-law, James "Jimmy" Adderton (Jackie) of Southmont, NC; sisters-in-law: Agnas Tyler of Southmont, NC, Arnetta (Michael) Smith of Southmont, NC and Evelyn Key (Rev. Leon Sr.) of Fayetteville, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.