Home > United States of America > Kentucky > Green County > Kemp > Orr Cemetery > Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr.

Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr.

Birth	:	4 Aug 1901 North Carolina, USA
Death	:	14 Sep 1957 Union County, North Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Orr Cemetery, Kemp, Green County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.1391983, -85.4599991
Description	:	Obituary from the Monroe Journal of Tuesday, September 17, 1957. FINANCIAL LEADER MOURNED OLIN B. SIKES DIES AFTER LONG SICKNESSES Perhaps the most widely mourned death in Union County in modern times occurred at 10:30 Saturday night when Olin B. Sikes, 56, succumbed at his home on South Hayne Street after a year’s illness. Surviving are Mrs. Sikes, the former Miss Ruth Wilkins of Goldsboro; two daughters, Mrs. Albert S. Orr, Jr. of Smithfield and Mrs. John W. Adams of Monroe; a son Olin B. Sikes III of the home. Another son, Olin B. Sikes, Jr., died June 25, 1951. Also surviving are two... Read More	Obituary from the Monroe Journal of Tuesday, September 17, 1957. FINANCIAL LEADER MOURNED OLIN B. SIKES DIES AFTER LONG SICKNESSES Perhaps the most widely mourned death in Union County in modern times occurred at 10:30 Saturday night when Olin B. Sikes, 56, succumbed at his home on South Hayne Street after a year’s illness. Surviving are Mrs. Sikes, the former Miss Ruth Wilkins of Goldsboro; two daughters, Mrs. Albert S. Orr, Jr. of Smithfield and Mrs. John W. Adams of Monroe; a son Olin B. Sikes III of the home. Another son, Olin B. Sikes, Jr., died June 25, 1951. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Laney Stewart Adams and Stephen Culpepper Adams of Monroe; a brother C. C. Sikes of Monroe, and a sister, Mrs. W. J. Hudson of Raleigh. In a tribute to the deceased, a key figure in the development of the American Bank & Trust Co. from a modest beginning in the depression years to one of the most unique and successful financial institutions in the nation, all offices and business places in the city were closed for the graveside funeral service held in the Monroe cemetery at 2:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The last rites were spoken by the Rev. Fred B. Drane, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, of which the deceased was a member and a former vestryman and treasurer. Fitting Choice None of his notable achievements gave Mr. Sikes more satisfaction than the numerous career opportunities, which he and the bank had been able to offer through the years to able young men of the community, and it was appropriate that from this number the active pallbearers were chosen, as follows: Dewey L. English, Jr., G. M. Smith, Jr., Hugh Griffith, G. H. Clontz, Jr., C. L. Norwood, Charles A. Greene, and Roland Ghant. Honorary pallbearers were: Officers and directors of the bank: T. E. Hemby, E. D. Gaskins, Claude Eubanks, M. W. Williams, R. E. Helms, Jr., Marvin C. Canupp, D. J. Boger, Henry M. Maynor, J. M. Morrow, Jack W. Cochran, N. K. Dickerson, Jr., Dr. J. G. Faulk, T. E. Hemby, Jr., Worth B. Plyler, O. L. Richardson, and V. V. Secrest. Episcopal Vestrymen: E. O. Ayscue,John M. Fairley, C. M. Redfern, Jr., R. B. Brainard, W. V. Calvert, Dr. Fred Wilson, Hugh C. Murrill, R. Curtis Smith, Jr., and Dr. W. F. Whitt. Monroe Native Mr. Sikes was born in Monroe on August 4, 1901, the son of the late C. C. and Cornelia McCauley Sikes. He attended Wake Forest College, Georgia Military Academy and Eastman Business School, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The deceased was engaged in a number of private business enterprises, including an automobile dealership. When a group of Monroe and Charlotte business leaders founded the local bank on June 30, 1930, his wide acquaintance with Monroe and Union County, his established business acumen and his universal personal popularity prompted the offer of the post of cashier of the fledgling bank emerging from the devastating depression, which he accepted. As the bank grew and expanded, Mr. Sikes was elevated to the post of cashier and executive vice-president, and on January 9, 1952, he was elected president, a position which he ably filled until his death. Proven Leader Earning and maintaining the support, admiration and the deep friendship of his stockholders and directors, as well as the thousands of appreciative patrons, Mr. Sikes steered the bank on a course of consistent progress and community service seldom matched in the state. Beginning with resources of $368,141.66 on December 31, 1930, resources today exceed $10,000,000, and the banking quarters have expanded from the original location, corner of Hayne and Franklin, first to the Hotel building on Main and Franklin, then to the Drive-In at Hayne and Jefferson and finally to the Installment Loan division on Main street. Mr. Sikes was vice-president of the People’s Building and Loan Association, and in addition to his business and church affiliations, he was a Mason and a Shriner and served as chairman of the Union County Library Board for 15 years. The thought uppermost in the minds of grateful local people, on receiving the news of the end of Mr. Sikes’ gallant struggle, was that in the time of Union County’s greatest advancement there was a native son equal to and modestly confident in the assignment of financial leadership. An Editorial followed in the Monroe Journal: A Tribute to a Great Carolinian “Only when his pain-racked, hopelessly tortured body could stand no more, Olin Sikes’ earthly light flickered out – and with that flickering passed from our scene an unusual, God fearing, honest, lovable, deeply human friend of all. Long ago, when the doctors told him his life would be counted in days, not years – he vowed to fool them. And he did, for his zest for living kept death’s unfailing arm warded off for a long time. Nor did he pine away and ask for sympathy as would most of us, but rather, being the man he was, Olin took a long look at life, and found himself psychologically able to take the future in his stride as he had the past. Therein lies a valuable lesson for all who survive. His youth was crammed with adventure, his manhood filled with earthly success, and his death bed tearstained, not for himself, but for the many things he had wanted to do, but could not for the sands of time could be repressed no longer. No man in modern Monroe history has steered our growth and inflamed our desires to progress at any reasonable cost as has Olin Sikes – not as the front-runner, or publicity head, but by means of sound judgment and asked-for advice. His personal financial assistance to these things that have made Monroe a city are legendary. It is very difficult to determine which of Olin’s many fine attributes was outstanding. Some might say his uncanny ability to make the correct decision be it important or insignificant; others might say his willingness to help anyone, rich man, poor man or even thief. However, no one in this entire area has Olin’s record of picking – without fail – some unseen or unnoticed major character advantage in some youngster, and giving that boy or girl a chance to develop it. The finished product, a credit to the bank –the by-product, a fine public servant and an assurance through him that Olin’s ethical philosophy as applied to community life would continue long after his demise. The Lord blessed us all when he placed Olin Sikes here amongst us – and this land that he loved so much will not soon forget him. As long as the myriads of people he daily communed with live, the memory of Olin B. Sikes, husband father, advisor to many and friend of all, will continue to be with us, for his reward is in his works. Yes, Olin Sikes was living proof that it is much more blessed to give – of one’s self – than to receive. For many years, Olin’s life embodied the giving, and now in death his reward is just as he would have it: The warm tender memories that a great man passed this way.” Contributed by Robert Ragan, June 17, 2015

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr.'s memorial?
Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr.'s memorial is located at: Orr Cemetery, Kemp, Green County, USA.
When did Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr. death?
Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr. death on 14 Sep 1957 in Union County, North Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Olin Blakeney Sikes Sr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 37.1391983
Longitude: -85.4599991

Family Members:

Parent

Culpepper C. “Cull” Sikes

(1870 - 1927)

Cornelia V. “Cornie” McCauley Sikes

(1875 - 1931)

Spouse

Ruth Ellen Wilkins Sikes

(1903 - 2001)

Siblings

Elizabeth Spencer “Lizzie” Sikes Hudson

(1895 - 1983)

Charles Culpepper “C. C.” Sikes

(1909 - 1987)

Children

Ruth Wilkins Sikes Orr

(1929 - 1999)

Martha McCauley Sikes Adams

(1930 - 1986)

Olin Blakeney Sikes Jr.

(1935 - 1951)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Orr Cemetery
Kemp, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1391983, -85.4599991

2. Old Portland Cemetery
Portland, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1258011, -85.4442368

3. Picketts Chapel Middle Cemetery
Pickett, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1227010, -85.4745740

4. Kemp-Moss Cemetery
Pickett, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1225230, -85.4746410

5. Old Picketts Chapel Church Cemetery
Pickett, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1208000, -85.4737600

6. Caldwell Cemetery
Portland, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1355515, -85.4331207

7. Coffey Cemetery
Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1563988, -85.4781036

8. Fry Cemetery
Fry, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1451430, -85.4910760

9. Andy McMahan Cemetery
Fry, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1358070, -85.4932020

10. Beard Cemetery
Portland, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1126251, -85.4507141

11. Whitlock Family Cemetery
Fry, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1384970, -85.5009270

12. Hancock Cemetery
Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1800003, -85.4486008

13. Edwards Cemetery
Keltner, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1095210, -85.4970200

14. Dohoney Cemetery
Milltown, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1072759, -85.4224594

15. Tarters Chapel Cemetery
Portland, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0946999, -85.4488983

16. Milltown Church Cemetery
Milltown, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1185670, -85.4072910

17. Milltown Cemetery
Milltown, Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1176224, -85.4077148

18. Hartfield Cemetery
Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1805992, -85.4906006

19. Jones Cemetery
Exie, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1535988, -85.5186005

20. Mount Moriah Cemetery
Bramlett, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1903520, -85.4504900

21. Motley Homestead Cemetery
Greensburg, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1702910, -85.4076570

22. Henderson Cemetery
Adair County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1464005, -85.3927994

23. Ingram Cemetery
Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1650009, -85.3977966

24. Liberty Cemetery
Gresham, Green County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1965828, -85.4442368