Lois Winston

Lois Viola Orr-Winston peacefully passed away on May 8, 2026, at Vanderbilt Hospital.

She was born on January 20, 1932, to James and Mamie Orr. She was the granddaughter of Samuel and Mary Bryant and Alex and Mary Louise Orr.

Lois was educated at St. Vincent and Immaculate Mother Academy. She furthered her education by earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) credential from Riverside Nursing School. She also attended A & I University, now known as Tennessee State University.

Lois was raised in the Catholic faith and attended St. Vincent, St. Pius, Assumption Church, and St. Joseph.

Lois was the proud mother of one daughter, Stephanie Orr.

She married Willie Jones, Jr., on July 15, 1955. After that union ended, she later entered into holy matrimony with Everette Luke Winston, who also preceded her in death. Lois later became very active in her community.

Lois retired from Metro Schools as a librarian.

She was a member of many organizations, including Tennessee State University Big Blue as a lifetime member, the Red Hat Society—where she was known as “Queen Mother Star Dancer”—and the women’s circles at St. Joseph and St. Vincent.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; her sisters, Sister Mary Louise Orr (Sister Mary Joseph) and Irene Orr; and her brother, Leonard Orr.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Stephanie Orr; the Orr, Bryant, and Jones families; devoted friends Sandra Harris and Brenda Gilmore; and many other relatives and dear friends too numerous to name.