Xia Wigington Yates, 91, of Salem, entered the church triumphant on Monday, December 1, 2014. She was born on July 24, 1923 to the late Isaac M. and Ethel Lee Weaver Wigington in Salem, Va. She was a faithful member of Salem Baptist Church where she also enjoyed teaching Sunday school for a number of years. Mom was known as a great teacher, not only for her time in Sunday school, but also for general life lessons as well. She retired with 20 plus years of dedicated service from Dental Associates in Salem. Mom loved music, and was very well known for her baking abilities when it came to her famous Christmas cookies. She was always known as a “people person” for all of her social activities, especially those regarding her Bridge games with the ladies. She was a woman of great and deep faith in the Lord, and will always be remembered and cherished for that, but most of all, she will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all who knew her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 50 plus years, James Garland Yates; and numerous brothers and sisters. Family remaining to cherish her memory includes her son, Robert (Bob) Yates and wife, LuAnn; daughter, Dianne Laughlin and husband, Ralph; grandchildren, Kara Yates, Jamey Laughlin, Robert Laughlin and Mary Dunn and husband, Michael; great-grandchildren, Jack and Henry Dunn; sisters, Wray Scruggs and husband, Robert and Esther Magruder; sister-in-law, Ruth Wigington and special friends, Gladys and Robert Goodwin. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 p.m. at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem. A graveside service will be conducted on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Sherwood Memorial Park, also in Salem, with Rev. Wynemah Hinlicky officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either College Lutheran Church at 210 S. College Ave, Salem, Va. 24153, or Salem Baptist Church at 103 N. Broad St, Salem, Va. 24153. The family would like to thank the staff at Snyder Nursing Home for all of the loving care shown during mom’s stay over the years. A guestbook is available by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.