Evelyn Brenning Bunch Cheatham

Evelyn Brenning “Bren” Bunch Cheatham, 91, of Winston-Salem, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Arbor Acres.

Bren was born on October 14, 1934, in Statesville, North Carolina, to the late Fred Brenning Bunch Jr. and Evelyn Sherrill Bunch. She attended Statesville High School and later graduated from Salem College. While taking summer classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she met James “Jimmy” Theodore Cheatham III. They were married on June 8, 1957, in Statesville.

Following their marriage, Bren and Jimmy moved to Coronado, California, where Jimmy was stationed with the United States Navy. After two years in California, they returned to Chapel Hill, where Jimmy attended law school. Upon his graduation, they settled in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, where they raised their three daughters. After many wonderful years in Greenville, Bren and Jimmy retired to Chapel Hill, where they lived for twelve years, later making their home in Winston-Salem.

Bren was a devoted mother and grandmother who found great joy in the lives of her family and in the communities, she called home. She served in numerous programs at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and especially enjoyed planning the church’s annual Christmas pageant. Bren was also instrumental in the founding of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. In addition to her church involvement, she was an active member of the Colonial Dames.

Bren embraced life with enthusiasm and a generous spirit. She loved traveling with friends and, most especially, with her family. Their adventures were lovingly chronicled in her photographs and scrapbooks. Bren also loved to entertain and was known for her wonderful dinner parties. Among the most cherished were her “Granny parties,” remembered fondly by her grandchildren and their friends. Guests often left with a wishing rock that Granny had found on her beach walks and joyfully decorated. Holidays were especially dear to Bren and became treasured family traditions.

Above all else, Bren’s greatest love was her family. She took tremendous pride in caring for those she loved and found her greatest joy in bringing family together, creating traditions, and making every occasion feel special. She even created holidays of her own, including “The Fourth of July Spirit.”

In addition to her parents, Bren was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, James Theodore Cheatham III. Those left to cherish her memory include her three daughters, Sherrill Cheatham Perry (Don) of Atlanta, Brenning Cheatham Johnston (Jim) of Statesville, and Mary Eccles Cheatham Thompson (Alfred) of Brevard; her grandchildren, Brenning Daughtridge (Gray), Schuyler Holt (Amelia), Bill Johnston (Brooke), Tac Johnston, Margaret Parham Loyd (Jay), Alfred Thompson (Emily), and Bren Hogan (Alex); her loving sister, Dyeann Bunch Jordan (Henry); her sister-in-law, Louise Cheatham Holmes (Lee); and her great-grandchildren, Will Daughtridge, Mary Evelyn Daughtridge, Rivers Loyd, Holt Loyd, Wells Holt, Gray Holt, Zephyr Thompson, Sally Hogan, and Freddie Hogan.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff and caregivers at Arbor Acres in Winston-Salem. A service will be held at Arbor Acres for Bren and the many wonderful people she came to know there.

A memorial service will also be held at a later date at The Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of North Carolina, 224 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401-4444; the Arbor Acres Employee Emergency Fund, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104; or Breakthrough T1D Triangle Chapter, PO Box 1550, Hagerstown, MD 21741-1550.

Arrangements for Mrs. Cheatham are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.