Juanita Coldiron

Juanita Noland Query Coldiron, age 93, passed away peacefully, at home, on February 16, 2020.

Juanita was born May 8th, 1926 at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina to John Cordell Noland and Leora Downs Noland. One of nine children, Juanita and her siblings grew up together on a working farm with loving and hard-working parents. After graduating from high school at age 16, Juanita entered Berea College in 1943. Her four years there introduced her to many life-long friendships, a future career in counseling youth, confirmation (while working in the college bakery) that she would probably not be a professional baker, and the joy of playing on the Berea girls’ basketball that tied the UK girls’ team (as she may have mentioned to her UK friends). After graduation from Berea College in 1947 Juanita was employed by the NC Board of Juvenile Correction and Schools to work in five schools for juvenile delinquents. She met with hundreds of students, providing psychological testing and guidance, and eventually remained full time at Stonewall Jackson School in Concord. With the opening of Central Cabarrus High School in 1966, she transitioned to the role of teacher and then guidance counselor while also completing her masters at Appalachian State University. She served as President of NC School Counselor Association, was recognized as NC School Counselor of the Year, implemented the foreign exchange program at Central Cabarrus, took groups of students for study and travel to Europe, sponsored a competitive clogging club for high school students, was an active member of Central United Methodist Church, and quietly influenced the lives of many students. In 1991 she retired to a home she built at Lake Junaluska and enjoyed gardening, swimming, yoga, family time at Carolina Beach, volunteering with the Great Smokey Mountains Park service (maintaining park trails), living near her brothers & sisters, worshiping and serving at Maple Grove United Methodist Church, and travelling with Jack Coldiron.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Lardner Query, father of their two children Devon and Mary, after 23 years of marriage and also by her second husband, Henry Clay “Jack” Coldiron after 34 years of marriage.

She is survived by, daughters, Mary Noland Query {Richard} Welch of Colfax, Devon Harriet Query {Mark Krause} of Carolina Beach, NC; stepdaughter, Debi Coldiron, stepson, Mike Coldiron; grandsons, Zachary {Bethany} Welch, Landon Coldiron; granddaughter, Ali Daniel; sisters, Joann Noland, Phyllis Demour, brothers, Bill Noland and Mack Noland.

A service of memory and celebration will be held  Saturday February 22nd  1:00 pm at Back Creek Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC,  followed by a visitation time with family and friends. Pastor David Childers will be officiating.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to:
Berea College
CPO 2216
Berea, KY 40404

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Coldiron family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com