Emma Lou Sockwell Warrick Bird Rinaldi

     Mrs. Emma Lou Sockwell Warrick Bird Rinaldi, age 91, of Burlington, passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023 at the Hospice Home of Alamance-Caswell after several months of failing health.

     Born in Guilford County, she was the daughter of the late W.J. “Bill” Sockwell and the late Gladie Cobb Sockwell and was previously married to the late Jesse Earl Warrick, Sr., the late Clell Bird and the late Norman Rinaldi.  Emma grew up on a farm located in Guilford County where she learned to love animals, gardening, flowers and all forms of nature.  She set several records playing basketball at Gibsonville High School before graduating from Elon College with a Bachelor’s Degree.  She worked as a teacher in the Alamance County School System and taught at Burlington Day School, Clover Garden Middle School and Graham Middle School until her retirement.  After her retirement she traveled extensively abroad and domestically and especially enjoyed seeing the United States from her RV.  She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Graham.

     Mrs. Rinaldi is survived by her two sons, Richard Warrick and William Warrick and wife, Carla; two grandchildren, Dr. Matthew Warrick and wife, Mallory and Morgan Warrick; two brothers, Charles Robert Sockwell and Clarence Lee Sockwell; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her three husbands; her parents; a son, Jesse Earl Warrick, Jr.; a sister, Helen Jo Sockwell Bell; and a brother, John William Sockwell.

     A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, May 25, 2023 at First United Methodist Church of Graham by Rev. Clair Clyburn.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

     The family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers, Janice, Darlene and Brenda and also to all the Hospice staff for their loving and compassionate care of Mrs. Rinaldi.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AuthoraCare Collective, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215.