The entire North Forsyth family mourns the passing of Coach Colon Nifong. Coach Nifong was a legend of North Forsyth who touched the lives of countless Vikings. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Marjorie, daughter, Deborah Nifong Patterson, and son, Jeff Nifong, and their extended family. Services are planned at Midway United Methodist Church (9795 Old US 52, Lexington, NC 27295) on Sunday afternoon, July 30, 2023 with visitation at 2 pm, services at 3 pm. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available

Mr. David Colon Nifong, 90, of Lexington, NC passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 26, 2023, at the Hinkle Hospice House of Davidson County. Colon was affectionately known as "Chief" to his close family and "Coach" to so many of his football players over the years.

Coach Nifong was born in 1932, to David Cletus and Alliene Hilton Nifong. He earned his B.S. in mathematics from Appalachian State University in 1955, and his M.A. in elementary education in 1956. His wife, Marjorie, graduated in 1955 and is a retired teacher in Forsyth County Schools.

Coach Nifong taught mathematics in Forsyth County for 30 years. He also coached football at Northwest High School for seven years and at North Forsyth High School for eight years, and in 1971 won the state 4-A football championship. He served as the athletic director at North Forsyth High School for 23 years.

He received the honor of Forsyth County coach of the year three times and also won the District 8 conference coach of the year award. He was inducted into the North Forsyth High School and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Sports Hall of Fame. The football stadium at North Forsyth High School is named after him.

He was a graduate assistant football coach at Appalachian for a year and served on the board of directors of Appalachian’s Former Athletes Association for two years.

Coach Nifong was one of the Duggins Boys, a group of students who played football under Coach E.C. Duggins in the 1940s and ’50s. They are known for their lasting friendships and annual reunions, but most importantly their generosity. They have created numerous endowments to fund scholarships and athletics program support for today’s students.

Colon loved farming and hunting. He and his family retired to Double N Farm in Lexington and there he spent his life raising cattle and enjoying farm life. He served as President and Treasurer of the Davidson County Cattle Association and served on the board of directors of the N.C. Hereford Association for six years. He raised many top-ranked high-priced cattle at the N.C. State Hereford sale. His other passion in life was hunting big and small game. Colon hunted from Argentina all the way to the Yukon Territory and all points in between.

Most of all for Colon, family was his greatest joy. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marjorie Mast Nifong; sister Nell Jane Schopp (Aubrey William) (Bill Schopp) and brother Larry Hilton Nifong (Betty). His sister, Dorothy Mae Dickins (Al) predeceased Colon. He is also survived by his daughter, Deborah N. Patterson (Fred) and Jeffrey D. Nifong (Joanna); four grandchildren, Christina Woods (Brian), Rebecca Cecil (Ryan), Amber Nifong, and Joshua Nifong. Colon has three great-grandchildren, Emma Woods, William Cecil, and Anna Cecil.

The family would like to thank all of his caregivers for their service over the past months.

The Winston-Salem Journal published this piece on Coach Nifong on July 29, 2023 https://journalnow.com/sports/high-school/football/colon-nifong-north-forsyth-football-coach-and-pioneer-dies-of-natural-causes/article_dd95eae2-2cc5-11ee-8b65-77b690b14711.html

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/winstonsalem/name/david-nifong-obituary?id=52568618