Wow, I actually know where Walnut Cove is! I get up that way 6 to 8 times a year. Welcome to the forum.
The area you're in has some good hills, so unless you find you no longer use the smallest ring, keep the triple. The weight difference is negligible, but being able to keep spinning up the hills really helps. If you find you're no longer using the smallest ring/largest sprocket combination, consider changing the cassette to something with tighter spacing. Less difference between the gears makes it easier to fine tune your gear to the cadence as you're rolling along.