I received in the mail a summon to appear in Civil Court in Winston Salem NC on Aug. 3, 2015. I am currently in Al.

I would not do this. I would instead contact a NC attorney using the find a lawyer feature. They can enter a motion to extend time so that you can buy a little time to get back to town and consult with them. If you do this yourself, you will have to follow the rules of civil procedure which apply to that court. I doubt that sending an email to the judge is authorized by those rules.

There are details not mentioned that might be important, such as whether you are plaintiff, defendant or witness and how long the case has been active. The nature of the proceeding should be considered. In any event, email likely is not an acceptable form of communication. The court clerk might provide some insight. You should consult a lawyer who regularly practices in the jurisdiction in the case.