Addie Word

Addie N. Moore Word SUFFOLK - Addie Naomi Moore Word, BS, First Lady Emeritus of East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, was the last of three children born to John Moore and R'Della Smith Moore on Oct. 11, 1909 in Pender County, North Carolina. Mrs. Word spent her early years living on 24 acres of farmland that her grandfather, Simon Smith, purchased Nov. 29, 1881. While in her early teens, the family of five moved to Norfolk. They lived in a house on Charlotte Street before purchasing a home on Broad Creek Road, now Virginia Beach Boulevard. Mrs. Word attended the Norfolk Public Schools. After high school, Addie Moore attended Barber Scotia College in North Carolina and graduated from Johnson C. Smith College in 1933 with a B.S. in education. Miss Moore returned to Norfolk after completing her work at J.C. Smith and was hired as a teacher, working first with kindergarten then second-grade children, at Liberty Park Elementary School. Mrs. Word went on to teach more than 30 years in the public schools of Virginia, retiring in 1971. Addie Naomi Moore met and married the late Clarence James Word from Danville, Va., on June 30, 1945. Addie Word was also involved in the formation of the East Suffolk Garden Club, the Girl Scouts, Pastor's Aide and Senior Women's Sharing Group at East End, the Suffolk Chapter of the International Minister's Wives and Minister's Widows Inc., and a number of other organizations. On the evening of April 17, 2010, Addie Word entered her eternal rest. She leaves to mourn her passing one daughter, Shirley Word-Kimbrough and her husband Leslie of Cambridge, Mass.; two grandchildren, Derrick Word Kimbrough and Laurance Vernon Kimbrough, both of Cambridge, Mass.; a nephew, retired Judge Lester Vernon Moore Jr. and his wife Thelma of Norfolk; a loving East End Baptist Church family; a host of other relatives and friends. A celebration of her life will be held at East End Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 21, at 1 p.m. Harris Funeral Home has been entrusted with the home going service. www.vharrisfuneralhome.com.