Noami E. Waits

In the early morning hours of March 7, 2009, Naomi E. Waits, 87, of Hampton, Va., took hold of God's unchanging hand and went to her eternal peaceful sleep. She was a devoted mother of 11 children and wife of the late Terry R. Waits Sr. She was born in Tazewell County, Va., on June 18, 1921, the youngest of seven siblings born to Millicent Brown and William Preston Early. She was raised and attended school in Roanoke. She was employed with Bailey's Cafeteria and Halmodes Industries. She was preceded in death by five sisters; one brother; four children, Shirley, Virginia Cotton, Phylissa Early and Sidney "June" Elmoore. She was a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church until her health failed. She leaves to celebrate her life, three sons, Barry O'Neil Flynt and Isham McKinley Early, of Roanoke, and Terry R. Waits Jr., of Chesapeake; daughters, Millie R. Sullivan, of Greensboro, N.C., Iris A. King, of Hampton, Faye A. McBride (Samuel), of Las Vegas, Nev., and Teresa W. Conteh, of Chesapeake, Va.; a host of grandchildren, greatgrandchildren; and many good friends. A funeral service will be held noon on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Williams Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 13, 2009, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends may call at Serenity on Friday, from noon to 8 p.m. for viewing. Arrangements by Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Services.