Ralph Knight Sr.

Tyner resident

The Rev. Ralph Woodrow Knight Sr., of 455 B Wingfield Road, Tyner, N.C., died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, at Maybiew Convalescent Center, Raleigh, N.C. A native of Durham, N.C., the Rev. Knight was born Jan. 30, 1919, and was the son of the late Alvis Haywood and Beulah Ellen Spence Knight. He was a graduate of Wake Forest College and earned a masters of divinity from the Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. His first pastorate was Ballard's Bridge Church and then through his life of ministry serving his Lord he preached in many area churches. After retiring from the ministry, he served as Director of Missions for the Chowan Baptist Association. His love of Chowan County, its beautiful river and its loving people made it home for him and his family. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two brother and a son-in-law, Dr. Bernie Ballington Baker Sr. Surviving are his wife of 71 years, Mavis Margaret McLendon Knight; two daughters, Judith Ellen Knight Baker of Raleigh and Sylvia Knight Poole and husband, Walt, of Kinston, N.C.; two sons, Ralph Woodrow "Woody" Knight Jr. and wife, Jimmie, of Tyner and Stephen Haywood Knight and wife, Betty, of Virginia Beach, Va.; 13 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ballard's Bridge Baptist Church by the Rev. Ron Parr. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may join the family from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Miller Funeral Home and Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton. Memorial contributions may be made to Ballard's Bridge Baptist Church, 3025 Vinginia Road, Tyner, NC 27980. Online condolences may be made to the family at millerfhc.com.