Mary Ellen Mozingo Mewborn

Mary Ellen Mozingo Mewborn

FARMVILLE Mary Ellen Mozingo Mewborn, 92, died after a brief illness at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC on October 13, 2015. She was born on April 16, 1923 the eldest of six daughters to Albert and Mary Ben Smith Mozingo, Farmville Township, Pitt County, NC.

Mary Ellen Mozingo lived with her parents in Pitt County, NC and was able to work at Sheppard Library in Greenville after school. She was preparing to enter nursing school in Richmond, VA instead she met and married Quentin Mewborn of Greene County, NC. They were married in Dillon, SC on Saturday the 13th of September 1941. Afterward they moved to Greene County on the Mewborn farm near Farmville, NC where they grew corn, hogs, chickens and tobacco. Two children were born, Marilene in 1942 and "Alex" in 1943. Their blissful life was interrupted by WWII when Quentin was drafted in December of 1943 to serve in the US Army in the Philippines. He was discharged in April of 1946. While Quentin was in service, Mary Ellen moved with her two children to his parent's home: George and Eula Mewborn on HW 58, 5 miles west of Snow Hill. After the war they returned to the farm near Farmville in the Friendship Original Free Will Baptist Church community.

Mary Ellen was a housewife and mother of three children that she birthed at home with the help of Mary Battle and Dr. Charles Fitzgerald. Brenda, the last child, was born in 1949. Mother gave great support to Daddy with the farming and to us children during our education and home training. We all worked together on the farm when not in school. After 56 years of marriage, Quentin died on November 22, 1997. She also lost her oldest daughter Marilene ten days later. She was the caretaker for both Quentin and Marilene during their last illnesses. For the first time in her life she was alone. She lived on the farm until 2013 when due to declining health she entered assisted living facilities in Greenville, NC. Mother enjoyed caring for her family. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed serving hot meals. She spent many hours harvesting, preparing, canning and freezing from her garden. She liked working with her hands. She left us many items she made from her quilting, crocheting and needlepoint. She made clothes for my sisters at her Singer sewing machine. She was an avid gardener. The beautiful flowers in her yard attest to that. She strived to do well in all that she did. She joined the Meadow Primitive Baptist Church during the 1950's. Cousin AP Mewborn baptized mother in a pond near Otter's Creek.

Mrs. Mewborn was predeceased by her husband Quentin A. Mewborn, daughter Marilene Mewborn Kearney, infant great grandson Tyler Matthew Hayes, parents Albert and Mary Ben Smith Mozingo and brothers James Albert Mozingo and wife Frances, William Earl and Robert Mozingo and his wife Viola. Also deceased are sisters in-law Catherine Briley Mozingo and Margaret Murphrey Mozingo. All of her husband's siblings and their spouses are deceased: Dr. John and Margaret McNeill Mewborn, Ima, Beulah and Ailine Mewborn, Nina Lee Mewborn Garner and husband Varner, George and Connie Mattocks Mewborn, Henry Mewborn, Marvin and Mabel Parker Mewborn and Manora Mewborn Nunn and husband Malcolm.

Left to mourn her passing are her two children: Quentin Alexander Mewborn, Jr. and wife Ann and daughter Brenda Mewborn Murphrey and husband Andrew "Andy." There are four grandchildren Christopher "Chris" and wife Beverly "Bev" Gross Mewborn, Stacey Mewborn Hayes and husband Matthew, Jennifer Abbott Wahlers and husband Jason, Bruce Robert Abbott and wife Maria and six great grandchildren: Robert "Cody" and Sarah Ann Mewborn, Colin Hayes, Harper and Isla Wahlers and Arianna Abbott. Also surviving are her brothers: Guy Swanson Mozingo of Sandstone VA, Lee Wallace Mozingo of New Bern and her sisters: Vera Mozingo Maness and husband John of Pitt County, NC, Doris Mozingo James of Elgin, SC, Shirley Mozingo Moore and husband James of Zebulon, NC, Helen Mozingo Bunn and husband Thomas of Hookerton, NC, and Peggy Mozingo Hawkins of Ayden, NC.

Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Smith Funeral Service in Greenville, NC. Afterward a graveside service will be conducted at 11:30 am in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens, NC 258 North of Farmville, NC, officiated by Pastor Jack Weathersby. Memorials may be made to Friendship Original Free Will Baptist Church, c/o of Susan Tyson, 3090 Cupelo Road, Farmville NC 27828. Flowers are also welcomed.Arrangements by Smith Funeral Service & Crematory, Greenville. Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithfcs.com.

As published in The Daily Reflector