Sally James Bass

ROCKY MOUNT — Sally James Bass, 82, passed away on Oct. 4, 2013 at Kindred Care in Rocky Mount.

Sally was born on July 30, 1931 and was preceded in death by her parents Marshall Prince James and Mary Lois McRae James and by her brother Marshall Prince James, Jr.

She earned a Bachelor of Secretarial Administration from The Women's College of the University of North Carolina and a Master of Education from The University of North Carolina . Over the years she worked as a professional fundraiser, an educator, a freelance writer, and a real estate agent. She also volunteered as a guardian ad Litem.

She enjoyed spending time at her and her husband's second home on the Outer Banks in Avon. While there, she especially liked fishing at "the point" near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Her interest and skill in such fishing led her into a job writing the column "Hooked on Hatteras" for the Rocky Mount Telegram. She also published a book by that title.

She was an avid gardener with a special interest in orchids and was a member of the Rocky Mount Garden Club.

In addition, she was a member of Rocky Mount's First Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years Ollie Adron Bass, Jr., son the Rev. Dr. John Marshall Crowe and his wife Donna Starling Crowe of Goldsboro, three step-children: Ollie Bass III of Quepos, Costa Rica, Anna Bass Rauh and husband Nick of Lafayette, Ind., and Ashley Bass and wife Cathy of Nashville, two grandsons: David Anderson Crowe, a student at East Carolina University, and James Marshall Crowe, a student at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., seven step-grandchildren, sister Mary Lois James Hilliard of Asheville, sister-in-law Jane James of Maxton, three nieces, three nephews, and special caregiver Angie Daniel.

Visitation will be on Oct. 9, 2013 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Rocky Mount, and the funeral will follow at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2013 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.

Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral Homes and Cremations, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, NC. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com.