Clarence Lynwood Stroud

KINSTON, N.C. " Clarence Lynwood Stroud, 89, of 155 N.C. 58 S., died Friday, May 20, 2005, at Lenoir Memorial Hospital. The last survivor of an outstanding and longstanding family in the Kinston-Lenoir County community, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Pollock Stroud; parents, Thomas Walter and Penelope Williams Stroud of Lenoir County; sisters Beulah Benton Stroud, Clara Jane Stroud Lewis and Mildred Easter Stroud McLawhorn; and brothers Wilbur Gardner Stroud, Speight Hardy Stroud, Albert Marvin Stroud, Thomas Walter Stroud Jr. and Hugh Monroe Stroud. A lifelong Lenoir County farmer, he was devoted to the land. He provided for his family spiritually, financially and physically through his partnership with the Earth. He planted cash crops, mainly tobacco, and educated his daughters; he cultivated a beautiful vegetable garden every year that nourished his family, and many friends; he modeled commitment to God™s natural resources and taught so many how to honor and respect the joy of being firmly grounded in this soil. He was a crop hail insurance adjuster and supervisor for many years, traveling North and South Carolina area territories, a floor manager for the Star No. 1 and No. 2 and later Farmers and New Dixie warehouses in Kinston, and a Lenoir County Alcoholics Beverage Control Board supervisor.

He was known to be a man of truth, a gentleman of strength, a loyal friend and a lover of his family, his church and the sacred land that sustained him. He was a man of his word. He lived his life steadfastly and simply, day by day, with courage, clarity, honesty and humility. This unassuming and humble man, without ever trying or even knowing, created a vibrant life force, influencing even now the younger generations of extended family members and the young people in his church. A public burial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2005, at Pinelawn Memorial Park, followed by a service of worship and celebration at 3:30 p.m. at Southwood Memorial Christian Church, 1027 N.C. 58 S., Kinston, with the Revs. Rick Vernon, Dexter Wasson and Amos Sykes officiating.

Survivors include three daughters, Polly S. Anderson of New Bern, N.C., Mary Lynn S. Williamson of Florence, and Nancy S. Saunders of the home; seven grandchildren, Robin Anderson, Mark Hanna and wife Anne, Marla H. Slaughter and husband Sonny, Whitney M. Smith and husband Jeremy, Justin Moore, Chelsey Saunders and Cameron Saunders; three sisters-in-law, Betty B. Stroud of Clemmons, Flo Pollock of Gastonia and Alyene Pollock of New Bern, and a host of extremely special nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of Southwood Memorial Christian Church, and other times at the home. Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions can be made to Southwood Memorial Christian Church, Music or Building Fund, 1027 N.C. 58 S., Kinston, NC 28504, or the Stroud Scholarship Fund, c/o Gordon Street Christian Church, 118 E. Gordon St., Kinston, NC 28501. Arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home.