Patsy Wall Ezzell

Patsy Wall Ezzell, age 87, died in New Bern on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Patsy was born and raised in High Point. She attended High Point Senior High and graduated from the Baptist School of Nursing in Winston-Salem. After graduating, Patsy spent her first few years of adulthood as a nurse in New Jersey. On a visit to Rocky Mount, her brother Ken introduced her to James Ezzell, Jr.

In 1964, Patsy moved with her new husband, Jim, to his hometown of Rocky Mount. During that time, she was a nurse at Nash General Hospital, local hospice organizations, Tar River Mission Clinic, and later as a private rehabilitation nurse.

Patsy was well-known in the Rocky Mount community for her work with Englewood Baptist Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. She was essential to her husband Jim's legal and political career, which culminated in his serving as a state senator until his untimely death in 1991.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, Fincher Stanton and Opal Phillips Wall, of High Point; her husband, James Earl Ezzell, Jr., of Rocky Mount; and her brother, Kenneth Wall, of Rocky Mount.

Patsy is survived by her sons: Mark of Raleigh; Jim and his wife, Julie, of Tamarac, FL; Stanton and his wife, Lisa Kafer, of New Bern; her grandchildren, Brittany Ezzell of Raleigh, Hailey Ezzell of Fort Lauderdale, FL, James and Marci Ezzell of Snow Hill, NC; Will and Allana Ezzell of Charlottesville, VA, Alison Ezzell of Blacksburg, VA, and Dave Ezzell of New Bern.

A Memorial Service to celebrate life will be held on Saturday, April 4th at 11 am at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N Winstead Ave, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

A Celebration of Patsy's Life will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Pastor Charles Taylor officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Patsy's memory to her longstanding church home, Englewood Baptist Church, 1350 S. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804; or the North Carolina Nurses Association, 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave., #250, Raleigh, NC 27609; or the Roy Cooper for Senate Campaign, Cooper for NC, PO Box 1190, Raleigh, NC 27602.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.