Eddie C. Boone

Eddie C. Boone Eddie C. Boone 99, retired farmer and merchant, died Tuesday, January 20, 2009.  He was born in Nash County October 12, 1909.  He was the third of seven children born to the late William Albert Boone and Anna Collie Boone.  He grew up in the White Oak Community where he lived, farmed and raised his family. During those years he was an active member of the White Oak United Methodist Church where he served as a Steward, church treasurer, Superintendent of Sunday School, and choir leader.  In 1958 he and his family moved to Rocky Mount where he owned and operated Arlington Street Grocery until his retirement in 1979.  Upon moving to Rocky Mount, he joined Sunset Avenue Baptist Church where he was an active member until his death.  Before his declining health, he served as church treasurer and counting committee member, and was active in Meals on Wheels.  He was a kind, gentle, humble and very wise man, one whose wisdom was often sought by his children and other family members.  His children and grandchildren deeply loved and respected him.  He had a great sense of humor which his family loved; and his children and many of the grandchildren inherited that same humor.  His major loves were the Lord and his family.  He enjoyed his Sunday School class and treasured his friendship with the men in the class.  He also found great pleasure in working in his garden and sharing the fruits of his labor with his family and friends.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death in 1985 by his first wife of 55 years, Sadie Ward Boone, who was the mother of his children; his daughter, Nancy B. Shearon; his brothers, Lunis Boone and Roy Boone; and his sisters, Nannie B. Proctor, Lattie B. Coppedge, Lula Boone, and Minnie B. Edwards.  He is survived by his second wife of 22 years, Ruth W. Boone, of the home; one daughter,  Doris B. Brown and husband Frank, Sr.; two sons, Albert E. Boone and wife Pat; and Phillip W. Boone and wife Carol, all of Rocky Mount; and son-in-law, Joseph W. Shearon of Louisburg; one granddaughter, Ginger B. Andrews of Rocky Mount; seven grandsons, Keith Shearon and wife Liz of Youngsville; Mark B. Shearon and wife Rhonda of Louisburg; Frank Brown, Jr. and wife Gina of King; Scott B. Brown and wife Kim of Greenville; Albert "Bert" Boone, Jr. and wife Karen of Rocky Mount; Jason Boone of Rocky Mount; and Brandon Boone and fiancée, Penni Robbins of Greenville.  He also had 11 great grandchildren, Sarah S. Hicks and husband Peter John; Jessica S. Baker and husband Brandon; Jonathan Shearon  and fiancée Kristie Love; Jennifer Shearon, Kennedy Brown, Morgan Brown, Nicolas Brown, Patrick Boone, Bridget Boone, Hunter Andrews, and Braxton Andrews; two great great grandsons, Solomon Joel Hicks and Judah Ezekiel Hicks; and one great great granddaughter, Miriam Ruth Hicks.  Mr. Boone is also survived by step-daughters Joyce R. Powell and husband John of Nashville; Linda R. Annett of Lynchburg, Virginia; three step-sons Dalton Rackley, David Rackley and wife Anne all of Nashville; and Ted Rackley and wife Teresa of Rocky Mount.  He is also survived by one niece, Christine Riley of Nashville; three nephews, Kenneth Coppedge and Billy Whitfield both of Nashville; and George L. Boone of Stanley, NC.  The family will receive friends and family from 6:30 to 8:30pm,  Thursday, January 22, 2009 at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home, Rocky Mount.  The funeral service will be held at Sunset Avenue Baptist Church, Friday, January 23, 2009 at 11:00 am with Dr. Carl Poole, Rev. Steve Roberson, and Rev. Coye Still, Jr. officiating.  Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Nashville.  Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made in Mr. Boone's memory to Sunset Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, 3732 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or to Friends of Hospice, Hospice of Nash General, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  On-line condolences to the Boone family may be made by visiting www.wheelerandwoodlief.com  Arrangements by Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC.