NORA BELLE TAYLOR GRANTHAM
June 12, 1920-Jan. 12, 2009
"Another servant gone to a great reward, she fought a good fight.
She kept the faith and now she is gone to be with Jesus"
Nora Taylor Grantham, lovingly known by her family and close friends as "Big Mama" and "Mother Grantham," of 4147 Hwy. 70 E., Goldsboro, on Monday night, Jan. 12, 2009, at 10:08 p.m., God dispatched a chariot of angels to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Md., to peacefully bring Mother Grantham home to her eternal rest.
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1065 Tommy's Road, with Pastor Joe Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in the Augusta Chapel Church Cemetery, 599 Durham Lake Road, Dudley. A viewing will be held on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at Hamilton Funeral Chapel from 1 to 8 p.m. Also, on Sunday evening, Jan. 18, 2009, a wake will be conducted at Hamilton Funeral Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m., with the family present to receive other family members and friends.
Nora Belle was born June 12, 1920, in Wayne County to the late Johnnie and Flossie Atkinson Taylor.
She was married to the late David L. Grantham, who preceded her in death.
Nora Belle was educated in Wayne County Public School System, where she attended Central High School and graduated in the Class of 1939. She pursued additional education and training by completing the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Wayne Memorial Hospital. She was employed at Wayne Memorial Hospital, and later Nora Belle was employed at Cherry Hospital where she was promoted to nurse supervisor until she retired.
Mother Grantham accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and joined Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She served on several auxiliaries, including the Usher Board, Home Mission Ministry, Mother Board and Team Evangelism, and she was a mentor to many people. One of Mother Grantham's favorite sayings was, "If you do good, good will come back to you. Put your faith in God and everything will be all right."
She was a member of social, civic and political organizations, among them the NAACP and the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as worthy matron.
Left to cherish her loving memory are her loving and devoted daughter, Catherine T. Burton, better known as "Tot"; one grandson, Kevin L. Hilliard Sr. and wife, Sonya; three great-grandchildren, Angelicia Hilliard, better known as "Angel," Kevin Hilliard Jr. and Jadyn; one great-great-granddaughter, Jordyn Avaughn Boone, better known as "Baby Girl," all of Baltimore, Md.; two sisters, Mary Anna Britt of LaGrange and Luvenia Dockery of Raeford; five sisters-in-law, Bertha Taylor of Greensboro, Maxine Grantham of Chicago, Ill., Dollie Taylor of Richmond, Va., Elnora Britt Grantham and Iantha T. Whitfield both of Goldsboro; one brother-in-law, J.C. Grantham of Chicago, Ill.; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
At other times, the family will receive friends at the residence of the late Mrs. Nora B. Grantham, 4147 Highway 70 E., Goldsboro.
Cards, love-grams and condolences may be faxed to Hamilton Funeral Chapel at 919-734-4725 or e-mailed to hamiltonfc@bellsouth.net.
Flowers may be sent to Hamilton Funeral Chapel, 423 S. James St., prior to the funeral service.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 18, 2009 9:10 AM