ANNIE M.B. NEWELL
Jan. 28, 1916-Sept.13, 2009
Annie Maude Braswell Newell, 93, a resident of Wayne County for more than 87 years and Wake County for more than six years, went home to be with her Lord Sunday after a long period of declining health.
A celebration of her life will be held at Grace Baptist Church in Princeton Wednesday at 2 p.m. followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Goldsboro.
For the past six and a half years, she made her home in Knightdale and Raleigh with her daughters. Affectionately known as "Mama Newell," this godly and spirit-filled woman touched the lives of many with her genuine love and enthusiasm for God, family, friends and life. Though she faced many health challenges in her later years, she faced them with grace, strength, determination and a sense of humor.
She was the cornerstone of her family. A loving and wonderful mother, grandmother and "Grandmama Great," her life will continue to be an inspiration to all those who were blessed to know her. Her memory fills our hearts with love and peace. She was a caregiver to everyone she met.
She worked at Cherry Hospital as a senior companion for 19 years. Her compassion for her patients was evident as she continued to work until the age of 87. She was especially proud of being credited with saving the life of one of her patients.
Her sense of humor will continue to bring smiles and laughter for years to come. She loved flowers and working in her yard, but her greatest joy was spending time with her family and attending church.
She lived and rejoiced in every moment of every day. Her courage and strength to endure the frailness of her physical body was granted to her due to her faith and love of God. She praised God for each and every blessing. She was a pillar of her church, Grace Baptist in Princeton, for more than 46 years.
Her family would like to especially thank Rowe Ann Hooks, whose faithful weekly letters were a source of great joy and anticipation for their mom, and Earl and Mary Bray, whose weekly cards were a source of cheer and encouragement.
Survivors include her daughters, Alice N. Blackmon and husband, Billy, of Knightdale and Annie N. Thompson and husband, Lester "Tommy," of Raleigh; her grandchildren, Jamie B. Bullman and husband, Scott, Stephen Blackmon and wife, Patti, Casey T. Little and husband, Ryan, and Robin E. Thompson; her great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Cameron and Kaylee Bullman and Stephen Blackmon; her "adopted" family, Jeannetta Radford, Amy, Scott and Samuel Yandell, Melissa and Brody Radford; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and a very special church family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James H. Newell; parents, Claude and Alice Hines Braswell; five sisters, Gulie Merritt, Esther Turpin, Bernese Williams, Sarah Corbett, Julia Mae Worley; and one brother, Claude "Buddy" Braswell.
Visitation will be held at Seymour Funeral Home tonight from 6 to 8 p.m.
The world of those who loved her will be darkened in her absence, but Heaven is shining brighter. Her unconditional love for all of us will be our comfort. Our challenge will be to live by her example. What a precious gift she was to all of us.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 15, 2009 1:47 PM