Emma Ruth Worrell Lancaster

Words cannot express all the love and sorrow in our hearts as our mom and grandmother, Emma Lancaster, has gone home to be with the Lord January 5, 2017. Born January 6, 1926 to Bettie Griffin Worrell and Joe Cephus Worrell of Edgecombe County, she is now reunited with her husband, W.C. Lancaster, to whom she was married for over 60 wonderful years. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Nellie Lynn; brothers, Thurston, Henry, John and Ernest; daughter-in-law, Gail Leister Lancaster; and great-grandson, Amos Smith. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her two sons, Ronnie (Bonnie) of Greenville, NC, and Doug (Jo Anne) of Bartlett, TN; and daughter, Diane Joyner (J.D.) of Greenville, NC; seven grandchildren: Karen (Kelly) Burke, Kelly (Jason) Grant, Jennifer (Justin) Dunlap, April (Avi) Feinberg, Jonathan (Laura) Lancaster, Sarah (Matthew) Dickey, and Natalie (Nathan) Woodcock; eleven great-grandchildren: Ryan, Jack and Kate Burke; Collin and Drew Grant; Nathaniel and Lillyanne Smith; Arella Feinberg; Amelia and Penelope Lancaster; and Chandler Woodcock; three step-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren. She also leaves her sister, Sally Mae Braswell, and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Friday, January 13, 2017 at Arlington Baptist Church, 1500 Bethlehem Road, Rocky Mount, NC with Rev. Bill Grisham officiating. Visitation at the church will be from 12:00 noon until 1:30 pm and the funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Pineview Cemetery. All family and friends are invited to attend. The service will include the sharing of many memories of our dear mom and grandmother. We seek to celebrate her life, honor her and glorify the Lord, Who through His tender mercies has given her to us. Our mom loved the Lord, her family, her church, and all others. She gladly served the Lord in church by leading the W.M.U., teaching Sunday School, leading the G.A.s, being the church clerk, faithfully visiting the sick in nursing homes, including her brother, John, and singing in the choir and special music for over 60 years. She worked in many jobs with her community. Her favorite was being the receptionist at the Boice-Willis Clinic for many years. She was well known and loved by so many for her ready smile as she sought to cheer and encourage all who were sick. For all of her life, she had such compassion that she could not stand to see a person or even an animal suffer. On our way to church, she cried when a tiny sparrow flew into our windshield and died. Mom truly had a sweet, gentle heart and was such an example of a godly, loving, humble, Christian woman. We have never known her to have an angry, critical spirit toward anyone. She sought, even with her cares in this world, to give them over to the Lord with a song in her heartwe can still hear her singing “God Will Take Care of You” in the kitchen as she cooked or washed dishes. Truly, she was a Proverbs 31 woman (even though shed never say so), as 31:30 says: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.” In the midst of our sorrow, we have the overwhelming assurance that our mom is in heaven because of her deep trust, love, and commitment to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that because of our own individual trust in the Lord, all of us who know and believe in Jesus will live eternally with the Lord, and with our mom, our dad, our family, and with all others who have trusted in Him (I John 5:11-13). We are comforted to know that the Bible clearly states that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (II Cor.5:8) and “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (I Thes.4:17) Memorials may be made to Arlington Baptist Church, 1500 Bethlehem Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27803, designated to Women on Mission. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and 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. Visitation Arlington Baptist Church 1500 Bethlehem Road Rocky Mount, NC 27803 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-937-7729 --> | Friday 1/13, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Service Arlington Baptist Church 1500 Bethlehem Road Rocky Mount, NC 27803 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-937-7729 --> | Friday 1/13, 2:00 pm Cemetery Pineview Cemetery 761 N. Raleigh Road Rocky Mount, NC 27801