WESTFIELD - Edna Earl Womble, age 109, passed away on November 30, 2019. Born in Nash County, NC on June 25, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Dorsey and Martha Ann Robbins Womble. She was also preceded in death by her brother, James Ernest Womble; sister, Mattie Mae Womble Tudor; sister in law, Annie Ruth Whitley Womble; her nephew, James Earl “Jim” Womble, and grandnephew Lee Riley Tudor.
Edna Earl was a woman of great faith and a firm believer in the Doctrine of Grace. She loved working in the flower gardens and cherished every moment spent with family. She worked alongside her sister as a beautician on Pace Street in Raleigh for well over a half century. Their clientele largely consisted of wives of legislators, judges, and professors from a prominent woman's college close by.
Edna Earl leaves behind her beloved niece, Jo Ann Womble Stimson and her husband, Horace of Westfield; and nephew L. Bryant Tudor; 4 grandnieces; 1 grandnephew; 8 great grandnieces and nephews; along with a host of extended family members and friends.
All survivors, spouses, and others whose lives she touched will cherish their own unforgettable memories of this very special and generous lady who put her God and others first over a lifetime of unconditional love.
A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Forest Hills Cemetery in Nashville, NC with Elder DB Stokes officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Francisco Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 15, Westfield, NC 27053.
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.
A Befitting Tribute
The day was June 25; the year was 1910. To this world was born a beautiful soul. Edna Earl Womble was born before the voyage of the RMS Titanic, World War I, and the Great Depression. One could say that her 109 years here on earth were filled with many historic "firsts", but Edna Earl's humble presence might suggest that she wasn't anyone special. But those who knew her, know better.
Edna Earl lived a quiet, good life as a kind, sweet, generous and dignified lady of taste who appreciated obvious and subtle humor. She would tell people she couldn't boil water, but was a critical sous chef when it came to the proper making of the family's renowned Scrabble and Bourbon Candy recipes prepared for her favorite holiday, Christmas.
She would make a barracks sergeant proud as a person who would insure a living space was organized, uncluttered and spotless. And did the same with the flowers she weeded outside. She loved reading her bible and action mysteries along with martial arts action movies and TV series. She played basketball as a girl and developed a passion for ACC and March Madness basketball and her beloved NC State. She became very animated when watching games and discussing early and recent history about the Dixie Classic, ACC, players, and stats.
Family was a vital part of Edna Earl's being. During her young life in Nashville, NC, she remembered doing the wash on a scrub board in the river on the family farm. After attending ECU for a year, she returned to the farm to help her parents during the Depression. She soon moved to Raleigh and lived with her brother, his wife and children throughout their lives. She worked alongside her sister, in her beauty shop, located on Pace Street between the State Capitol and Peace University in Raleigh. Back then their clientele included wives of legislators and judges as well as professors.
Some of her most notable customers were the wife of Senator Sam Ervin of Watergate fame and good friend Mabel Pugh, head of the Art Department of then Peace College. She was well regarded for her portraits and renowned for her design of "A Map of North Carolina for those who are interested in the history, the industry, and the beauty of NC" recently featured in Our State Magazine. Miss Womble coupled that art, over a lifetime, with her own incredibly beautiful needlepoint handiwork.
Since the beauty shop was located in the heart of Raleigh, one can only imagine the many interesting political conversations among the ladies from all parties and perspectives. Edna Earl recalled one conversation in which someone coined the phrase, "If WE were in charge, it might not be better, but it sure would be different!" She often repeated this statement throughout her life along with, "We just need more honest politicians in Washington."
While in her 90's, she moved, with her sister-in-law, to specially designed quarters at her niece and her husband's farm in scenic Northwest Stokes County. While driving in Raleigh during her later years, she was known to carefully think thru her routes around the bustling city and safely navigated with "right only" turns. She let her driver's license expire at age 100 because she was not familiar with the rural Stokes County roads.
After her 97th birthday and without hesitation, she trained for several months, walking
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
What a lovely woman. She was always such as inspiration to all of us at the needlepoint store as she continued to stitch into late in her life. So sorry for your loss.