Ethel Lee Wallace Bulluck

ROCKY MOUNT – Ethel Wallace Bulluck, age 92, passed to her heavenly home on Friday, October 30, 2026. Born in Edgecombe County, NC on June 5, 1934, she was the first of Albert L. and Mildred Johnson Wallace’s nine children and a lifelong resident of Edgecombe County.  Ethel was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of over 65 years, Lee Roy “Scott” Bulluck; her sisters, Dale Proctor and Shelvy Luper; and her brothers, Kenneth and Eddie Wallace.

After graduating from West Edgecombe High School in 1952, Ethel began her career in retail as the bookkeeper at F.W. Woolworth in Rocky Mount, then went on to serve as manager of its Wilson location and later the Diana Shop.  In 1986, she and Scott purchased Moore’s Bicycle Shop in Rocky Mount where Ethel managed the books and kept Scott and her brother Eddie in line. They kept working alongside each other in the shop even after selling it to the Warrens in 1999, and Ethel continued keeping the books until her official retirement in 2022.

A woman of unwavering faith, Ethel was a member of Temperance Hall United Methodist Church since 1951.  She served as church treasurer for more than 50 years and sang in the choir.  She held several offices in the United Methodist Women, including president and vice president, and was the pioneer leader for the church’s Saturday morning ministry for young children.

Ethel loved being with her family, whether she was in the kitchen, rocking on her back porch, or sitting under the gazebo watching her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews enjoy the family pool, where many members of the Temperance Hall community learned to swim and were even baptized.  She enjoyed home sewing projects, canning with her family, and quilting, especially “quilting bees” for the Temperance Hall UMC Harvest Sale.  For many years, Ethel was also “in charge” of the church’s Brunswick stew cook, a role she took over from her mother and carried on until she was no longer able.

Ethel leaves behind to cherish her memory, her devoted daughter, Vivian Bulluck Edmondson and husband, Mike, of Rocky Mount.  Her most lasting legacy is her grandchildren: grandsons, Joshua Edmondson and wife, Lauren, of Cape Carteret, and Jordan Edmondson and wife, Shannon, of Rocky Mount; and great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Karlie, Brody, and Finn.  She is also survived by her sisters, Janet Tyndall and Becky Neville (Bill), and her brothers, John Wallace (Ellice) and James Wallace (Karen) and many special nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Ethel’s life will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Temperance Hall Community Church, 3834 Temperance Hall Road, Elm City, NC 27822 with Rev. Stanley Buck officiating.  Burial will follow the service at Macclesfield Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

The family wishes to thank Karie Webb and Tacitha “Keke” Grant at UNC-Nash Health Hospice and Palliative Care for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ethel’s name to Temperance Hall Community Church, P.O. Box 13, Pinetops, NC 27864.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.