Crossing the Bar. Death Comes in Three's

Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me. Photo courtesy Shirley Mayo Ireland.

This first week in August has been a week of death.  Three Island citizens have passed away this week.  One was held in a bodily prison for so long; the results from a crippling and debilitating accident so many years ago.   An upstanding, community leader who was always advocating for fishermen to be able to fish.  And a man who grew up on this Island who later became a police officer in Emerald Isle.  

I remember Wanda as a beautiful, blond haired woman who worked at the bank when I was a child. Mr. Roy will always be remembered as a most kind, generous, upstanding community servant who impacted so many lives on this Island and Eric, who I did not personally know, but his roots were from here and his time growing up on this Island certainly provided him a model of how to be great in life. 

Do you think that things come in three's?  Usually after the second death we wonder who is next?  

I remember 1995.  There were so many beloved Island residents that left us in a matter of weeks.  It started in May when George Almond left us and then Capt. Forest Lupton crossed the bar one last time. Mr. Willie Gray Midgette two weeks later in June and Ms. Amy Hopkins the next day.

Then fall came upon us and to me November and December of 1995 will never be forgotten.  Mrs. Metta Swindell earned her wings in early November. And then Bruce Spain left us so soon to join the other brethren of the sea.  Ms. Myrtle Sadler Schmidt came home to Lowland for one final trip to be laid to rest in early December.

The tragic death of Mr. Gene Potter on December 10, 1995 at the Hobucken draw bridge was heartbreaking.  And within days we lost a beloved friend in Joey Ballance who left us way to soon.  Our communities were reeling in grief those early days in December, a time when the Christmas festivities should have enlightened the season.  And again, the angels gained another, Mrs. Edna Ireland, just a few days before Christmas.

There was so much heartbreak on our Island that Christmas.  Granddaddy Mike Lewis, Uncle Roscoe Rice, Mr. Stakes Ireland, Uncle James Foreman, and others had certainly had their fair share of cemetery duty that winter.  Granddaddy even remarked, “I wonder who will be next?”

And then of course, it was my Granddaddy Mike, who departed this earth on December 30, 1995.

Through all of our grief, the most remarkable thing I remember that winter was the amount of love and concern we all have for one another on this Island.  I can still see Mrs. Doris Ballance visiting my Grandmother that day and I could physically see the hurt in her eyes from the recent passing of her son, but yet she was not selfish in her concern for others. She came to pay her respects amidst all the grief she was experiencing. 

Families were reaching out to each other.  We were holding each other up.  That’s what communities do.  Even families who had been stricken with grief earlier never failed to reach out to another who had lost.  That’s the beauty in the folks of Goose Creek Island. 

Maybe it’s just coincidental that we notice that death comes in three’s on the Island.  If we look back through our history, I am sure we will find other patterns when this has occurred.  This mystery is part of our Island culture.  

So many wonderful people who made Goose Creek Island the way we see it today have passed. No matter what generation, what year or what century, this unusual phenomenon will always be part of Goose Creek Island.  God bless our community and may peace be with all who are grieving.  Tina

In Memory of Eric Campen

Eric Allington Campen Sr.,82, of Cape Carteret passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at Carteret Health Care. Mr. Campen was born in Lowland, NC., Goose Creek Island.

A graveside service will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, August 6,  2015 at Gethsemane Memorial Park.

Eric was a devoted husband of 63 years. He also served for theTown of Emerald Isle as an active duty Police Officer for twelve years and also served four years in the United States Navy.

He is survived by his wife of the home, Elizabeth Campen; two sons, Douglas Campen and wife Cathy of Morehead City and Eric Campen Jr. and wife Pam of Durham; one daughter, Tami L.Schleining and husband Butch of Maysville; his mother who is 101, Molly Campen of Grantsboro; two brothers, Floyd Campen and Albert Campen; two sisters Lottie Caroon and Edith Johnson; nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Campen

The family will receive friends prior to service 12:30 - 1:30 at Munden Funeral Home.

In Memory of Roy Watson

Roy Lynmore Watson, 97, of Hobucken, died Monday, August 3, 2015, at Grantsbrook Nursing & Rehab Center. 

Affectionately known as “Mr. Roy” to many, he was born April 12, 1918, the third of ten children, to the late Kelly L. and Ada Mercer Watson of Lowland. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his loving and faithful wife of 69 years, Hilda Sadler Watson; three brothers, Merritt Watson, Lowland, Ebern Watson, Raleigh, and Olen Watson, Knightdale; one sister, Gladys who died as an infant; and a foster sister, Nettie Daniels.

He is survived by four sisters and one brother, Nellie Cahoon of Garner, Ruby Allsbrook of Beulaville/Raleigh, Marjorie Eggleston of Lovingston, VA, Bertie Dougherty (Ronald) of Asheville and Kelly Watson Jr., of New Bern. Although he and Hilda never had any children of their own, he claimed all of his 33 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews as his own.

He served in the US Coast Guard from 1942-1945, stationed at Ocracoke, and was assigned to Diamond Shoals where his duty was to watch for German Submarines. At the end of one of his sea trips, he realized he couldn’t see out of his left eye. After many attempts to determine the cause, and lots of hospital stays, he was declared legally blind and received a medical discharge from the Coast Guard. For 27 years, his wife, Hilda, drove him everywhere he went. Then a physician at Duke University Hospital preformed an operation which allowed him to regain his sight. During those years while he could see only images, he held to the philosophy he overheard a doctor once tell a patient, “Let’s not talk about what we can’t see, let’s talk about what we can.” Roy said what that doctor told that elderly patient taught him how to live without even knowing it. “From that day forward I never worried about what I couldn’t see.” From 1982 until his death he had a new lease on life with his eyesight restored, and was very thankful to God for it.

Mr. Watson was owner of the R.E. Mayo & Co. seafood business in Hobucken from 1970 until he sold it to Carroll Potter, a Lowland native, in 2011. One condition he put on the sale of the property was that he got to keep his fishing boat on his boat lift for as long as he wanted it. An avid mullet drop net fisherman, he would often go out at daylight and stay until dark. He served as a Director of the Wachovia Bank in Bayboro, and at the end of his tenure was Chairman of the Board. He was one of the founders of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, and served as President from the 50’s until 1982. He served on the board of directors for Roanoke Bible College (Mid-Atlantic Christian University). He was a lifelong member of the Lowland Church of Christ and was active in its leadership. His legacy as a generous, caring gentleman, and much loved husband, brother and uncle will be remembered by all who had the privilege to know him.

His funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 7th at the Hobucken Community Center with his nephew, Merritt Watson Jr. officiating. Interment will follow immediately in the Watson Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the community center.
In lieu of flowers the family suggested memorial contributions be made to Lowland Church of Christ, 5906 Lowland Rd., Lowland, NC 28552 or Lowland Community Center, Hobucken, NC 28537.

In Memory of Wanda Lewis Harper

Wanda Lewis Harper, 60, of Grantsboro passed away Sunday, August 2, 2015, at Grantsbrook Nursing & Rehab Center. 

She is survived by her two daughters, Julie Harper of Grantsboro and Jamie Gladson and husband, Chris, of New Bern; Bill Harper; brother, Dale Lewis of Grantsboro; sister, Carla Windham of Nashville, NC; and three grandchildren, Garrett Gladson, Brody Comardelle and Ella Comardelle.

Her memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 4th at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chuck Holton officiating.

The family will receive friends and family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family suggested memorial contributions be made to Journey of Hope Cancer Support Center, 1010 Medical Park Ave., New Bern, NC 28562.