In Memory of Joyce Hickman Carawan

Joyce Hickman Carawan died peacefully at home on October 27, 2015 in Rotonda West, Florida at the age of 75.
Joyce is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Hickman of Rotonda West, FL; sister, Lamona Cole and husband, Wayne "Buck", of Placida, Florida; daughter, Jammie Tyndall and husband, Mark, of Alliance son; Jim Carawan Jr. and wife, Eve, of Alliance; grandchildren: David Johnston, Jr., and wife, Selena of Arapahoe; Kasey Tyndall of Alliance; and Amber Carawan of Greenville; great-grandson, Clay Adam Johnston; brothers-in-law: Roy Carawan, and wife, Judy of Chesapeake, VA and Carl F. Barnes of Orange Park, FL; sisters-in-law: Verna Floyd of Virginia Beach, VA, and Mildred Carawan of New Bern; niece and caregiver, Carrie Greus of Englewood, FL; and many other nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her father, Earl Hickman, of Placida, FL and her husband, James O. "Capt. Jimmie" Carawan of Alliance.
Joyce was born on June 16, 1940 in Arcadia to Elizabeth and Earl Hickman. She married Jimmie in 1960. After living in Chuckoluskee for a few years, they moved to Jimmie's hometown of Lowland, NC with their two children. In 1972 Joyce began working for Pamlico County as the Assistant Register of Deeds, and began serving as Pamlico County's Register of Deeds in December 1980. She retired in December 2001 after serving Pamlico County for 29 years. She returned to Florida after the death of her husband to be closer to her mother and other family members. She was a member of Placida Road Church of God.
Her funeral will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 2nd at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Hardison officiating. Interment will be at Sandhill Cemetery in Reelsboro immediately following the service.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday evening at Bryant Funeral Home and any other time at the home of Mark and Jammie Tyndall.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Placida Road Church of God, Placida, FL.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to Hospice of Pamlico County, Inc., PO Box 6, Bayboro, NC 28515; Tidewell Hospice, Philanthropy Department, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238; or your favorite local cancer support charity.
The family would like to thank the hospital staff at Venice Regional Bayfront Health and the caregivers and staff at Tidewell Hospice for their efforts, care, and dedication.
Arrangement by Bryant Funeral Home & Crematory, Alliance. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newbernsj/obituary.aspx?n=joyce-hickman-carawan&pid=176285648&fhid=26830#sthash.yWHwy2vR.dpuf

Joyce Hickman Carawan, formally of Lowland and Alliance, N.C died peacefully at home on October 27, 2015 in Rotonda West, Florida at the age of 75.

Joyce is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Hickman of Rotonda West, FL; sister, Lamona Cole and husband, Wayne "Buck", of Placida, Florida; daughter, Jammie Tyndall and husband, Mark, of Alliance son; Jim Carawan Jr. and wife, Eve, of Alliance; grandchildren: David Johnston, Jr., and wife, Selena of Arapahoe; Kasey Tyndall of Alliance; and Amber Carawan of Greenville; great-grandson, Clay Adam Johnston; brothers-in-law: Roy Carawan, and wife, Judy of Chesapeake, VA and Carl F. Barnes of Orange Park, FL; sisters-in-law: Verna Floyd of Virginia Beach, VA, and Mildred Carawan of New Bern; niece and caregiver, Carrie Greus of Englewood, FL; and many other nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, Earl Hickman, of Placida, FL and her husband, James O. "Capt. Jimmie" Carawan of Alliance.

Joyce was born on June 16, 1940 in Arcadia to Elizabeth and Earl Hickman. She married Jimmie in 1960. After living in Chokoloskee Island for a few years, they moved to Jimmie's hometown of Lowland, NC with their two children. In 1972 Joyce began working for Pamlico County as the Assistant Register of Deeds, and began serving as Pamlico County's Register of Deeds in December 1980. She retired in December 2001 after serving Pamlico County for 29 years. She returned to Florida after the death of her husband to be closer to her mother and other family members. She was a member of Placida Road Church of God.

Her funeral will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 2nd at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Hardison officiating. Interment will be at Sandhill Cemetery in Reelsboro immediately following the service.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday evening at Bryant Funeral Home and any other time at the home of Mark and Jammie Tyndall.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at Placida Road Church of God, Placida, FL.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to Hospice of Pamlico County, Inc., PO Box 6, Bayboro, NC 28515; Tidewell Hospice, Philanthropy Department, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238; or your favorite local cancer support charity.

The family would like to thank the hospital staff at Venice Regional Bayfront Health and the caregivers and staff at Tidewell Hospice for their efforts, care, and dedication.
Arrangement by Bryant Funeral Home & Crematory, Alliance

In Memory of Bennie Evan Jones

Bennie Evan Jones, 86, of Hobucken, passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at home with family by his side and under the care of Hospice.

He was a graduate of Hobucken High School and served his country in the Air Force attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He worked several years as a commercial fisherman before going to work for Texas Gulf in Aurora as maintenance General Foreman.

He was a member of the Hobucken United Methodist Church and attended the Vandemere United Methodist Church.

He is predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Zeta Williamson Jones; one son, Russell D. Jones; granddaughter, Stephanie Annette “Sam” Mayo; one sister, Ella Mae Lupton and two brothers, Floyd and Vernon Jones.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Annette Jones of the home; one son, Mark Jones and wife Jennie of Mesic; one daughter, Rhonda Mayo and husband, Gary of Mesic; three brothers, Guy S. Jones of Merritt, Raymond T. Jones of New Bern, Len T. Jones of Texas; two granddaughters, Amber Lynn Mayo and Jenna Noelle Jones; three grandsons, Mark Edwin Jones, Mathew Joseph Jones and Zachary Russell Jones; great-granddaughter, Emma Noelle Jones and other family members, Kevin DeOliveira and Cameron Chase DeOliveira.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, October 23, at the Goose Creek Island Community Center with the Rev. Mike Roach and Rev. Roy Rodgers officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Community Center.
Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Goose Creek Island Community Development, Inc., P.O. Box 43, Hobucken, NC 28537 or the Vandemere United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 421, Vandemere, NC 28587.

In Memory of Troy Potter Sr.

Apologies for not getting this posted earlier....

Troy D. Potter, Sr., 98, of Raleigh, former resident of Mesic, passed away Friday, October 2, 2015 after a brief stay at Brookdale Assisted Living in Port Orange, Florida. Troy was born in Lowland to Marvin and Essie Rice Potter on April 24, 1917.

He is survived by children, Brenda Harris Wilkinson of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Cheryl Potter of Raleigh, and Troy Potter, Jr., of Mesic; grandchildren, Bill Harris, Brad Harris, Christa Pye, Eric Potter & A.J. Potter; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

His service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 8th at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel. His beloved niece, Dr. Maria Ann Clark Fleshood, will officiate. Interment will follow at Greenleaf Memorial Park in New Bern.

The family will receive friends in the chapel one hour prior to the service.

Troy was a farmer, businessman, civic leader, serving on the Board of Education and Chairing the Board of County Commissioners. Some of his proudest moments were the roll he helped play in restoring the Coast Guard Station to Hobucken, consolidating the school system in Pamlico County, helping found the technical school which was to grow into the Pamlico County Community College.

He was a member of the Bayboro Masonic Lodge 331 and a Scottish Rite Mason. His life was devoted to Bay Creek Christian Church and the progress of Pamlico County.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Bay Creek Christian Church, c/o Shirley Morris, 10962 NC Hwy 304, Bayboro, NC 28515.

A Strange Monument

Mercer Cemetery, Wardens Grove F.W.B. Church

Because Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I would post something that has always "spooked" me.  During my childhood years and even today in adulthood, there was always something strange and haunting about a certain monument in the Mercer Cemetery at Warden's Grove F.W.B.  I am sure many of you know the exact monument I am talking about.  Each time I went into the cemetery (and even today), I pass by this strange marker.  On it's base on all four sides, imprinted is a face that is the resemblance of the devil.  I have never understood the meaning of this marker.  It doesn't  bear an inscription.  I don't know how it got to this location in the cemetery or who even placed it there.  It is positioned right next to Albion Guynn's marker, the son of lighthouse keeper Mumford Guynn. The bowl on top has been broken for as long as I can remember.  If anybody can shed some light on this I would be most appreciative.

Don't Give Up The Island

October 7, 2015 - Potter Bridge and Curve, Lowland N.C. Photo courtesy Shirley Mayo Ireland.

When you live out on the edge of the world, the weather becomes a part of the everyday fabric on Goose Creek Island.  Water, wind, salt, rain, sun define everyday plans.  Goose Creek Island is located in a place that stands as a mainland sentry.  Surrounded by the Pamlico Sound, Pamlico River, Goose Creek and Jones Bay, we stand guard to an ever-changing foe in the weather. When mother nature unleashes havoc on our coasts and breaks through the first line of defense on the Outer Banks, its the inland banks that are next to stand against an angry and destructive Sound.

Earlier this month, our coast was faced with unrelenting rains, wind and tides that caused serious flooding on our Island.  Year in and year out, since the early beginnings of settlement on Goose Creek Island, no one better understands what weather means to a community except those who are Islanders.  The constant threat of rising water is always of concern and this past two weeks have been no exception.

Once the October northeaster' began it's onslaught of wind and water, Goose Creek Island was slowly covered by water.  Cars and trucks found their way to higher ground at the bridge.  Lawn mowers and four wheelers found their way to porches and other high places.  Tools and equipment in barns were picked up for protection and placed out of harms way. 

For three days water covered the Island.  Occasionally a small patch of green grass could be seen, only to soon to be covered again with water.  After a good saturation, the wind began to shift.  The water soon receded and our Island was whole again. From what I have heard, no homes were harmed by water even though it became alarmingly high for a usual northeaster'.  A few garages and barns had some damage as well as some vehicles, but the consensus among everyone was that we were thankful it wasn't worse.

As an Islander, we've adapted to the weather and to our Island environment.  Yes, most folks stay put when a northeaster' begins to blow.  The Island and Islanders readily adapt to what is to become - a  restless community who refuses to give up.  Our ancestors adapted just as we have this month.  They braved many northeasters with courage, fearlessness and stubbornness and those traits are etched in the Island soul.  It seeps in the creeks, ditches and canals. It also seeps in the heart of all who call this Island home. Just as the tide brings destruction, the wind will bring renewal. The weather will always bind us...just don't ever give up the Island.