Nebraska

1998 Map of Hyde County by Bob Parrish

How many of you know where Nebraska is located?  I'm not talking about the State of Nebraska. I'm talking about the little community just across the Sound in Hyde County; Nebraska.  Nestled in between Last Chance,White Plains and Lake Landing, Nebraska could pretty much be a replica of Lowland or Hobucken.

The story I am going to tell you comes from the late Shirley Williamson Ireland.  One of my last visits with her was in New Bern one February 2015 afternoon.  Myself, Ms. Shirley and Lil' Shirley were having dinner in a local restaurant when Ms. Shirley told a story.  The characters in this story is herself and the famous Cullen Williamson.

I assume this story goes back to the 1970's or even very early 1980's. Cullen was over in Hobucken.  He called Shirley and told her that if she was going down to Lyle's that evening, he wanted to go and for her to come pick him up.  So later on that evening, Shirley drove over to Hobucken to pick up Cullen.  When he got in the car, she could immediately tell that he was "a bit under the weather".  To put it more clearly, he was in good spirits and had even drank some.

So Cullen nestled in the passenger seat of her car and they headed towards Lowland.  Within that short distance, Cullen fell fast asleep as the car rolled along.  Shirley made her turn onto Oyster Creek Road.  When she had rounded the first sharp curve Cullen woke up.  About that time, the headlights on the car was shining into the wooded area before you reached Lyle's entrance.   The lights shone on a sign that said NEBRASKA and Cullen's eyes focused in on that word.  In that instant, Cullen looked at Shirley and said, "My God Shirley, how long was I asleep.  I thought we were going to Lyle's?"

The sign that said Nebraska had come from over in Hyde County.  She said someone had put it up on Oyster Creek Rd.   As for Cullen Williamson, if there ever was an Island character he certainly made his mark.  He was a fun, jolly soul and everyone that encountered was sure to remember him.

A Year of Firsts and Lasts

In Memory Hugh Curtis Foreman

There are some stories that I write that are easy.  Some are cumbersome as I try to find the right words to reflect the topic. And then there are some stories that are hard. This one is hard.

In the past few years of this journal, I have casually mentioned my Dad in a few stories.  But there are many stories that I didn’t write about him.  Stories about how he had contracted “cat scratch fever” as a young boy and was hospitalized in Pungo Hospital. Or the story about him finding a gold coin at the young age of 6 years old and thought his days of poverty were over, only to learn that gold coin was not what it seemed. Or the story about riding to the tobacco market with his Daddy and Poppy.

The hard stories are the ones that you can’t put pen to paper. Like remembering all his days filled with hard work.  His daily grind at Texas Gulf that led to a 40 year career with the company.  The welding work he did for so many commercial fishermen in the community. I can still see him sitting in that big barn with the bright shine of the welding flash reflecting from a piece of steel. The hard work he did to make sure me and Heather had the many things that he did not during his childhood.  

There are the stories of his beloved old English bulldogs. The stories of the many tractor pulls that he drug us to across the state.  The many years that he took us to Raleigh for the state fair, a tradition that continued even after me and Heather had left home.  The stories of him helping those in the community who were in need or needed a helping hand. And of course the hardest story, lung cancer.

From mid November to mid December, me and Heather had watched the strongest man we have ever known diminish so quickly.  The evening before he passed, we both had never prayed so strongly for our dad to be at peace.  The next morning I went in his room.  I sat beside him.  I cried.  I held his hand and I whispered to him.  Those words I will not print here, but he looked at me – his blues eyes, my blue eyes.  At that moment no words had to be spoken.  In the movement of eyes, we knew what the other was saying.  And within the hour, he was gone.

So this year 2016, will be a year of firsts.  We are getting through the days. We are hoping these days of firsts will certainly be better than those days of lasts in 2015.  Yes, we are still reeling of how quickly he is gone from our lives.  From onset to passing, he was gone from our lives within a month. It has been a lot to absorb.  

Me and Heather thank each and every one of you for your kind words of sympathy during this time in which we reflect and remember.  To all of our family, friends and most especially those from our home on Goose Creek Island, and to all the guys who worked alongside him, your compassion and generous support is very much appreciated.  Many blessings to all for 2016.

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.