Henrietta “Rhet” Perrin Abell Wilkinson

Henrietta Perrin Abell Wilkinson, age 76, died peacefully at Our Community Hospital in Scotland Neck on Tuesday, Janury 21, 2014. She was born November 24, 1937 in Union, SC. She attended the University of South Carolina, and obtained her B.S., and Masters degree from East Carolina University. Better known to everyone as Rhet, she served thirty years in the Special Education Department of the Halifax County Schools before her retirement in June of 2002. Rhet was in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) where she served several terms as Chapter Regent, Charter Register, District Director of District VIII, State Chairman Transportation and Good Citizenship Committees, and State Outstanding Jr. Member. She was Lector and Chalicist of Trinity Episcopal Church in Scotland Neck. Rhet was in the Order of the Daughters of the King (Women of the Episcopal Church). She was devoted to prayer, servitude, and evangelism. She was the president of the local Blanche Chapter, Vice President Diocese of NC, President Diocese of NC, and Historian of Province IV. She was also a member of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century. Rhet was very proud of her heritage, in particular her Scottish heritage, and was a member of Clan Donald USA, and Clan Irwin Association.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Nettie McCall Perrin, Dr. William Henry Perrin, Frank Erwin Abell, Sr., Kathleen Hamilton Abell; her parents, Lillian Perrin Dreier and Robert Walker Abell, her sister, Faye Atkinson Abell, and her son, James Thomas Wilkinson, III.

Rhet is survived by her husband of 55 years, James Thomas Wilkinson, Jr.; her daughter, Perrin Wilkinson Gardner and husband, Willie Bryan Gardner, Jr.; grandson, Willie Bryan Gardner, III, all of Scotland Neck, NC; her brother, Charles Perrin Dreier and his wife, Harriet of Irmo, SC; three sisters: Carlisle Perrin Simon of Marysville, TN, Martha Abell Hatcher and her husband, Wayne of Lowrys, SC, Edie Abell Cantrell and her husband, Ray of Lowrys, SC; a beloved step-mother, Julia Atkinson Abell of Lowrys, SC; a sister-in-law, Marion ‘Sis’ Wilkinson Scott of Scotland Neck, NC; ‘Number 2 Son’, Foster Allen Forbes and his wife Cathy Johnston-Forbes of Kitty Hawk, NC; and many nieces and nephews.