Merlene B. Slade

Plymouth – Merlene Britton Slade, age 81, formerly of Aulander, died Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at Kindred Hospital in Greensboro, NC.

Mrs. Slade was born in Pasquotank County, a daughter of the late Clevie Henry and Josie Blowe Britton. She was a member of Connaritsa Baptist Church and had retired from Wachovia Bank as a bank teller with over 37 years of service. Merlene was the widow of J. Willis Slade. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and friend and will be greatly missed.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughters, Ivy Joyce S. Boyce of Ahoskie, and Jan S. Hassell and her husband, Greg of Plymouth; a sister, Janet B. Hoggard of Aulander; her grandchildren, Stephanie B. Gresham of Albemarle,NC, J. Brandon O’Neil Godwin, and Blaine Garrison Hassell, both of Plymouth; and her great grandsons, Tanner Hunt Gresham, Alexander Bradley Gresham and Samuel Garrett Gresham.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at Connaritsa Baptist Church, with the Rev. Hines Adams officiating. Burial will follow in Aulander Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Garrett-Jones Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and will assemble at the funeral home at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, prior to services. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial Program Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA, 23058-5216, or to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC, 27361-0338.