The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-02-10
Roanoke ISLANDS AGED
AND GREAT ARE GOING FAST
BIZ VICTOR MEEKlNS

Six of us Sunday had the solemn
honor of carving to her last rest
ing place another of the aged and
the great of Roanoke Island OF
whom so many have drifted
off into final sleep this win
Ter. Mrs. Eliza Ann Irvine,
90, the oldest resident of the
community in which ] was rear
ed was one of the greatest. She
lived life of unostentatious good
ness, and faithfully every Sunday,
she came into the Roanoke Island
Baptist church. having walked two
miles of sandy road, and always
her son was there too. Despite all
her devotion to her church, / do
not recall having seen her in the
choir, or on the front row Of any,
thing, yet she was always the best
dressed woman who attended that
church, and her gowns were the
envy of all other women. She was
her own designer, and a matchless
seamstress who also sewed for
other women, and her services were
sought above all others by tho e
who could afford to have their
dresses made away from home.
Back in those days of my boy
hood the garments a woman wore
to church were of consequence to
all other women, and sometimes on
special occasions, women who fall
ed to get to church at such times
asked first "What kind of a dress
did Eliza Ann Wear?"
This good woman, who merited
all the differences contained in
those soaring verses of 31st pro-
verbs concerning the worth of a
virtuous woman. ever looked we'll to
her own household, and she brought
up her son in the way he should
go so he was a comfort and strene-
tn to her all the days of her life. No
woman was more esteemed by her
neighbors. nor more respected in
her church; nor more appreciated
for her good works. She was never
a burden to anyone.
Thirty years ago her husband,
walked out in his field a few days
before his death, and stuck down
an old musket barrel to mark the
spot where he wished to be buried.
In the intervening years, the pines
have grown 80 feet in height all
around, and they We're removed so
Mrs. Irvine could be buried beside
her husband, Sunday.
She will long . remembered for
her life of goodness and usefulness.
Many friends of other years came
from distant towns to pay their
last respects to her.
Since his retirement IL years
ago, when he returned to his old
home at Wanchese where he and
Mrs. Davis built a modern brick
home, James w. Davis has done his
share of travelling. For the fourth
time since retirement, Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis completed a 5000 mile auto
trip recently, the purpose to visit a
son in Texas. They visited Houston,
Ell Paso, albuquerque, Brownsville.
and even Juarez, Mexico. No people
of this area made such long jour-
reys before automobiles became
prevalent. Now, many people from
the coastland take long trips each
year. Florida, Canada, the west
coast, as we'll as Mexico are the
goals of many each season, and
some of our citizens go to, Europe,
Hawaii and the caribbean as well.
In addition to his trips to visit his
sons, Mr.. Davis has made many
other journeys, at his own expense
in behalf of community projects, to
Washington, D. C. and other cities,
perhaps having given more time
in behalf of his community than
any other one of its citizens.