MANTEO, NC- Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater, the only woman in the history of NC to hold the post of Wreck Commissioner, among the first to manage a telegraph office and long a leading figure in the religious, fraternal and civic life of northeastern North Carolina, died in the Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, shortly before midnight Tuesday night, December 16, 1952, 12 hours after suffering the first of a series of cerebral hemorrhages.
Coming as a bride to Manteo from her native Currituck County 47 years ago at the age of 20, she shortly was taught telegraphy by her husband, who was in charge of communications for the U. S. Weather Bureau and when the Western Union established an office here, she was placed in charge of it, a post in which she continued until her death.
She was appointed Wreck Commissioner, once a post of great importance, by Gov. J.M. Broughton and reappointed by Gov. Cherry. Her husband was appointed to succeed her by Gov. Scott.
Too shocked to remember clearly Wednesday, Dec. 17, her bereaved husband was not too sure of his recollection, but she used to recall that it was 49 years ago this week when she first met her husband. He was on duty on the beach across Currituck Sound from her home on Long Point, having established a telegraph office there to keep President Theodore Roosevelt informed as to progress in the salvage of the first submarine, the Moccasin. It was from there that he sent out 49 years ago Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1952 the message that informed a not particularly interested world that the Wrights had flown an airplane from Kill Devil Hill.
After 1903, she came to Manteo and taught for a year in the schools of the town and the following summer, she was married at her home in Currituck. A home was built that in time came to be the center of the community's celebrated hospitality.
She was an ardent gardener, and the grounds around her house have long been a show place on Roanoke Island.
Always, she had time for her family, her husband and his friends, her telegraph office, her flowers, her church and the fraternal organizations in which she was always active. She was one of the charter members of the Roanoke Island Garden Club, the Manteo Music Club, the Home Demonstration Club, the Rebekah Lodge and the Eastern Star. She was also active in the work of Mt. Olivet Church, from which she will be buried Thursday, Dec. 18, 1952.
Surviving besides her husband are two daughters: Mrs. Dorothy Drinkwater of Manteo and Mrs. John L. Booth of Norfolk; 3 grandsons, the oldest of which grew up as her own child. Also surviving are her step-mother, Mrs. Annie L. Gray of Norfolk and two half-sisters: Mrs. Ethel Gray Lewis and Mrs. Marian Gray Coleman, both of Norfolk; a half-brother, C.K. Gray of Norfolk.
The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, Thursday, 18 Dec 1952
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Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater and in her own right one of the most widely influential and beloved women ever to live in Dare County, and for more than two score years a leader in the community's religious, civic and fraternal life, died at 11:29 in Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City after a series of massive cerebral hemorrhages which began before mid-day.
Conscious almost to the moment of her death, Mrs. Drinkwater, though she must have realized the gravity of her condition better even than those around her, continued to be cheerful and she died, after an instant of apparently convulsive pain, her hand in the hands of her oldest daughter who was with her from the moment of the onset of the attack that ended her life.
Also at her bedside was Dr. C.R. Brown of Manteo and Dr. W.W. Sawyer of Elizabeth City who had just left the hospital in a hopeful mind about her recovery, provided she survived the initial stages of the attack.
Until the last night of her life Mrs. Drinkwater was active in her home, in her community and on the last evening attended one of the organizations with which she was so long and influentially connected. She awoke feeling unwell Tuesday morning with little energy for the day's duties, as she remarked to Mr. Drinkwater when she set about the day. He urged her to just take it easy and within two hours the first minor attack came on. Physicians in attendance which also included Dr. W.W. Johnston, were agreed that a massive hemorrhage at the base of the brain had occurred and might recur unless she was kept quiet. She was not alarmed or if she was she gave no hint of it.
Funeral services for Mrs. A.W. Drinkwater were conducted Thursday afternoon in Mount Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo by Rev. H.R. Ashmore and Rev. H.V. Napier. Mrs. E.R. Wescott and Mrs. H.A. Creef sang "Whispering Hope"; Robert H. Midgett sang "Crossing the Bar"; John H. Long sang "Good Night and Good Morning"; and the church choir sang "Abide With me", "Now the Day is Over" and "We Shall Sleep But Not Forever".
Services were concluded at the grave in Manteo Cemetery by the Manteo Rebekah Lodge. The choir sang "We'll Never Say Goodbye" and the Rebekah nymn "Nearer My God to Thee". Pallbearers were Sam Midgett, Belton Burrus, Edwin Midgett, Raymond Wescott, G.G. Bonner and Robert Ballance.
The Coastland Times, Manteo, NC, Friday, 19 Dec 1952
Coming as a bride to Manteo from her native Currituck County 47 years ago at the age of 20, she shortly was taught telegraphy by her husband, who was in charge of communications for the U. S. Weather Bureau and when the Western Union established an office here, she was placed in charge of it, a post in which she continued until her death.
She was appointed Wreck Commissioner, once a post of great importance, by Gov. J.M. Broughton and reappointed by Gov. Cherry. Her husband was appointed to succeed her by Gov. Scott.
Too shocked to remember clearly Wednesday, Dec. 17, her bereaved husband was not too sure of his recollection, but she used to recall that it was 49 years ago this week when she first met her husband. He was on duty on the beach across Currituck Sound from her home on Long Point, having established a telegraph office there to keep President Theodore Roosevelt informed as to progress in the salvage of the first submarine, the Moccasin. It was from there that he sent out 49 years ago Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1952 the message that informed a not particularly interested world that the Wrights had flown an airplane from Kill Devil Hill.
After 1903, she came to Manteo and taught for a year in the schools of the town and the following summer, she was married at her home in Currituck. A home was built that in time came to be the center of the community's celebrated hospitality.
She was an ardent gardener, and the grounds around her house have long been a show place on Roanoke Island.
Always, she had time for her family, her husband and his friends, her telegraph office, her flowers, her church and the fraternal organizations in which she was always active. She was one of the charter members of the Roanoke Island Garden Club, the Manteo Music Club, the Home Demonstration Club, the Rebekah Lodge and the Eastern Star. She was also active in the work of Mt. Olivet Church, from which she will be buried Thursday, Dec. 18, 1952.
Surviving besides her husband are two daughters: Mrs. Dorothy Drinkwater of Manteo and Mrs. John L. Booth of Norfolk; 3 grandsons, the oldest of which grew up as her own child. Also surviving are her step-mother, Mrs. Annie L. Gray of Norfolk and two half-sisters: Mrs. Ethel Gray Lewis and Mrs. Marian Gray Coleman, both of Norfolk; a half-brother, C.K. Gray of Norfolk.
The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, Thursday, 18 Dec 1952
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater and in her own right one of the most widely influential and beloved women ever to live in Dare County, and for more than two score years a leader in the community's religious, civic and fraternal life, died at 11:29 in Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City after a series of massive cerebral hemorrhages which began before mid-day.
Conscious almost to the moment of her death, Mrs. Drinkwater, though she must have realized the gravity of her condition better even than those around her, continued to be cheerful and she died, after an instant of apparently convulsive pain, her hand in the hands of her oldest daughter who was with her from the moment of the onset of the attack that ended her life.
Also at her bedside was Dr. C.R. Brown of Manteo and Dr. W.W. Sawyer of Elizabeth City who had just left the hospital in a hopeful mind about her recovery, provided she survived the initial stages of the attack.
Until the last night of her life Mrs. Drinkwater was active in her home, in her community and on the last evening attended one of the organizations with which she was so long and influentially connected. She awoke feeling unwell Tuesday morning with little energy for the day's duties, as she remarked to Mr. Drinkwater when she set about the day. He urged her to just take it easy and within two hours the first minor attack came on. Physicians in attendance which also included Dr. W.W. Johnston, were agreed that a massive hemorrhage at the base of the brain had occurred and might recur unless she was kept quiet. She was not alarmed or if she was she gave no hint of it.
Funeral services for Mrs. A.W. Drinkwater were conducted Thursday afternoon in Mount Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo by Rev. H.R. Ashmore and Rev. H.V. Napier. Mrs. E.R. Wescott and Mrs. H.A. Creef sang "Whispering Hope"; Robert H. Midgett sang "Crossing the Bar"; John H. Long sang "Good Night and Good Morning"; and the church choir sang "Abide With me", "Now the Day is Over" and "We Shall Sleep But Not Forever".
Services were concluded at the grave in Manteo Cemetery by the Manteo Rebekah Lodge. The choir sang "We'll Never Say Goodbye" and the Rebekah nymn "Nearer My God to Thee". Pallbearers were Sam Midgett, Belton Burrus, Edwin Midgett, Raymond Wescott, G.G. Bonner and Robert Ballance.
The Coastland Times, Manteo, NC, Friday, 19 Dec 1952
MANTEO, NC- Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater, the only woman in the history of NC to hold the post of Wreck Commissioner, among the first to manage a telegraph office and long a leading figure in the religious, fraternal and civic life of northeastern North Carolina, died in the Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, shortly before midnight Tuesday night, December 16, 1952, 12 hours after suffering the first of a series of cerebral hemorrhages.
Coming as a bride to Manteo from her native Currituck County 47 years ago at the age of 20, she shortly was taught telegraphy by her husband, who was in charge of communications for the U. S. Weather Bureau and when the Western Union established an office here, she was placed in charge of it, a post in which she continued until her death.
She was appointed Wreck Commissioner, once a post of great importance, by Gov. J.M. Broughton and reappointed by Gov. Cherry. Her husband was appointed to succeed her by Gov. Scott.
Too shocked to remember clearly Wednesday, Dec. 17, her bereaved husband was not too sure of his recollection, but she used to recall that it was 49 years ago this week when she first met her husband. He was on duty on the beach across Currituck Sound from her home on Long Point, having established a telegraph office there to keep President Theodore Roosevelt informed as to progress in the salvage of the first submarine, the Moccasin. It was from there that he sent out 49 years ago Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1952 the message that informed a not particularly interested world that the Wrights had flown an airplane from Kill Devil Hill.
After 1903, she came to Manteo and taught for a year in the schools of the town and the following summer, she was married at her home in Currituck. A home was built that in time came to be the center of the community's celebrated hospitality.
She was an ardent gardener, and the grounds around her house have long been a show place on Roanoke Island.
Always, she had time for her family, her husband and his friends, her telegraph office, her flowers, her church and the fraternal organizations in which she was always active. She was one of the charter members of the Roanoke Island Garden Club, the Manteo Music Club, the Home Demonstration Club, the Rebekah Lodge and the Eastern Star. She was also active in the work of Mt. Olivet Church, from which she will be buried Thursday, Dec. 18, 1952.
Surviving besides her husband are two daughters: Mrs. Dorothy Drinkwater of Manteo and Mrs. John L. Booth of Norfolk; 3 grandsons, the oldest of which grew up as her own child. Also surviving are her step-mother, Mrs. Annie L. Gray of Norfolk and two half-sisters: Mrs. Ethel Gray Lewis and Mrs. Marian Gray Coleman, both of Norfolk; a half-brother, C.K. Gray of Norfolk.
The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, Thursday, 18 Dec 1952
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater and in her own right one of the most widely influential and beloved women ever to live in Dare County, and for more than two score years a leader in the community's religious, civic and fraternal life, died at 11:29 in Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City after a series of massive cerebral hemorrhages which began before mid-day.
Conscious almost to the moment of her death, Mrs. Drinkwater, though she must have realized the gravity of her condition better even than those around her, continued to be cheerful and she died, after an instant of apparently convulsive pain, her hand in the hands of her oldest daughter who was with her from the moment of the onset of the attack that ended her life.
Also at her bedside was Dr. C.R. Brown of Manteo and Dr. W.W. Sawyer of Elizabeth City who had just left the hospital in a hopeful mind about her recovery, provided she survived the initial stages of the attack.
Until the last night of her life Mrs. Drinkwater was active in her home, in her community and on the last evening attended one of the organizations with which she was so long and influentially connected. She awoke feeling unwell Tuesday morning with little energy for the day's duties, as she remarked to Mr. Drinkwater when she set about the day. He urged her to just take it easy and within two hours the first minor attack came on. Physicians in attendance which also included Dr. W.W. Johnston, were agreed that a massive hemorrhage at the base of the brain had occurred and might recur unless she was kept quiet. She was not alarmed or if she was she gave no hint of it.
Funeral services for Mrs. A.W. Drinkwater were conducted Thursday afternoon in Mount Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo by Rev. H.R. Ashmore and Rev. H.V. Napier. Mrs. E.R. Wescott and Mrs. H.A. Creef sang "Whispering Hope"; Robert H. Midgett sang "Crossing the Bar"; John H. Long sang "Good Night and Good Morning"; and the church choir sang "Abide With me", "Now the Day is Over" and "We Shall Sleep But Not Forever".
Services were concluded at the grave in Manteo Cemetery by the Manteo Rebekah Lodge. The choir sang "We'll Never Say Goodbye" and the Rebekah nymn "Nearer My God to Thee". Pallbearers were Sam Midgett, Belton Burrus, Edwin Midgett, Raymond Wescott, G.G. Bonner and Robert Ballance.
The Coastland Times, Manteo, NC, Friday, 19 Dec 1952
Coming as a bride to Manteo from her native Currituck County 47 years ago at the age of 20, she shortly was taught telegraphy by her husband, who was in charge of communications for the U. S. Weather Bureau and when the Western Union established an office here, she was placed in charge of it, a post in which she continued until her death.
She was appointed Wreck Commissioner, once a post of great importance, by Gov. J.M. Broughton and reappointed by Gov. Cherry. Her husband was appointed to succeed her by Gov. Scott.
Too shocked to remember clearly Wednesday, Dec. 17, her bereaved husband was not too sure of his recollection, but she used to recall that it was 49 years ago this week when she first met her husband. He was on duty on the beach across Currituck Sound from her home on Long Point, having established a telegraph office there to keep President Theodore Roosevelt informed as to progress in the salvage of the first submarine, the Moccasin. It was from there that he sent out 49 years ago Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1952 the message that informed a not particularly interested world that the Wrights had flown an airplane from Kill Devil Hill.
After 1903, she came to Manteo and taught for a year in the schools of the town and the following summer, she was married at her home in Currituck. A home was built that in time came to be the center of the community's celebrated hospitality.
She was an ardent gardener, and the grounds around her house have long been a show place on Roanoke Island.
Always, she had time for her family, her husband and his friends, her telegraph office, her flowers, her church and the fraternal organizations in which she was always active. She was one of the charter members of the Roanoke Island Garden Club, the Manteo Music Club, the Home Demonstration Club, the Rebekah Lodge and the Eastern Star. She was also active in the work of Mt. Olivet Church, from which she will be buried Thursday, Dec. 18, 1952.
Surviving besides her husband are two daughters: Mrs. Dorothy Drinkwater of Manteo and Mrs. John L. Booth of Norfolk; 3 grandsons, the oldest of which grew up as her own child. Also surviving are her step-mother, Mrs. Annie L. Gray of Norfolk and two half-sisters: Mrs. Ethel Gray Lewis and Mrs. Marian Gray Coleman, both of Norfolk; a half-brother, C.K. Gray of Norfolk.
The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, Thursday, 18 Dec 1952
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Rosa Gray Drinkwater, wife of Alpheus W. Drinkwater and in her own right one of the most widely influential and beloved women ever to live in Dare County, and for more than two score years a leader in the community's religious, civic and fraternal life, died at 11:29 in Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City after a series of massive cerebral hemorrhages which began before mid-day.
Conscious almost to the moment of her death, Mrs. Drinkwater, though she must have realized the gravity of her condition better even than those around her, continued to be cheerful and she died, after an instant of apparently convulsive pain, her hand in the hands of her oldest daughter who was with her from the moment of the onset of the attack that ended her life.
Also at her bedside was Dr. C.R. Brown of Manteo and Dr. W.W. Sawyer of Elizabeth City who had just left the hospital in a hopeful mind about her recovery, provided she survived the initial stages of the attack.
Until the last night of her life Mrs. Drinkwater was active in her home, in her community and on the last evening attended one of the organizations with which she was so long and influentially connected. She awoke feeling unwell Tuesday morning with little energy for the day's duties, as she remarked to Mr. Drinkwater when she set about the day. He urged her to just take it easy and within two hours the first minor attack came on. Physicians in attendance which also included Dr. W.W. Johnston, were agreed that a massive hemorrhage at the base of the brain had occurred and might recur unless she was kept quiet. She was not alarmed or if she was she gave no hint of it.
Funeral services for Mrs. A.W. Drinkwater were conducted Thursday afternoon in Mount Olivet Methodist Church in Manteo by Rev. H.R. Ashmore and Rev. H.V. Napier. Mrs. E.R. Wescott and Mrs. H.A. Creef sang "Whispering Hope"; Robert H. Midgett sang "Crossing the Bar"; John H. Long sang "Good Night and Good Morning"; and the church choir sang "Abide With me", "Now the Day is Over" and "We Shall Sleep But Not Forever".
Services were concluded at the grave in Manteo Cemetery by the Manteo Rebekah Lodge. The choir sang "We'll Never Say Goodbye" and the Rebekah nymn "Nearer My God to Thee". Pallbearers were Sam Midgett, Belton Burrus, Edwin Midgett, Raymond Wescott, G.G. Bonner and Robert Ballance.
The Coastland Times, Manteo, NC, Friday, 19 Dec 1952
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