Lena Rhodes Pearson

Lena "Billie" Rhodes Pearson, 76, of Granite Falls, went to her heavenly home Friday, March 2, 2007.

Mrs. Pearson was born Dec. 1, 1930, in Wilkes County to Smith Issac and Zilla Ella Rhodes.

Mrs. Pearson was a retired registered nurse who worked her last 10 years at Valdese General Hospital after having held positions with public health and other local hospitals. She graduated "first in her class" at Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Morganton in 1963, after making the decision to return to school following the births of her children.

Mrs. Pearson was a member of the Santa Filomena Honor Society for academic excellence.

Mrs. Pearson was the grandmother of seven, who were a special blessing to her and she to them. She always enjoyed having them visit and cooking them her green beans and her banana pudding. She was a member of Mt. Grove Baptist Church.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 58 years, Ben S. Pearson of the home; a daughter, Marsha P. Feldman and her husband, Mark, of Roswell, Ga.; three sons, Mike Pearson and his wife, Bonita, of Winston-Salem, Jim Pearson and his wife, Debbie, of Greer and David Pearson and his wife, Lamyra, of Granite Falls; sisters, Clara Bridges and her husband, Frank, of Brevard, Faye Crutchfield of Greensboro, Ella Mae Nichols and her husband, Nick, of Hickory, Velma Triplett and her husband, Jim, of Millers Creek; brothers, Jim Rhodes and his wife, Joyce, of Brevard and Thomas Rhodes of Millers Creek; grandchildren, Michael I. Pearson of Winston-Salem, Whitney P. Gemo and her husband, Craig, of South Amboy, N.J., Jennifer Pearson of Asheville, James D. Pearson of Raleigh, Adam Feldman and his wife, Kim, and Scott Feldman, all of Ellicott City, Md., and Isaac Pearson of Granite Falls; and a great number of loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Sadie Kanupp, Toyce Tye, Jackie Beula McFarland and Judy McGee.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Pendry chapel with the Rev. John Brashear and Pastor Adam Feldman officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Pendrys Funeral Home in Lenoir. Pallbearers will be Michael Pearson, James Pearson, Adam Feldman, Scott Feldman, Kenny Nichols and Mark Rhodes with honorary pallbearers Whitney Gemo, Jenny Pearson, Isaac Pearson and Kim Feldman.

The memorial internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000 or Crosspointe Community Church, Attn.: Metanoia Church Plant, 77 E. Crossville Road, Roswell, GA 30075. Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory, Lenoir, is assisting the family with arrangements.