By Staff
Punkin Tanner of 214 West 11th Street, Washington, NC went to be with her Lord Friday July 10, 2009.
She was born July 20, 1938 to the late Norfleet Daniel Hodges and the late Albert Pike. One daughter, Norfleet Daniel Pike (Teny) Tanner who preceded her in death in 1979. She is survived by one son, Marvin Alfred (Fritz) Tanner, Jr. and wife, Sheila of Washington, two daughters: Bryant Tanner McCarthy and husband, Tim of Wilson, NC and Ruth Tanner Wilkins and husband, David of Memphis, TN and one brother: James Irving Hodges, Jr. of Chocowinity, NC. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Marvin Alfred (Mat) Tanner, III, Elizabeth Alston Tanner, Ann Hunt Tanner all of Washington, NC, Tanner Timothy McCarthy, Carolyn Marion McCarthy of Wilson, NC, Stewart Tanner Wilkins, Kate Daniel Wilkins of Memphis, TN.
A celebration of her life will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday July 12, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street, Washington, NC by Rev. Danny Allen and Rev. Susan Harrison. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.
On December 26, 1957, she married Marvin Alfred (Fritz) Tanner, Sr. She often said if one of my children gets married the day after Christmas, she would have a fit. Punkin, attended Saint Agnes School and Washington City School. In high school, Saint Margaret’s School for girls in Tappahannock, VA she attended one year of school in Littleton, NC and finished her education at Peace College in Raleigh, NC.
Punkin was very active in her church, First United Methodist Church in Washington. She served on many different committees until her health did not allow her to. She taught youth Sunday School for many years, Cub Scout Den Mother, member of the Women’s Church Circle, and taught in the Washington Women’s Bible. She taught “Trusting in God” for several years. She was a sponsor at Washington High School for the Girls Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s for many years, and later met with 12 high school girls in her home for Bible study. She also had the acting bug in the 1960’s and stared in two productions of the Washington Little Theater.
Punkin was also a business woman. She owned and operated The Agape Book Store and Jimmy’s Newsstand and Sandwich Shop. Later, she and her husband partnered/managed the Golden Corral in Washington and had investments in the Golden Corral Corp. until retirement in 1994.
Punkin also had an interest in politics. She was past President of the Beaufort County Democratic Women Club. She had the club more active than it had been in years. She brought in some of the past Governors of North Carolina as guest speakers.
Punkin was a past member of the Beaufort County Chapter of D.A.R., a chartered member of the Pine Needles Garden Club and a member of Tea and Topic Book Club.
The family will greet friends 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 304 West 2nd Street, Washington, NC and other times at their home located at 214 West 11th Street.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to: First United Methodist Church, New Horizon Fund, 304 West 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889; American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312; Marion Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889 or University Health Systems, Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, c/o PCMH Foundation, P.O. Box 8489, Greenville, NC 27835-8489.
You may address your condolences to the Tanner Family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is serving the Tanner Family.
Paid Obituary