Alphonzo Perry – Sept. 6, 1931 – Feb. 26, 2012

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Alphonzo Perry, 80, a resident of Jamesville, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, due to a recent illness. Al was married to the love of his life, Rae Leggett Perry from Hassell on April 15, 1955. They were married 56 years.

Alphonzo Perry

Al was born to the late James McKager Perry & Lydia Lassiter Perry on Sept. 6, 1931, in Jamesville. Upon graduation from Jamesville High School, Al went to work for the N.C. Pulp & Paper Company, cruising timber. In 1957, he was named Land Manager. In 1961, when Weyerhaeuser took over operations, he became Assistant District Forester looking after fire control and 250,000 acres of tree plantings. In 1971-72 he was a Regeneration Forester for all of the North Carolina Region for Weyerhaeuser, overseeing 500,000 acres of reseeding woodlands. From 1972-1982, he was the Road Management Supervisor assisting with the maintaining of 948 miles of Weyerhaeuser Roadways. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters. In 1991, Al retired from Weyerhaeuser Corporation.

Al became a Registered Forester (N.C.) in 1962. From 2004-2008 he served as a Martin County Commissioner. He was Chairman of the Committee 100. Al served on the Martin County Travel & Tourism Board as well as the Martin County Regional Water & Sewer Authority. He also served on the Southern Albemarle Highway Association. Al was very passionate about Martin County and preserving the land for its people.

Al accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at 12 years of age at the Maple Grove Christian Church in Farm Life. Al was a member and deacon of the Jamesville Christian Church and the Christian Men’s Fellowship. He attended many of the Albemarle District Meetings for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Al loved his church and was known for the birdhouses that he would build and were sold on behalf of the church. He enjoyed the great outdoors, fishing, and was known for his love of trees.

Survivors include his wife, Rae Perry of Jamesville; son, Albert Perry and wife Grace of Jamesville; daughter, Karen Brewer and husband Larry of Wake Forest; and son, Jeffrey Perry and wife Brenda of Jamesville; grandchildren, Andrew Perry and wife Jennifer of Greenville, Blake Perry of Jamesville, Allison Perry of Fayetteville, Kara Perry of Jamesville, Rachel Brewer of Wake Forest; and one great-grandchild, Abigail Perry of Greenville. Al is survived by his sisters, Darene Jones of Chesapeake, Va., Marjorie Stalls of Williamston, Mary Eva Kane Westminister, S.C., and brother, Randy Perry and wife Jane of Jamesville.

Al is pre-deceased by his parents, his siblings James Perry, Marvin Perry, Dorothy Lambert, Shirley Harris, Thelma Louise Baggett, and daughter-in-law Kimberly Weaver Perry.

We would like to thank the staff of the Washington County Hospital for their care of Al during his stay. The family would also like to thank Community Home Care & Hospice, especially Trey Knox, Jackie Ange and Tarasita Davenport for their care and comfort of our family during this time.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Cedar Branch Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. tonight at Cedar Branch Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Jamesville Christian Church Building Fund or the Jamesville Fire and Rescue Department.

Arrangements are by Biggs Funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.biggsfuneralswilliamston.com.