Trula Tice Peele

Published 7:49 pm Monday, June 19, 2017

Trula Hardison Tice Peele, 89, of Williamston, died Saturday, June 17, 2017 at her home in Farm Life.

Sarah Gurtrude (Trula) was born in the Martin County community of Farm Life to the late Rufus and Katie Corey Hardison on November 16, 1927. She attended Farm Life School and married Oscar Tice on January 25, 1948. They celebrated 52 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2000. On March 2, 2002, she married Bruce L. Peele Sr. and they spent 12 happy years together until his death on June 17, 2014.

She and her late sister, Mary Dean Griffin, together owned and operated Griffin and Tice Catering for over 40 years. In addition to the many wedding receptions catered throughout eastern N.C., Trula was best known for her homemade decorated pound cakes and party squares. She was also a lifetime member of Maple Grove Christian Church in Jamesville and a charter and active member of the Farm Life Ruritanettes for 59 years. She will be remembered for her love of her church, family, friends, cooking, gardening and creating beautiful flower arrangements.

Trula is survived by daughters Sherry Tice Davis and husband Jim of Raleigh; Carol Tice Bazemore and husband Larry of Williamston; granddaughter Katy Bazemore Carman and great-grandson Eric Carman; grandson Jesse Bazemore and wife Holly of Cary; brothers William (Willie) Hardison and wife Crissie, and Randy Hardison and wife Edie; sister-in-law Susie Sibert of Cocoa Beach, Florida; and brother-in-law Wilford Griffin. Trula is also survived by many special nieces and nephews, and a goddaughter Julia Sara Mobley Boyd of Falls Church, Virginia.

The family would like to acknowledge the following caregivers who loved and cared for “Miss Trula” during her time of illness at home: Sybil Tolson, Clara Moody, Keisha Lynch, Bobbie Jean Laughinghouse, Sonia Pearsall, Lois Pearsall, Carla Griffin and the compassionate employees of Community Home Care & Hospice.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the Maple Grove Christian Church, 1500 Maple Grove Church Road in Jamesville. Visitation at the church prior to the funeral service from 1:30–2:45 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Tice Community Cemetery. The family will also receive friends at the home, 2121 Piney Grove Church Road, Williamston. Flowers are welcomed or memorial contributions can be made to the Maple Grove Church Family Life Center. Friends may send online condolences by visiting www.jimmysawyerfdl.com. Sawyer Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Williamston is serving the Peele family.