Monday, August 27, 2018 12:43 pm

NASHVILLE - Minnie "Viola" Bennett Meade passed away Saturday, August 25, 2018. Viola was born July 1, 1924 in Martin County to Robert Frank and Minnie Bell Gardner Bennett. She was the middle of their eleven children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers: Franklin, William, Henry and C.D. Bennett; sisters: Frances B. Council, Beulah B. Hunter, Louise B. Askew, and Annie Maude Donald.

She is survived by her daughters, Joan M. Sykes (Ray) of Rocky Mount and Carolyn M. Vick (Jackie B.) of Dortches; sisters: Shirley B. Vinson of Portsmouth, VA and Lorene B. Paul (Brinson) of Murfreesboro; sisters-in-law: Marion M. Houle of Brush Prairie, WA, Pearl V. Bennett of Murfreesboro; brother-in-law: Aubrey L. Meade, Sr. of Lake Royale; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren: several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Nashville Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 3 p.m. with Rev. Kenny Byrd and Rev. Dougald McLaurin officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the church Fellowship Hall. At other times, the family will receive friends and family at the homes of her daughters. A private interment with the family will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Nashville the following day at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army online [give.salvationarmyusa.org or 420 Paul St. Rocky Mount, NC 27803] or to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford [mhc-oxford.org/ways-to-help or 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565]

Arrangements by Cornerstone Funeral Home and Creamations, Nashville.