ROCKY MOUNT - Cleo Marie Pearce O'Connell, age 94, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Cleo was born in Franklin County on November 12, 1926, to Bennie Boddie Pearce and Bertie Kearney Pearce.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob, and siblings, Henry Albert Pearce, Ennis Lee Pearce, Mary Elizabeth Pearce, and Elsie Gray Gagnon, as well as her sister-in-law, Anna Margaret Burke.

She is survived by her two children, Kathleen O'Connell Tapp (Steven) of Durham and Thomas Patrick O'Connell (Elizabeth) of Chapel Hill; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews.

A private family graveside service will be held at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.