On Friday, July 17, 2009, our mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, niece, aunt, cousin and friend, Nellie Holland Saunders Cabarrus entered into eternal peaceful sleep at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Va., after a brief illness.
The daughter of the late William and Calily Holland, Nellie was born May 5, 1931. She attended Little Fork School and Nansemond County Training School in Holland, Va.
Nellie married the late George Aldrich Saunders on April 8, 1948. From this union six children were born. After George’s untimely death in 1969, she married Harry Cabarrus in 1976. At an early age, Nellie dedicated her life to Christ and joined Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va.
For 41 years, she filled the stomachs of those driving along Highway 189 with fried chicken, fried crabs, barbeque sandwiches, and the best “Big-Beef” burgers ever. Nellie also filled their souls with a friendly smile, exuberant laughter, and memories that will forever be etched in their minds.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, George A Saunders and Harry Cabarrus; two daughters, Nellie Uyonne Saunders and Ellen Lorraine Saunders Daniel; and one stepdaughter, Addie Marie Cabarrus.
Nellie leaves to cherish her memory one sister, Mary Gatling; three daughters, Carrie Wiggins (Vernard), of Suffolk, Va., Audrey S. Coppedge (George), of Hampton, Va., and Katheryn S. Starks (Robert), of Suffolk, Va.; one son, George H. Saunders, of Suffolk, Va.; and one stepdaughter, Gloria Basnight, of Norfolk, Va.
She will always be cherished in the hearts of 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, two great aunts, Willie Mae Lawrence and Essie Goings; and a host of in-laws, cousins, relatives and friends.
A celebration of Nellie’s life will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 6100 Holy Neck Road, Suffolk, Va., where the Rev. Joseph Goode will officiate. The body will be available for viewing at the church beginning at 11 a.m.
Professional services are being entrusted to Nellie’s life-long friend, Mr. Henry Lee Peebles, of Peebles Funeral Home, 1016 E. Washington St., Suffolk, Va. 757-539-0205.