Tag Archive for: #sossamonfuneralhome

Cordell Motorcade To Pass By Fire Departments, City Hall Friday

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The funeral service for Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3.

Beginning at 12 noon, however, a motorcade will accompany Fire Engine 5, which will transport Cordell’s coffin from Sossamon Funeral Home to South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.

According to Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan, the motorcade route will pass by both city fire stations as it makes its way from the funeral home to the church.

Upon departure from the funeral home, located on Oxford Road, the motorcade will drive past E.M. Rollins School, where Madigan said schoolchildren are expected to line the street to honor the chief as the motorcade passes by. From there, it will continue past Station 1 on Dabney Drive before turning onto Garnett Street, turning onto Rose Avenue to pass by City Hall and then back up Andrews Avenue to make its final turn onto Americal Road and arrive at the church.

Individuals are invited to gather in the vicinity of Garnett Street and Rose Avenue beginning about noon to pay their respects to the chief, who died Sunday after a battle with cancer.

The motorcade will consist of numerous public safety safety agencies, including fire personnel and motorcycle units of the State Highway Patrol.

WIZS will broadcast live the funeral service from the church at 2 p.m. and will broadcast special music and programming beginning and 1 p.m. as well as following the SHPHC service.

 

Wayne Adcock

Jerry ‘Wayne’ Adcock, Former Vance County Schools Superintendent, Dies at 73

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Obituary and photo courtesy Sossamon Funeral Home

Jerry “Wayne” Adcock 

Former Superintendent of Vance County Schools, Jerry Wayne Adcock, age 73, of Henderson, passed away on November 1, 2020, at Granville House in Oxford.

Born in Vance County on December 4, 1946, he was the son of the late Betty Fleming Adcock and Acy Nelson Adcock.

Wayne was a graduate of Aycock High School, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from UNC in Chapel Hill and a Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Specialist Degree from East Carolina. He was a lifelong resident of Vance County, except for the four years he lived in Chapel Hill.

Former Superintendent of Vance County Schools, Jerry Wayne Adcock, age 73, of Henderson, passed away on November 1, 2020, at Granville House in Oxford.

Wayne began his career in education teaching eighth-grade social studies, health and P.E. in 1969-70 in Townsville High School. He taught civics and algebra 1970-71 at Carver Elementary. He was the lead teacher at Nutbush Elementary, became assistant principal at E.M. Rollins for one year, principal at L.B. Yancey for five years, Clark Street for one year, Carver for two years, Henderson Junior High for 10 years, Vance Senior High four and a half years and Eaton Johnson Middle School for two years.

He served as superintendent of Vance County Schools from July 1996 until January 2003.

He was a member, former deacon and Sunday School teacher at Carey Baptist Church where a graveside service will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 2 p.m. by Rev. Matt Cowan and Rev. Frank Sossamon.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan Steed Adcock. He is also survived by a son, John Nelson Adcock and his wife Mercedes, two grandchildren Hugo David and Eleanor Lylias Adcock all of New Orleans. He is preceded in death by a son, David Wayne Adcock.

Wayne loved the Lord, his family, his Carey Baptist Church family and all who worked for or attended Vance County Schools. He was truly a people person who loved to see former students and to find out what they were doing with their life. Also, Wayne loved the Yankees, the Tarheels and Doo Whoop music.

During his retirement, he enjoyed going to Florida to spring training to see the Yankees play. He also enjoyed many trips to Pennsylvania and New York to attend concerts.

The family would like to thank the staff at Granville House, Kindred Hospice, Dr. Bill Dennis and Lynette Choplin for the care Wayne received.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Carey Baptist Church P. O. Box 637 Henderson, N.C.; Henderson YMCA 380 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, N.C. or Vance County Public School Foundation 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson, N.C. 27536.

Everyone that attends the graveside service is asked to please practice social distancing and wear an appropriate face covering.

Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.

Remembering Adcock on WIZS this morning, John Charles Rose said, “Mr. Adcock was someone who was very close to me and very dear to many people in Vance County. In my life, I’m not sure I’ve ever met a more dignified man. He was always in control of situations in the schools and was a strong man in life.”

Click to hear audio in remembrance of Wayne Adcock…

Sossamon Funeral Home

Funeral Service for Retired Lieutenant Jimmy Cordell – Friday, Sept. 4

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Obituary courtesy Sossamon Funeral Home

James Martin “Jimmy” Cordell, 77, of Henderson, NC died Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at Maria Parham Health.

Born in Durham County, he was the son of the late George Franklin Cordell and Gertrude Hunt Cordell Breland.

Jimmy retired as a Lieutenant in the investigation division of the Vance County Sheriff’s Department where he proudly served for thirty-four years. In recognition of his dedicated service, he was the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from Gov. Mike Easley. He was a member of the Henderson Masonic Lodge #229 and a member of the Granville County Shrine Club and Tri-County Shrine Club and was a member of Amran Temple. He attended Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson.

Surviving are two daughters; Tammy C. Williams (Anthony) and Lisa C. Baker (A.P. III), one son; Steve F. Cordell (Anita), the mother of his children; Linda A. Cordell, seven grandchildren; Matthew Williams, Nathan Williams, Jessica Williams, Payton Baker, Price Baker, Chelsey McCann (William) and Kasey Newcomb (Sam), three great-grandchildren; Kayleigh Mae McCann, Anna Kate McCann and Cullen Sanderson.

A funeral service will be held Friday, September 4, 2020, at 11 a.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, conducted by the Rev. Frank Sossamon and Dr. Gene Wood. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery.

Serving as active pallbearers are Matthew Williams, Nathan Williams, Price Baker, William McCann, Sam Sanderson, W.L. Harris, Tim Robinson and Rudy Hunt. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Department, City of Henderson Fire Department, all Master Masons and Shriners.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

The family will receive friends at his home.

We ask that all who attend the service practice social distancing and wear a face mask. The service will be live-streamed on at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowMURMIKi8cJi3qiNKhsVw.

Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com

On Wednesday’s segment of the noon news, WIZS remembered Cordell. “WIZS expresses its condolences to the family of Jimmy Cordell and to our friend and public servant Steve Cordell, Henderson Fire Chief, on the passing of his father. We will remember Jimmy fondly and respectfully. He had a very good sense of humor and will be greatly missed in our community.”

Sossamon Funeral Home Will Honor Prearrangements, Add Modern Twist to Services

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If you’ve taken a drive down Oxford Road in Henderson over the past week, you may have been surprised to see that the long-standing sign that previously read Flowers Funeral Home now reads Sossamon Funeral Home.

That change in name and ownership came about last week when John Sossamon, age 36, purchased the business from previous owner John Ayscue.

“We’ve been working on it for quite some time; it didn’t happen overnight,” said Sossamon.

In an interview with WIZS Radio, Sossamon put to rest any rumors that Ayscue was full-fledged retiring after the business transaction. “He’s not exactly retiring. We are going to call it ‘semi-retiring.’ John has been with Flowers Funeral Home for 40 years. That’s a long time! He’ll still be here every day – Monday through Friday – but I think we’ll give him the weekends off,” joked Sossamon.

Sossamon, who had been out of the funeral home business for several years, said his desire to help people in difficult times brought him back. “I’m ready to get back. I enjoy helping people, especially in their time of need.”

“Their time of need” includes looking for guidance, direction and comfort, according to Sossamon. “As a funeral director, people pay me to carry out their wishes or their loved ones’ wishes the way they want them carried out and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

While he intends to honor the traditions established by previous owners Carlton Flowers, Irene Flowers and John Ayscue, Sossamon said services will undergo a “modernization” with additions such as slideshows and live streaming of videos for those family members and friends who are not able to physically attend.

In the spirit of honoring traditions, Sossamon wants to reassure the community that any prearrangements that were made with Flowers Funeral Home will be upheld and honored.

“We’ve had a lot of calls and texts asking about prearrangements; preparations that were done by Flowers Funeral Home are safe with Sossamon Funeral Home.”

When asked what prompted the name change, Sossamon replied that it was all about family and passing the business on to future generations. “We wanted to make it about our family to your family. I want my children to continue on with it one day.”

The Sossamon name is a familiar one in the local community as John’s father Rev. Frank Sossamon is the long-serving senior pastor of South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.

When asked about the Reverend’s involvement at the funeral home, Sossamon replied that his father will remain at the church full-time but will be available for visitations or services “as he knows most of the families that will come through these doors.”

Sossamon agrees that he and his father are very much alike in all but musical talent. “Since I closed on the business, I can’t tell you how many people have said I look like my dad and sound like him. I always tell them that I don’t sing like him!”

Along with working with his father, Sossamon is also looking forward to his interactions with other funeral homes in the community and said he is grateful for the respectful relationship that they already share. “I think a lot of those people. We are all in the service industry and we serve people.”

Sossamon welcomes all those with questions or those who just want to say hello to call (252) 438-4717 or stop by Sossamon Funeral Home for a chat.

To hear the interview with John Sossamon as played on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program, please click here.