July 25, 1943 ~ July 25, 2025 (age 82)
Vema Cartrette Cribb of the Beaverdam Community of Chadbourn, NC received the best birthday gift on her 82nd birthday on Friday, July 25, 2025, in the McLeod Seacoast Hospital with her precious family by her side when she entered the presence of the Lord. She was born July 25, 1943, in Columbus County, NC to the late Carvin and Retha Worley Cartrette. She is the widow of the late William Martin “Buddy” Cribb.
She is survived by her adored daughter, Starr Godwin and her husband, Neal; the light of her life, her grandson, Reverend Cody Godwin and his fiancée who she referred to as her granddaughter, Alison Walker; her siblings, Linwood Cartrette and his wife, Sheila and Faye Simmons and her husband, Ricky; her three nieces and one nephew and many friends and loved ones.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her grandsons, the Godwin Triplets.
Vema was a lifelong member of Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church, where she served in many roles, most notably of which was her time as a youth leader that spanned around 50 years. She was dedicated and faithful to serving the Lord with a love and zeal for Christ and making sure that people knew the name of Jesus. Her time was given to people and children in the community. From making sure that people in need in the community had what they needed to making sure that food was carried to the home of the bereaved in the community, she was the arms and feet of Jesus.
A devoted wife, mom, and grandma, she always made sure that her family and home were taken care of. She loved her family greatly and showed that love as well as love to everyone who came into her path. A true southern lady, it was nothing to go to her home and find a home-cooked meal or to be offered something sweet, just to take the edge off the sweet tooth. She was a great cook and baker, especially if you’ve ever had a fresh apple cake, a millionaire pie, or a sought-after peach pie. She made sure that her family always had a great Sunday lunch after church, where she often invited others into her home to have a wonderful meal.
A hard worker from her childhood until she could no longer work anymore, she worked at Whiteville Apparel, National Spinning, and finally retired from Columbus Regional Healthcare System in the accounting department. In addition to her public job, she spent many years as the custodian at Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church. She made sure that the Lord’s House was clean and that the doors were locked and unlocked at the right time.
Her family will receive family and friends on Sunday, July 27, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm in the Sanctuary of Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church, 2665 Beaverdam Road, Chadbourn, NC
The funeral service celebrating the life and legacy of Vema Cartrette Cribb will be held on Monday, July 28, 2025, in the Sanctuary of Beaverdam Original Free Will Baptist Church. Following the funeral service, she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Buddy, in Hinson Cemetery until the glorious appearing of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A special thank you from the family to Fresenius Dialysis Center of Loris and their staff for all the help, love and dedication they gave to Vema. Over the four years of being a patient, she gained a tremendous amount of love for all that work at Fresenius. The family would to also thank the ones who helped to carry her to her dialysis appointments. A special thank you is also extended to the McLeod Seacoast ICU for the care and compassion they showed during her time in the hospital.
A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home and Crematory.
