December 20, 1932 ~ September 18, 2024 (age 91)
Essie Pauline Nealey age 91 of Tabor City, died Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in Tabor Commons Assisted Living, Tabor City. She was the daughter of the late Odell Watts and Eva Bell Watts. She was a member of Tabor City Holiness Tabernacle for 73 years where she was the church secretary.
She is survived by one son, Terry Nealey and wife Robin of Tabor City, NC, one daughter, Sherry Strickland of Tabor City, NC, one brother, Homer Watts and one sister, Princess Olshinski both of Thomasville, NC. Fourteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great grandchildren, two and great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Leon Nealey, two sons, Gary and Greg Nealey, one daughter, Penny McCumbee, one grandson, Terry Leon Nealey II, four brothers, Hubert Watts, Grady Watts, Hoyt Watts, Frank Watts, and five sisters, Gladys Graham, Mary Lou Bullard, Myrtie Blanton, Elizabeth Tyler Marie Coleman.
Special thanks to the staff of Tabor Commons for their great care during her stay and to Lower Cape Fear Hospice.
Visitation will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 7:00pm until 9:00pm in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 2:00pm in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tabor City, NC.
A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home & Crematory of Tabor City.
