Pansy’s Obituary Pansy Leigh Alderman Elliott, 91 and a half years old, of 112 West Gale Street, Edenton, NC, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, in Vidant Chowan Hospital. Born on September 2, 1927, the daughter of the late Daniel Grey and Maude Stilley Alderman of Rose Hill, Duplin County, NC, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, James Douglas Elliott, Sr. in 2006; her sisters, Frances Alderman Quinn, and eight year old Lila Grey Alderman; her brother, Daniel Grey Alderman, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Edsel B. Rivenbark, Sr. and I.J. Quinn, Sr.; son-in-law, Thomas Julian Long, Jr.; and nephew, Edsel B. Rivenbark, Jr. Surviving are her three children, James Douglas Elliott, Jr. and wife, Carol, of Edenton, Dale A. Elliott Long of Elizabeth City, and Chris Branning Elliott and wife, Mary, of Edenton; her grandchildren, Thomas Julian Long, III and wife, Deborah, of Greenville, Emily Elliott Matthews and husband, James, of Bahama, Durham County, James Douglas Elliott, III of Edenton, Richard Ryland Douglas Elliott and wife, Sallie, of Raleigh, and Katherine Grey Elliott and fiancé, Dr. David Wilson, of Boston, MA; her great-grandchildren, Evan Alexander, Lauren, Emma, Ava, Nolan, Connor, Marshall, and Cora Gayle Matthews, Thomas Julian Long, IV, Maria Olivia and Madison Leigh Long, and Lily Ann Elliott. Also surviving are her sister, Irene A. Rivenbark of Wallace; her sister-in-law, Carolyn Alderman of Wilmington; a nephew, I.J. Quinn, Jr. and wife, Kimberly, of Wallace; a niece, Sandra Rivenbark Rackley and husband, David, of Atlanta, GA; great-nieces and great-nephews, Josh and Staci Quinn, twins Jack and Anna Carson Quinn, and Charles David Rackley and wife, Ainsley.
Pansy loved her family. She was a loyal member from early childhood of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in Rose Hill, NC.
After she and her husband married in 1946, they moved their membership to Edenton Baptist Church, where as a faithful member she sang soprano in the choir for over 50 years, was treasurer of the WMU, President of the Mary Bethany Sunday School Class, and leader of the Mary Powell Circle. After graduating from Rose Hill High School, she entered Peace College in Raleigh, majoring in Business, and after, worked in the Entomology Department at NC State University until her fiancé, J.D., came home from the war in 1946. She afterwards attained the Associate of Arts Degree from College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting from ECSU.
She graduated from the two-year County Administration Course at the Institute of Government UNC at Chapel Hill, and a Budgeting Course in 1965-66. Mrs. Elliott began working in Edenton as a bookkeeper with the Chrysler System at Chowan Motor Company for Mr. Branning Perry, later with the Ford System at Edenton Tractor Co. and Edenton Marina for Mr. Scott Harrell. She was appointed Chowan County Accountant in 1964, and later the County Finance Director in 1973 when the county went under the County Manager Form of Government System, serving until 1980 when the county hired a County Manager.
She was the first to invest the county’s reserves and made quite a dent in the county budget debt, consolidated the dozen or so bank accounts into Fund Accounting, a more efficient accounting practice before finally, the county went to computers. Always active in club work, she served as President of the Edenton Woman’s Club, had been “Woman of the Year”, and was District Director of the NC Federation of Woman’s Clubs. Under her leadership, the Chowan County Cancer Executive Committee and Board of Directors was organized in 1959 when she served as Crusade Chairman.
Mrs. Elliott was proud of her heritage. She loved genealogy and helped many to trace their lineage for membership in various Hereditary Societies. She was a direct descendant of William Alderman (1640-1687) who was the founder of Windsor, CT, and of William Spencer (1601-1640) who was founder of Hartford, CT.
Spencer was founder of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, and thereby Mrs. Elliott was a member of the National Society Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. She was a State Treasurer and State Corresponding Secretary of the National Society of the Magna Charta Dames, a member of the Plantagenet Society and Colonial Order of the Crown, in right of accredited lineal descent from the Emperor Charlemagne. She was a member of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, and a member of First Families of Connecticut through ancestors William Spencer and John Case.
Mrs. Elliott was voted “Honorary NC State President of the National Society of the Colonial Dames XVII Century” for life, having served as State President, State Vice-President, State Treasurer, and State Historian. She had also served as President, Treasurer, and Registrar, of the George Durant Chapter CDXVIIC, the local chapter. She was Regent of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter DAR and served as Chapter Registrar for 25 years, was State Treasurer of the NC Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and received recognition for 50 years of service in December 2018.
Mrs. Elliott abstracted The CHOWAN COUNTY WILLS 1707-1850, completing it in 1976 and it to the DAR Chapter. Since then it has been a of Revenue for the Chapter and a of reference for genealogists. She also indexed and printed the 1850 CHOWAN COUNTY CENSUS.
She was President of the Chowan Democratic Women and State Treasurer of the North Carolina Democratic Women. She had served as President of the Chowan County Hospital Auxiliary, and as a member of the Book Club of the Shepard Pruden Library. She had served as President, as Treasurer, and on the Board of Directors of the James Iredell Association.
She volunteered in the gift shop there for many years and as a docent at the Barker House up to her death. Most recently she was honored as “Woman of The Year” by the Edenton Historic Commission and presented her award by The Honorable Chris Bean. A charter member of the first Women’s Investment Club in Edenton (1983), she maintained membership consecutively for more than 35 years.
Most recently she had been serving on the Tree Committee for the Town of Edenton, and had been a member of the Albemarle Chorale for several semesters under the leadership of Mr. Lynn Winslow, Director, and Mr. Michael Morgan, pianist and organist. Following a private burial on the family plot next to her husband in Cedarwood Cemetery, a Memorial Service will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in Edenton Baptist Church, and will be conducted by The Reverend David Brooks. Friends may join the family in the fellowship hall immediately following the service, or all other times at the residence.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Colonial Dames XVII Century “State History Scholarship Fund” which was established as her project during her tenure as State President in 2003-2005. The scholarship of $1000 is awarded annually to a student who plans to major in History. Those donations may be mailed to the George Durant Chapter, in care of Shari Farless, 304 Queen Anne Drive, Edenton, NC 27932; or contributions may be made to the Edenton Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 200 S. Granville Street, also in Edenton, NC 27932.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www. millerfhc.com.
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