Adieu

This past Friday and Sunday Ocracokers bid farewell to two native islanders who had struggled with illness for a number of years. Ann Howard, who lived just up the lane from Village Craftsmen, was a kind and devoted mother with a wonderfully pleasant personality. She always had time to stop and visit, and she and her husband, Lindsey, raised three kind, generous, and extremely likable children. The memorial service at the Methodist Church on Friday was filled with music and warm memories of a wife, mother, neighbor, and friend, loved and admired by all.

On Sunday, family and friends of Hettie Tolson Johnson gathered on the lawn of Books to be Red for an uplifting service in celebration of her life. Hettie loved nature, gardening, Ocracoke, and Life. It was rare to see her without an infectious smile, or hearty laugh. As a fitting tribute, the service was upbeat. A table was arranged with colorful flowers, scores of photos stood nearby, island musicians played some of her favorite tunes, Jon Wynn, childhood friend captured Hettie's adventuresome spirit in his eulogy, and friends throughout the audience blew soap bubbles as the final song was sung. Afterwards, everyone shared a potluck dinner on the grounds.

Ocracokers know how to celebrate -- Life, Death, and everything in between -- in often unconventional ways, but always with creativity, originality, and respect.

Adieu Ann and Hettie. Your lives have been inspirations for us all.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter has information about the new island Folk School. Click here to read about this new venture.