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| Photo by Lou Ann Homan |
Capt. Thomas died in 1930. Eliza Thomas died in 1946. The following year Ms. Susan Barksdale purchased the property. Susan, a painter and professor of art at the University of North Carolina, began visiting Ocracoke before WWII. After she bought the Thomas house she began spending summers on the island with family and friends. Susan Barksdale appreciated island culture and traditions, and made many friends on the island. Susan died January 22 at the age of 96. You can read her obituary here.
Two days after Susan Barksdale died, Ocracoke resident Eugenia "Jean" Fletcher died. Long time visitors to Ocracoke may remember Jean. For seven years she operated Eugenia's Bed and Breakfast. Jean's obituary is available here.
On January 10 [2013] Rosemary Wetherill, a spunky island resident with a touch of gutsy irreverence, also died. Rosemary was an active participant in Ocracoke community life. She volunteered regularly at the Preservation Museum and the Ocracoke Library, and was a major contributor to the Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club. You can read Rosemary's obituary here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your three friends. They made many contributions to the fabric of your community. As a regular reader of your blog the visible community, the homes and architecture of OI seen through your images allows one imagination to picture the colorful residents. I must admit one thought that popped into my head, goodness perhaps a piece of OI history is for sale. Three properties may be available for a new generation of residents to continue the tradition of a 2st century OI. Perhaps we will read about the lucky folks that will move into these houses and make them a home.DD
ReplyDeleteTo my knowledge all of these women's properties will remain with their families.
DeleteRosemary died in January of 2013. She is certainly missed on Ocracoke.
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. She needed to be remembered. Sorry about the misunderstanding.
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