Nolie Furman McKenzie

   Nolie Furman McKenzie, 97, of the 1000 block of Snug Harbor Road, Hertford, NC, passed away on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Edenton Prime Time Retirement Center.

   Mrs. McKenzie was born in Portsmouth, VA on February 15, 1921, to the late Richard Furman and Ida Furman Ensley.  Raised in Portsmouth, she was employed for many years with Holiday Industries where she retired as a supervisor, having designed and made some of the first artificial Christmas trees sold nationwide.  A charter member of Snug Harbor Community Church, for many years she grew and arranged the flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday services.  Nolie was affectionately known as “Ma Maw” by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and loving friends.

   In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, James R. “Mac” McKenzie; three brothers, Ira, Richard and Lemuel Furman; and by four sisters; Alice Young Terrell, Iris Virginia Blythe, Sandra Batten and Margie Tantaquidgeon.

   Surviving are her son, Roland W. McKenzie and wife, Julia Anne; her daughter, Lorraine M. Saunders and husband, Kenneth H., Jr., all of Hertford; three grandsons, Col. J. Keith McKenzie, USAF, Ret. and wife, Kim, of Santa Rosa Beach, FL., Brian R. McKenzie and wife, Kris, of Broomfield, CO, and The Reverend Kenneth H. Saunders, III and wife, Kelly, of Greeneville, TN; a granddaughter, Angela S. Armstrong and husband, Jason, of Zebulon, NC; five great-grandsons, Ryan, Connor and Braden McKenzie, Kenneth H. Saunders, IV and wife, Amy, and Kyle E. Saunders and wife, Kara; two great-granddaughters, Kaytlynn S. Howlett and husband, Ben, and Anna Marie Armstrong; a sister Ruie Gale and husband, Fred; a brother, Darrell Furman and wife, Trudy; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. 

   Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 9, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, and will be conducted by The Reverends Stanley Nixon and Howard Sutton. 

   In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be made either to Amedisys Hospice Care, 201 E. Water Street, Plymouth, NC  27962, or to Snug Harbor Community Church, PO Box 114, Hertford, NC 27944.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.