Emmett Knight Perry

   Emmett Knight Perry, 82, of 1210B Rocky Hock Landing Road, Edenton, NC, died Friday, October 9, 2020, in Vidant Medical Center, Greenville.

   Mr. Perry was born in Chowan County on May 29, 1938, and was one of ten children born to the late John Elmer Perry, Sr. and Mattie Amanda Knight Perry. After high school and marrying his high school sweetheart, they moved to Virginia. He was employed as a Communications Manager with Bell Atlantic and retired in 1988 after having worked with the company for 30 years. After retiring, he and his wife Lillian moved back home to Chowan County where they were both born and raised. In “retirement”, Emmett continued to lead a busy life. He assisted with the building of his and Lillian’s new home and much of its furniture and trim moldings he crafted himself. He later worked with Taylor Enterprises for 12 years, handling the maintenance of the buildings and properties of the company’s 17 McDonalds franchises, from the Tidewater area to Northeastern North Carolina, and all the way to the Outer Banks.

   While living in Nokesville, VA and raising their two children, his family were faithful members of Oakdale Baptist Church and he served on the Board of Deacons. After moving back to Rocky Hock, he and Lillian became members of Rocky Hock Baptist Church, and he was an active member of the Rocky Hock Ruritans. Other involvement included his continued membership of 56 years in the Manasseh Masonic Lodge #182, and active with the Telephone Company Pioneers, a community service group.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Virginia Warren and Mary Emma Spivey; and by brothers, J.E. Jr., James W. “Snookie”, Carroll S. “Teeny Boy”, Thomas, Ted, and Glenn Perry.

   Our family and friends will remember Emmett as a man who loved and cared for them. God was his cornerstone and God’s Word was his compass for daily living. He encouraged us all as he lived his daily life through his wit, humor, smile, and wisdom from the lessons life taught him. He often shared these lessons through his love for hunting, fishing, woodworking, and gardening. You always walked away feeling encouraged, valued, and loved. Pray his legacy will always be part of our lives.

   Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Lillian Hollowell Perry; their children, daughter, Elizabeth Starr Christen and husband, Joe, of Raleigh, and Dwayne Norvell Perry and companion, Judy, of Gainesville, VA; and his sister, Paige Hollowell of Edenton. He was “Grammies” to four granddaughters, Stephanie Elizabeth Millikin and husband, Patrick, Jessica Leigh Macias and husband, Carlos, Samantha Perry Brown and husband, Mitchell, and Christine Elizabeth Perry and husband, Jared Zeigler. He was either “Papa Perry” or “Grammies” to six great-grandchildren, Evan, Hope, Anna, and Owen Millikin, and Lila and Maddox Brown, and was anticipating seeing two more great grandchildren in the coming months.

   A graveside funeral will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Beaver Hill Cemetery and will be conducted by Pastor Rusty Womack. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, no formal visitation is planned, however, friends are invited to visit the family at the home where the smaller setting may be safer for everyone.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hope Lodge McConnell-Raab Campus, American Cancer Society lodging used during treatment times, 930-A Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, or to the building fund of Rocky Hock Baptist Church, 113 Rocky Hock Church Road, Edenton, NC 27932.

   Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is assisting the family with arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.