Nina Braswell White Motzno

   Nina Paige Braswell White Motzno died peacefully at the home of her daughter on November 12, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Nina was born in Northampton County, North Carolina on November 5, 1925. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Spivey Braswell and Willie Lewis Braswell, her brothers, Willie Lewis Braswell, Jr. and Robert "Bob" Ellis Braswell, and her husbands, James Emory White and Joseph David Motzno. She is survived by her children, James Emory White, Jr. (Patricia) of Chapel Hill, NC, Jennifer Ann White (John Freeman) of Charlottesville, VA, and Roger Lewis White (Dee Jackson) of Charleston, SC, four grandchildren, Emory White, Elizabeth Vallero, and Emily and Julia Freeman, and four great-grandchildren, James and Murphy White, and Alexander and Samuel Vallero. She is also survived by her sister, Jane Braswell Curtis (Doug), sister-in-law, Doris Braswell, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

   She was a 1947 graduate of the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina with a B.S. degree in Home Economics. After graduation, she taught in Rich Square, NC. In 1948, she moved to Hertford, NC for a position as the Perquimans County Home Economist. There she met Emory White and they married in 1949. Upon having children, she paused her career and later worked as a social worker until returning to teaching in Perquimans County for the remainder of her career.

Following her husband Emory’s death in 1973, Nina continued her education and earned an M.S. in Home Economics Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1978. After retiring, she married Joe Motzno in 1989 and they had 25 years together before his passing in 2014. During their marriage, they lived at Lake Gaston, Rocky Mount and Tarboro, NC. In 2015, she moved to Charlottesville, VA, to be closer to her daughter’s family. She lived independently at a retirement community for five years where she enjoyed many activities including movies, social outings, and friends. She especially enjoyed travel to visit loved ones and visits from her family, including a large and happy family reunion for her 90^th birthday in 2015. Nina was in good health and enjoyed an active life including travel until shortly before her passing.

   Nina was active in the United Methodist Church throughout her life. She held several administrative positions, participated in Bible studies, was a Sunday school teacher and missionary circle member. Nina was empathetic to others, a life view greatly impacted by her interactions with those whom she met in her years as a social worker.

   Although outwardly reserved, Nina had an adventurous streak. In addition to trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon at age 89, she took a dune buggy ride on Jockey’s Ridge at her beloved Outer Banks of North Carolina and a hot air balloon ride over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. She actively participated and held administrative positions in numerous civic groups and organizations related to her profession. Nina was a voracious reader, especially after her retirement, and always joined a local book club in areas where she lived.

   Nina was relentless in completing jigsaw puzzles or searching for sharks’ teeth on the beach. Until her final days, she greatly enjoyed receiving emails, especially if they included photos of babies, sunsets or the ocean. She stayed connected to friends and family through FaceTime on her iPad. She had a wonderful smile, a gentle spirit and a great sense of humor. When asked about her life’s accomplishments, she simply stated that raising her children was her great love which brought her much happiness. Nina will be missed by her family and special friends of many years.

   A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 28. 2020 at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford, NC. Some of her ashes will be scattered in the Perquimans River in Hertford, in Lake Gaston and on Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. Her remaining ashes will be interred in Cedarwood Cemetery beside her husband, Emory White.

   Friends may sign the online register and view her obituary and photos at www.millerfhc.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in her memory to Hertford United Methodist Church, 200 Dobbs St., Hertford NC 27944, Englewood United Methodist Church, PO Box 7128, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, Financial Secretary at Calvary United Methodist Church, Box 137, Calvary Church Rd., Littleton, NC 27850 or St. James United Methodist Church, 211 E. St. James St., Tarboro, NC 27886.