Dora Helen Edwards Stokes

Dora Helen Edwards Stokes, 91, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, May 4, 2015, after a long struggle with dementia.    She was born on October 17, 1923 in Duplin County, NC, and grew up on a farm in Beulaville, NC, surrounded by a close family of five sisters, one brother and a mother and father who sacrificed and worked hard to provide a loving atmosphere for their children.    Dora was the daughter of the late Tracy and Caroline Edwards of Beulaville.     While attending school in Beulaville, Dora was an outstanding member of the girls basketball team.  She was small but she was fast and a favorite to watch at the games!  She married Frank William Stokes on March 21, 1944, and they moved to Raleigh after Frank was discharged from the U.S. Navy.   She settled into a long career with the A. G. Boone Trucking Company as a bookkeeper. She and Frank raised one son, Felix, and provided a loving home for him. He, in turn, along with his wife, Jane, provided for her after Frank died in 1998. She lived with them until her death. She is survived by her son, Felix and his wife, Jane Gillespie Stokes. She was “Granny” to a precious granddaughter, Meg Woods (Noah) of Wilmington, NC  and to her three great grandchildren, Lily, Aiden and Ruby Jane.        She was a loving sister to Mrs. Clara Bennett (Earl) of Raleigh, NC,  Mrs. Pansy Dobson (Yates) of Smithfield, NC,  Mrs. Glenda Desern (Donald) of Burlington, NC and Mrs. Tracy Bird (Bob) of Cary, NC. She was “Aunt Dora” to many wonderful nieces and nephews who loved her so. She was predeceased by a dear grandson, Matthew Stokes of Raleigh, NC, a sister, Mrs. Ruby Brown of Duplin County, NC and a brother, Mr. Cornelius Edwards of Beulaville, NC. A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM Friday, May 8, 2015 in the Mausoleum Chapel at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the Mausoleum. Entombment will follow the service. Should you wish to honor Doras memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Heartland Hospice, 4505 Falls of Neuse Rd., Ste. 650, Raleigh, NC 27609.