March 5, 1931 – April 17, 2016

AHOSKIE – Iris W. Bazemore, 85, of Ahoskie, NC, passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Greenleaf Care Center in Lillington, NC.

A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, NC. Private burial will take place at Highland Memorial Gardens in Ahoskie, NC.

Iris was born in Windsor, NC on March 5, 1931 to the late A. Starkey and Lydia J. White. She was a graduate of Aulander High School and married the late Henry Lyon Bazemore soon after graduation. They made their home in Ahoskie, NC in 1954 when Henry was employed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

She was a very active member of First Baptist Church in Ahoskie for more than 50 years, singing in the Adult Choir, working in VBS, participating in WMU and Circle meetings and teaching Sunday School. She was known as an outstanding cook, catering many weddings and special dinners, as well as preparing food on many occasions upon request. She enjoyed gardening and took great delight in growing vegetables, canning and freezing, as well as sharing them with friends.

Iris is survived by two sons, David H. Bazemore of Knightdale, NC, and Dennis N. Bazemore and wife, Linda, of Lillington, NC; two daughters, Deborah A. Bazemore and husband, Danny, of Raleigh, NC, and Diane B. Packard, and husband, Ricky, of N. Myrtle Beach, SC; and six grandchildren, Elizabeth Saylor and husband, Jason, Stephen Bazemore and wife, Heather, Jonathan Bazemore and wife, Anna, Brian Speight, Hannah Bazemore, and Morgan Brinkley. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Lucy Saylor, Hudson Bazemore, and Myers Bazemore; and sister Rebecca White of Windsor, NC.

Along with her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by a brother, Jimmy White, and a grandson, Matthew Speight.

Memorials may be made to the Henry L. and Iris W. Bazemore Divinity School Scholarship, P. O. Box 116, Buies Creek, NC, 27506.