Arlene R. Raiford

Published 1:54 pm Tuesday, February 25, 2025

HUNTSVILLE, AL – Arlene Rawls Raiford, age 81, formerly of Ahoskie, NC, died February 24, 2025, at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, AL, from complications related to pneumonia.

Mrs. Raiford was born on February 25, 1943, in Portsmouth, VA, the daughter of the late Chester Godwin Rawls and Gwendolyn Louis Beale.

She grew up in Ahoskie, NC, where she was active in numerous groups, clubs, and teams at school, including Girl Scouts, Beta Club, and basketball. After graduating from Ahoskie High School, Arlene attended Louise Obici School of Nursing in Suffolk, VA, where she earned a degree as a registered nurse. She spent most of her nearly forty years as an R.N. at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. After her retirement, Arlene was active in several clubs and church committees. In her spare time, she enjoyed working in her yard, feeding and watching birds at her feeders, spending time with friends, and telling everyone about her grandsons.

Arlene was a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, where she was a dedicated member of the Hannah Brown Sunday School class. She was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Arlene is predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Hunter Person Raiford, who died in 2011. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Neil Hunter Raiford and wife, Karen Gilliam Raiford, M.D. of Brownsboro, AL; three grandsons, Benjamin Hunter Raiford, Thomas Holt Raiford, and Turner Cheyney Raiford; her brother Keith Rawls, and his wife, Debbie Rawls; her nieces, Sherri Burgess, husband Stephen, and Kristy Overton, husband Russ; as well as six grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

A service celebrating Mrs. Raiford’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 1 at First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Bazemore officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, P.O. Box 649, Ahoskie, NC, 27910, or to a favorite charity.

Online condolences can be made at www.garrettsykesfs.com. Funeral arrangements were trusted to Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel.