Belle Rufus (Balkcum) Pope

Clinton,

Belle Rufus Pope, 95, 5396 Garland Hwy., passed away Friday, December 8, 2017 at Southwood Nursing Center.

A funeral service will be held at 3 P.M., Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Epworth United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dalma Cribb and Reverend William Tew officiating.  Interment will follow in the Epworth United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Belle, born in 1922 in Sampson County, was the daughter of the late Erastus Balkcum and Eula Mae Carter Balkcum.  She was a homemaker and a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by:  husband, Josiah Batie Pope; brothers, Joe Albert Balkcum, Victor O. Balkcum, Wilbur Balkcum and Erastus “Sam” Balkcum; and sisters, Emeriline B. Herring and Mae B. Shipp Lane.

Survivors include: children, Millie Pope Starling (Harold) of Clinton, Jay Pope (Carolyn) of Clinton, Joe Pope (Sally) of Clinton; grandchildren, Melissa Starling Bass, Sandra Starling Cerra (Pete), Susan Pope Westerbeek (Neill), Jamie Riner Pope (Emily); great-grandchildren, Connor Bass, Ava Cerra, A. J. Cerra, Spencer Westerbeek, Jase Westerbeek and MacKenzie Pope.

The family will receive friends from 6 P.M. – 8 P.M., Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Epworth United Methodist Church and at other times at her home.

Online Condolences may be sent to the family at www.crumpler-honeycutt.com.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are by Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home, 118 Fayetteville St., Clinton, NC  28328.

 Service Information