Ethel Browder

Ethel Mallard Farrior Browder, 86, beloved mother, grandmother, godmother, sister, aunt, southern lady, and friend to many, particularly those in need, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home of fifty-eight years in Rockingham on October 1st, 2008. Her family acknowledge with deep gratitude the friends and caregivers, including the Richmond County Hospice professionals. It is agreed that they all loved her feisty spirit, fierce determination, and positive attitude she exhibited in dealing with cancer during her final months. Ethel was born in Wallace, NC on March 18th, 1922 to the late William Henry and Thelma Williams Farrior. She grew up as part of a large loving, hard working farm family, a heritage of which she was always proud. She graduated from Clement High School in Wallace, NC in 1939 where she was Salutatorian and accorded the senior superlatives of “Most Intellectual”, “Most Personality”, “Most Popular”, and the one of which she was most proud, “Loudest”. After graduating from Campbell College where she was voted “Best All Around” and “Most Versatile” she received her RN degree from Duke University School of Nursing in 1944. Post graduation she worked at Duke Hospital where she received a meritorious service citation from the US Public Health Service in recognition for the wartime contribution of instructing members of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. She remained an ardent Duke sports fan her entire life. She carried her strong family ties and values into her marriage with George A.G. Browder in March of 1946, a wonderful partnership that continued until his death on December 9th, 2007. They raised and she is survived by three sons, George “Sandy” Browder Jr. (Susan), of Winston-Salem, NC, David Browder (Donna) of Rockingham, NC, and Robert “Bob” Browder, III (Meg) of Pace, FL. She dearly loved not only her grandchildren Katie Browder, Ben Browder, Sarah Browder, Isaiah Browder, Jeremy Bailey, and Jay Browder, but an incredible extended family of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, all with whom she kept in contact. Ethel is predeceased by a sister Emily Farrior and survived by three sisters: Francis Jones of Eustis, FL, Dorothy Painter of Sylva, NC, Asha Watson of Wallace, NC, and two brothers: William Henry Farrior Jr. of Williamston, NC and David Farrior of Wallace, NC. She also leaves two very special godchildren, Kortni and Jessica, her life long “adopted children” Mary Baldwin, Betty, and Jay, and two wonderful longtime local friends Nancy and Norma. A woman of strong faith and principles raised in a musically talented family as a Southern Baptist, Ethel was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Rockingham for almost sixty years, teaching, singing, participating in the Alter Guild, and doing whatever needed to be done as a Christian supporting her church and community. She was in the Rockingham Woman’s Civic Club for over forty years, including serving a term as president. She served the State of North Carolina and Richmond County on the Board of Social Services, worked as a mobile nurse for the Richmond County Health Department where she was part of the first nationwide polio vaccination initiative to eliminate this destructive disease. Later she worked for United Cerebral Palsy as a home service resource consultant making a real difference in children’s and their parent’s lives. She was named an Outstanding Woman of Richmond County in 1974 as a result of her work with the physically handicapped. She loved her “life member” status in a local bridge club and competed regionally in contract bridge tournaments, was a fierce competitor and Richmond County Country Club golf champion, and most of all she enjoyed working in her showplace yard filled with beautiful azaleas. A celebration to the Glory of God in loving memory and thanksgiving of Ethel Browder’s life will be held at The Church of the Messiah, 202 Lawrence Street, Rockingham at 2pm, October 4th, 2008 with the Rev.Angela Spencer officiating. Interment will follow in Eastside Cemetery. The family will receive friends and family in The Church of the Messiah Parrish House on Saturday, October 4th from 1pm until 2pm prior to the funeral. Carter Funeral Home of Rockingham, NC is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Church of the Messiah, PO Box 1313, Rockingham, NC 28379.