Vernelle Arnold Williams passed peacefully from this world Sunday evening with loved ones at her side.  She was the daughter of Henry Wilson "Sange" Arnold and Mozelle Baker Arnold.  She was predeceased by her husband Phillip Burtrum Williams, and brothers  W. G. Arnold and Gerald Frazier Arnold.  She is survived by her sister Carolyn Arnold Brown of Fuquay; daughter Pamela Joan Williams Bagwell of Raleigh; son Phillip David Williams and wife Sue Emmitt Williams of Hickory, son Timothy Mark Williams of Wilmington; grandchildren Adaie Williams Young and husband Michael, and Forrest Phillip Williams; great-grandchildren Braidan Madison Young, Landon Cale Williams, and Scarlett Elizabeth Williams, all of Hickory, NC; and a large number of loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Vernelle was born and raised on a tobacco farm in Franklin County NC near the Pearces Community.  Though times were hard, Vernelle was always careful to wash her clothes and dress as well as her parents could afford, and she was voted "Best Dressed" as a Senior at Bunn High School.  She married soon after graduating.  Her husband Phillip began working for Norfolk Southern Railroad (later Southern RR) and they moved to Raleigh.  Vernelle worked a short time at Westinghouse in Raleigh, but mostly stayed home and raised the kids.  She was truly one of the very last of the old style Southern Stay-at-home moms.  Until age 90 she still cooked full meals; maintained a spotless house; planted and maintained a garden; picked; shelled, and froze butterbeans, peas, and corn; shelled pecans for her famous pies; made home-made pickles, preserves, and soups; sewed up holes in her children's clothes; and prepared huge holiday meals fit for a king.  During her time she created numerous quilts that are works of art, sewing every stitch and "quilting" them by hand.  Even at 92, weak and hobbling, she would turn on the bedside lamp and turn down the bed covers for her children when they visited.
Vernelle was also known as a great cook.  She worked later in life at Temple Baptist Church where she cooked for the Day School and she cooked Wednesday night meals for the congregation. Her meals became so popular, she had to enlist the help of her children and others to serve the large crowds.  Everyone who ate her cooking, came away saying it was the best they had ever eaten, whether it was Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, Collards, Turnip Greens, Butterbeans, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Chocolate Pie, Pecan Pie, or Banana Pudding.
Services will be held at Montlawn Funeral Home in Raleigh, NC on Wednesday 1/31/24.  Visitation is from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.  Memorial service will be from 1:00 to 2:00 in the chapel.
Flowers are appreciated as well as donations to Transitions Lifecare in Raleigh, NC.