Birth Date: 03/09/1932
Deceased Date: 02/26/2022
Addie Williamson Radford of Clayton, NC, age 89 joined her Lord and Savior early Saturday, Feb 26, 2022. She was born March 9, 1932, in Johnston County to the late Needham Elbert Williamson and the late Paulina Graham Tarpley Williamson. Addie was the 6th of their seven children.
Addie was married for 66 years to the late John Marion Radford Sr. They loved and adored each other. They both enjoyed traveling the world together and visited 6 of the 7 continents as well as all 50 states. They met on a blind date while she was a student at Rex Nursing School.
Preceded in death are all six of her siblings: Mary W. Warrick, Nell W. White, Margie W. Smith, William ”Bill” N. Williamson, John Graham Williamson, and Samuel Elbert Williamson. Surviving are her four children and their families. Daughters, Nancy Radford Frazier of Clayton, NC, Paula Radford Bowen and husband Craig of Goldsboro, NC, Barbie Radford Sloop of Indialantic, Fl and Son, John M. Radford Jr. and Tina of Selma, NC. She also had six grandkids that she adored. William Radford Frazier and wife Melanie of Oxford, NC, John Robert Frazier and wife Ashley, of Wake Forest, NC, Robert F. Sloop IV and wife Jenny of Melbourne Fl., Mary Elizabeth Sloop of Raleigh, NC, Bella Elizabeth Bowen and Ava Marion Bowen of Goldsboro, NC/NCSU and one great grandson Matthew Liam Sloop. She also had numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Addie graduated in 1950 from Corinth Holders School and continued her education in nursing at Rex Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1953 from Rex as a Registered Nurse (R.N.). She was hired by Rex and worked as a Clinical Instructor for several years. After having 4 children, she returned to work. Addie was hired as one of the first school nurses in Johnston County in the early ’70s and then went on to become the Johnston County School Health Coordinator. She retired after 24 years in the public school system. She said this was her favorite job because she got to be with the precious children. She spent many after-work hours on home visits to make sure children were cared for. While always eager to work, she balanced her professional life with the needs of her family. Addie loved the Lord, her church, friends, community and most of all, her family. She was a talented and accomplished baker and cook. She loved making cakes and desserts and hers were always sought after at church functions and family reunions. Gardening, traveling, sewing, and daily walking were her favorite activities. Addie never met a stranger and loved being around people. That was part of her assignment as a politician’s wife. Being active in the church was a high priority in Addie’s life. She always taught children’s Sunday School, sang in the choir and was the WMU facilitator. She was also a Chancellor Choir member at Clayton First Baptist. Later she was a member of the Senior Church Activity Group.
Visitation will be held at Parrish Funeral Home in Selma on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from 10-11:00 am with the funeral service at 11:00 am. A graveside service will follow at Selma Memorial Gardens. Flowers are appreciated but donations can be sent to her home church: Clayton First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 35, Clayton, NC 27520.
