Ethel Wilkerson

Ethel passed away on April 1, 2026 at the age of 105 at home in Newport N.C.. Born October 3, 1920 in Roanoke Va., to Griffith Lee Reed and Rosa Weeks Reed. Ethel grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Jefferson Senior High School. She attended Nursing School at Lewis Gale Hospital where she became a registered nurse. She practiced nursing at Norfork Naval Hospital during WWII. There she met her future husband James Rainey Wilkerson. They were married on October 26, 1946 and were devoted to each other for 70 years.

Ethel was a homemaker in Durham, N.C., where she raised three children. She was a life long member of Homestead Heights garden Club and enjoyed working in the yard her entire life. She moved to Newport in 2011 where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Ethel is survived by her children, James Lee Wilkerson, Faye W. Fleming, and Donald Reed Wilkerson; grandchildren, Andrew Lee Wilkerson, Jeremy Talmadge Fleming, and Joshua Lee Fleming; and great grandchildren, Nathan Lee Wilkerson and Ariyan John Fleming.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Griffith and Rosa Reed; husband, James Rainey Wilkerson and her brother, Hassell Burton Reed.

We especially want to acknowledge the wonderful care she received from Ashley Elps, Carla Vincent, Pam Holloman, Belinda Hutson, and Juanita Bowen over the last ten years.

A private service will be held.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home & Crematory of Morehead City, NC.