KINSTON - Talmar Hughes Roop Whitehurst, 89, of Kinston died Thursday, January 29, 2009, with family by her side. She was born on August 1, 1919, in Craven County to the late Walter and Lillian Hughes. She graduated from Jasper High School in 1937. She received her Registered Nursing degree from Delaware State Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware in 1941. She married Joseph Benjamin Roop and they had two children, Joalyn Elaine and Deidra Anne. She worked as a public health nurse in New York City from 1942 to 1945. She continued her nursing career in Delaware as a private duty nurse. Returning to Kinston in 1950, she worked at Parrott Hospital and then Lenoir Memorial Hospital. She retired from Lenoir Memorial Hospital in 1985, being fondly remembered as "Miss Roop." During her nursing career, she served two terms as the President of the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Chapter 32. Talmar was a member of Northwest Christian Church and a member of the Love Group. The greatest joys of her life were her family and friends. She took great pride in using her nursing skills to provide care and assistance to those she loved. Talmar had a love for traveling, especially cruises, the beach, shopping, and picture taking. As the oldest of ten children, Talmar accepted the role of being the family historian and recorded the history of the family with pictures and stories. She is preceded in death by her husband, William R. Whitehurst; her parents, Walter and Lillian Hughes; her brothers, Allen Hughes and Ray Hughes; her sisters, Lillian Hughes, Peggy Bridges, and Emma Kass. She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Joalyn R. Mullins and husband Phil-lip, of Urbanna, Va., and Deidra R. Cogdell and husband Steve, of Goldsboro, N.C.; three special grandchildren, Stephanie Cogdell Johnson and husband Scott, of Goldsboro, N.C., Paul Eric Mullins of Kingsport, Tenn., and Catherine Clare Mullins of Greenville, N.C.; four great-grandchildren, Maddox Kane Johnson, Saylor Scott Johnson, London Carys Johnson, and Urban Raif Johnson, all of Goldsboro, N.C.; brothers, Earl Hughes and wife Pauline, and Millard Hughes and wife Carol, all of Kinston, N.C.; sisters, Shelby Madison and husband Bobby, of Fayetteville, N.C., and Daisy Plische of Smyrna, Tenn. She also leaves to cherish her memory many special nieces and nephews. Special friends include Louise Rhodes, Mabel Shivar, Helen Stoughton, Lois Wallace, and Martha Jane White. A special acknowledgement and thank you are extended to the many caregivers at Britthaven Nursing Home. A visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday, January 31, at 10 a.m. at Northwest Christian Church, 2009 Carey Road, Kinston, N.C., with a celebration service beginning at 11 a.m. Pastor Kenneth Rouse will officiate. Burial will follow at Pinelawn Cemetery. Flowers are welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930 B. Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC, 27858, or Northwest Christian Church, 2009 Carey Road, Kinston, NC, 28501. Funeral arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home. Sign the guest book at www.kinston.com. (Paid obituary)
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