Eloise Merritt Cope

Eloise Merritt Cope, age 92, of Simerson Road, Linwood, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2017, at Alston Brook Skilled Nursing Facility in Lexington.   Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 2, 2017, at 2:00 pm at Higher Ground Baptist Church located at 163 Gene Hege Road, Lexington, NC, with Pastor Jimmy Greene officiating.  Visitation and viewing will be held at 1:00 pm prior to the service.  There will be no funeral procession following the service.  Interment will be at Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery in Davie County.   Eloise was born in Escambia County, Florida, on January 9, 1925, to Aubrey Russell Merritt and Sally Alma Faircloth Merritt.  We are comforted in knowing that she had made a profession of faith in Jesus our Lord and Savior.  She retired as activity director of Abundant Living Adult Daycare in Salisbury.  She worked in banking as a teller for most of her married life.  She loved working with people as long as she was in good health.  She also enjoyed working in her flowers and plants, crocheting, and reading.  Her ultimate joy was to cook for family at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She loved having company to visit.   She was preceded in death by her parents; son, John Michael Cope, in 1947; husband, John Gilmer Cope, in 1993; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Cope Smith, in 2011; and brother, Walter Calvin (Buddy) Merritt, in 2016.   Surviving are her son, Timothy Lee Cope (Robbin); daughter, Janet Cope Milstead (Gene) of Churchland; grandchildren Lisa Chantler, Deborah Sizemore, John (Billy) Milstead and Leah Leonard; 7 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.   The family would like to give love, thanks, and appreciation to our Pastor and the administrator of Alston Brook Skilled Nursing Facility in Lexington and to the staff at Alston Brook that gave her love, care and special attention.