Obituary of Russell Ward Cullifer RUSSELL WARD CULLIFER The Tidewater News  02-20-2003 MURFREESBORO, N.C.  Russell Ward Cullifer died Feb. 8. She was the widow of Benjamin F. Cullifer, a well-known general contractor in Murfreesboro. Mrs. Cullifer was a secondary school math teacher who began her teaching career in Farmville, N.C. She later taught math at Southampton County High School in Courtland prior to moving to Murfreesboro. She taught math 16 years at Murfreesboro High School until she retired in 1975. Mrs. Cullifer was born in Wardsville, Gates County, N.C., and graduated from Sunbury High School. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh and graduated from Chowan College with a bachelors degree in mathematics. She was a member of the National Council of Mathematics and the North Carolina Association of Educators. Mrs. Cullifer was also active in the Murfreesboro Historical Association and was closely involved in the 1970 restoration of the Roberts-Vaughan House on Main Street. An active member of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, Mrs. Cullifer served as its treasurer for many years after retiring. She was the daughter of Beresford Lewis Bess Ward and Elizabeth Russell Ward of Gates County. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Annie Hope Rollins, formerly of Farmville, N.C. and her brother, Anderson Jefferson Ward, formerly of Virginia Beach. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Katheryn Dalby Ward of Virginia Beach; three nephews, Dr. Robert L. Rollins of Raleigh, N.C., Anderson Jay Ward of Frankfurt, Ill., and John Russell Ward of Virginia Beach; her cousin, Dr. O.W. Ward, Jr. of Hampton; and numerous grandnephews and grandnieces. A graveside service was held Feb. 17 at Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro by the Rev. Dr. Michael F. Gast. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Murfreesboro United Methodist Church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Russell Ward Cullifer died 8 Feb 2003. She was a retired math teacher, taught in Farmville and Courtland, and later Murfreesboro High School for 16 years, retiring in 1975. She was active in church and historical work. A graveside service was held 17 Feb 2003 at Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Michael F. Gast. ––– Transcript ––– RUSSELL WARD CULLIFER MURFREESBORO, N.C. Russell Ward Cullifer died Feb. 8. She was the widow of Benjamin F. Cullifer, a well-known general contractor in Murfreesboro. Mrs. Cullifer was a secondary school math teacher who began her teaching career in Farmville, N.C. She later taught math at Southampton County High School in Courtland prior to moving to Murfreesboro. She taught math 16 years at Murfreesboro High School until she retired in 1975. Mrs. Cullifer was born in Wardsville, Gates County, N.C., and graduated from Sunbury High School. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh and graduated from Chowan College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She was a member of the National Council of Mathematics and the North Carolina Association of Educators. Mrs. Cullifer was also active in the Murfreesboro Historical Association and was closely involved in the 1970 restoration of the Roberts-Vaughan House on Main Street. An active member of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, Mrs. Cullifer served as its treasurer for many years after retiring. She was the daughter of Beresford Lewis 'Bess' Ward and Elizabeth Russell Ward of Gates County. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Annie Hope Rollins, formerly of Farmville, N.C. and her brother, Anderson Jefferson Ward, formerly of Virginia Beach. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Katheryn Dalby Ward of Virginia Beach; three nephews, Dr. Robert L. Rollins of Raleigh, N.C., Anderson Jay Ward of Frankfurt, Ill., and John Russell Ward of Virginia Beach; her cousin, Dr. O.W. Ward, Jr. of Hampton; and numerous grandnephews and grandnieces. A graveside service was held Feb. 17 at Riverside Cemetery in Murfreesboro by the Rev. Dr. Michael F. Gast. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Murfreesboro United Methodist Church. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |-------------------------------------------------| | Name | Russell Ward Cullifer | | Age | Unknown | | Birth | Unknown; Wardsville, Gates County, N.C. | | Death | 8 Feb 2003; Murfreesboro, N.C. | |-------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | |-----------------------------|--------------------|--------------------| | Russell Ward Cullifer | Decedent | Murfreesboro, N.C. | | Benjamin F. Cullifer | Spouse (deceased) | Murfreesboro, N.C. | | Beresford Lewis 'Bess' Ward | Father (deceased) | Gates County, N.C. | | Elizabeth Russell Ward | Mother (deceased) | Gates County, N.C. | | Annie Hope Rollins | Sister (deceased) | Farmville, N.C. | | Anderson Jefferson Ward | Brother (deceased) | Virginia Beach | | Katheryn Dalby Ward | Sister-in-law | Virginia Beach | | Dr. Robert L. Rollins | Nephew | Raleigh, N.C. | | Anderson Jay Ward | Nephew | Frankfurt, Ill. | | John Russell Ward | Nephew | Virginia Beach | | Dr. O.W. Ward, Jr. | Cousin | Hampton | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |-------------------------------| | Field | Value | |----------|--------------------| | Location | Suffolk, Virginia | | Name | The Tidewater News | | Date | 20 Feb 2003 | |-------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Secondary school mathematics teacher • Began teaching career in Farmville, N.C. • Taught at Southampton County High School in Courtland • Taught 16 years at Murfreesboro High School • Retired in 1975 • Graduate of Sunbury High School • Attended Meredith College • Graduated from Chowan College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics • Member of the National Council of Mathematics • Member of the North Carolina Association of Educators • Active in Murfreesboro Historical Association • Involved in 1970 restoration of Roberts-Vaughan House • Member of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church • Served as church treasurer for many years • Birth name was Russell Ward [See also: www.findagrave.com/memorial/278921866/russell-ward-cullifer www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1390443/riverside-cemetery ] [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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