Mrs. Elma Barnes Penny
Mrs. Elma Barnes “EB” Penny was born June 8, 1922 in Wayne County, North Carolina. She was born to the late Lonnie and Charlotte Barnes and had eleven siblings. EB departed this life on December 26, 2022 at the beautiful age of 100 in Smithfield, North Carolina.
EB was educated in the Johnston County School District where she graduated in 1940. Thereafter, she attended Winston Salem State Teacher’s College, graduating in 1945 and North Carolina Central University where she received her Master’s Degree in teaching in 1955. EB taught 8th grade English in the Johnston County Schools for 42 years. There she received the distinction of “Teacher of the Year” in 1978 and the Living Legend Award in 2009.
Mrs. Penny was a member of Strickland Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Four Oaks, NC for over 50 years where she served in various leadership and educational capacities until her health prohibited her participation. She also briefly held membership at Good Samaritan Baptist Church in Garner, where her husband served as pastor.
EB was an active member of several organizations and associations to include The Minister’s Wives and Widows Association, The National Association of University Women, The Johnston District Missionary Baptist Association Inc. & its Auxiliaries, The Johnston County Missionary Union, and The Women’s Missionary Union and JDMBA county and state associations. In 1989, she was honored for her faithful service by the Johnston County Citizen’s Association.
Mrs. Penny was preceeded in death by three husbands; Deacon Cleon Arrington, Deacon Franklin Coad, and Rev Leon J. Penny, Sr. Though EB never gave birth to children, she gained and lovingly mothered her children -in- love gained through these unions.
Mrs. Penny’s life will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Shiloh Christian Church, 211 Durham Street, Smithfield, NC 27577. Viewing and Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Funeral Services beginning at 12 Noon. The service will be streamed on our Facebook page.
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Guest Book
Family or Deceased Name: EB Penny
Your Name: Berniece Rawls
Email: berniecerawls@embarqmail.com
Message: I would just like to share, it saddened my heart ♥ to hear what they had to say. But then I realized Our Father just had His own way. Rest in peace E.B. all your pains are gone away. Thank you for the wisdom that you gave to me and my family. 🙏 ♥
Date: 01022023
Family or Deceased name: To the family of Mrs. EB Penny
Your name: Mary Graves
Email: maryg14@yahoo.com
Message: MS.PENNY, I LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU IN YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER BOX YOU HAD IN YOUR CLASS FOR US TO PUT OUR PRAYERS IN,I HAVE GROWN A LOT FROM YOUR PRAYERS,THANK YOU. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
Date: 1- 2-2023
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs. Elma Roberta Barnes Penny
Your Name: Floretta Liverpool Walls
Email: kuumbaw2@aol.com
Message: To the family of Mrs. Penny, I send my sincere condolences. My prayer is that God will surround each and every one of you with His love, peace and comfort both now and in the days to come. God bless.
Date: 1/1/23
Family or Deceased Name: EB Penny
Your Name: Sharon Watson
Email: watsonsharon23@yahoo.com
Message: My condolences to the family. Mrs Penny was a pillar of the Johnston County Community. She was known near and far and she will truly be missed.
Date: 12/31/2022
Family or Deceased Name: Ma Penny
Your Name: Christina Lassiter
Email: christinalassiter69@gmail.com
Message: Ma Penny, even though you were not my biological mother I always saw the motherly love in your beautiful smile, eyes, passion and compassion that you had for others.
I knew you long before uniting with Strickland Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Penny and my father met at the Western Union Missionary Baptist Association and they remained friends until Rev. Penny's death.
I will always remember and cherish the love and support you showed me when I needed someone to talk to.
God was looking for a Special Angel and He called you on December 26, 2022 and you answered the call.
Love you Ma Penny .
Date: 12-31-2022
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs. Elma Barnes Penny
Your Name: Sylvia Anjanette Wall
Email: sawall@umich.edu
Message: As children, my sister and I never missed an opportunity to tag along with my late mother, Thelma Wall, to visit Cousin E.B. in Four Oaks. We were always greeted with warmth and a kind word. “Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
Date: December 31, 2022
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs. EB Penny
Your Name: MOUNT PISGAH HARNETT CHURCH FAMILY
Email: dmckoy561@gmail.com
Message: Sending prayers and condolences to family 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs. EB Penny
Your Name: Diane McKoy
Email: dmckoy561@gmail.com
Message: Sending my condolences sorry for your loss and praying for family
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs.Elma Barnes Penny
Your Name: Michael Henry
Email: michaelhenry911@gmail.com
Message: I met Mrs. Penny one day at her church, and ever since then we have been connected. She was always so kind and nice. We talked on the phone every week, and had great conversations. I’m truly going to miss our weekly talks. Rest in peace to a beautiful soul. Praying for all of her family and loved ones during this time. She will be greatly missed❤️🙏🏽😢
Date: 12302022
Family or Deceased Name: Ms. Arrington
Your Name: Larry Faison
Email: faisonsport@aol.com
Message: Great teacher, STRUCTURED classroom, something that is missing today. She was sweet, passionate about her profession and was in contact with parents about their child's education. A TRUE WARRIOR in the field of education. You will be missed. RIP.
Date: 12/30/2022
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs.Arrington
Your Name: Dianne Blue
Email: ladydblue76@gmail.com
Message: Mrs. Arrington has always been in my life. When I was young the teachers would be at our house when we got home in the afternoons. She was kind, soft spoken and a teacher of God’s word also. We were in BFS years together.
Date: 12292022
Family or Deceased Name: Ms EB Arrington Penny
Your Name: Connie Elliott Bryant
Email: peeweeelliott@gmail.com
Message: I've always known her as Ms Arrington and I'll always remember her as an awesome teacher who disciplined us when needed with her short ruler on the palm of our hands and the only thing it hurt was our feelings. She had the most warm heart and personality, prayers for the family
Date: 122922
Family or Deceased Name: Penny Family
Your Name: Rev. Dr. Robert O'Neal Jr.
Email: roneal@liberty.edu
Message: We at The Tabernacle can only imagine the grief and sorrow that you bear. Dr. O'Neal is reminded of Mrs. EB Penny's gentle spirit and the encouragement she and Pastor Penny rendered to him in his young days in leading the Johnston County Citizen's Association. Family, may you find comfort during this time as God strengthens your heart with His love and peace.
With caring thoughts and prayers from Rev. Dr. Robert O’Neal, Senior Pastor and the church family of O’Neal Revival Tabernacle, 500 Richardson Rd, Zebulon NC.
Date: 12/29/22
Family or Deceased Name: Elma Barnes Penny
Your Name: Evelyn S Johnson
Email: esj54@atmc.net
Message: I remember Sis. Penny as she would attend the various events of the Woman's Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention of NC, Inc. She was an Institute Instructor and a Special Worker for our Convention. She was always so kind and would give us words of encouragement.
Date: December 28, 2022
Family or Deceased Name: Mrs. Elma Barnes Penny
Your Name: Michael Stanley
Email: 03gocarthill@gmail.com
Message: I knew this sweet and good lady as one of my favorite teachers at Four Oaks School. I had the honor to see her again a few years ago. She was just as sweet as I remembered, and I got a Hug.. She said after all those years. It was a Blessing to be remembered from so very long ago...
Date: 12/26/2022
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