May 21, 2024, 88, Goldsboro —

Velma Rose Barnes Sullivan, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. Born in Wayne County, she was the daughter of the late Levi Lee Barnes and Lela Belle Holland Barnes and wife of the late Jesse Brooks Sullivan. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Sheriff Carey Winders. Velma was a member of the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. She spent most of her life taking care of her family and her home but also retired from Nahunta Pork Center as the head cashier.

She was a loving mother and grandmother and was an exceptional cook. She was known for her carrot cake and chicken pastry. She was a hard worker all her life and loved her flowers and always had a big garden. She always kept everything neat and clean and made sure everything was in its place.

A service to celebrate Velma’s life will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 11:00 am at the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. John Massengill officiating. Committal will follow in the Sullivan Family Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday, May 24th from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home.

Velma is survived by her children, Terry Sullivan, Sonny Sullivan and his wife, Debbie and Teresa Sullivan Winders; her sister, Ernestine Cuddington; seven grandchildren, Jason Sullivan and wife, Bobbi, Crystal Horton and husband, Patrick, Bobby Sullivan and wife, Rhonda, Melissa Jones and husband, Taylor, Jessica Rouse and husband, Jason, Ashley Sparks and husband, Travis, and Carianne Pipkin and husband, Lawrence; seventeen great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren.

Flowers are welcome or memorial gifts may be directed to the
Free Will Baptist Children’s Home
P.O. Box 249
Middlesex, NC 27557

Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Sullivan family and online condolences can be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com