1926
Zaylister
2020
Zaylister ''Nit' Howell Stevens
June 12, 1926 — May 7, 2020
Due to COVID-19, the Governor of North Carolina has asked that all gatherings be limited to no more than 50 people including staff and all attendees such as clergy, ushers, musicians, etc. Please check with the family to see if you are invited.
Zaylister (Nit), age 93, was the youngest of six children birthed to the late Jonah and Nancy Coley Howell. She was born in Wayne County, NC on June 12, 1926. She passed on Thursday, May 7th, 2020 in Greensboro, NC.
Zaylister graduated from Fremont High School and relocated to New York City. She later returned to North Carolina and married the late Roosevelt (Jack) Wiley of Fremont. To this union, three daughters were born, Nancy Rebecca Atkinson, Linda Delores Sims of Greensboro, NC, and Jacqueline Jones (Oscar) of Princeton. After Jack's passing, she remarried to the (late) Ralph Stevens of Princeton, NC.
Zaylister was a very hard worker. She was a very strong-willed and dignified woman. She worked as a Housekeeper, Nanny, and Farm Worker. She also worked at the Sylvania Company before becoming a Certified Nurse's Aide. She accepted Christ into her life as a young girl and served at St. Stevens Disciple's Church for many years. She recently became a member of the First Baptist Missionary Church in Princeton, N.C.
Her real passion was cooking and Oh how she loved to cook. Her food was delicious. She hosted an open table to anyone who wanted a good, wholesome meal. She loved to entertain.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jonah and Nancy Howell; one brother, Curley B. Howell of New York; three sisters, Christine Howell of New York, Faydine Best and Goldie Hardy of Princeton, NC; one daughter, Nancy Atkinson of Washington, DC and one grandson, Eric Atkinson of Greenville, NC; two son-in-laws, Reginald Atkinson of Washington, DC and William (Bobby) Sims of Greensboro, NC.
She leaves to cherish her memories: Linda Sims of Greensboro, NC and Jacqueline Jones (Oscar) of Princeton, NC; two grand(daughters) of whom she raised, Stephanie Nicholson (Darryl) of Garner, NC and Sharita Iseah of Goldsboro, NC; grandson, Reginald O'Keith Atkinson of Raleigh, NC; granddaughters, Cheryl Atkinson and Jennifer Atkinson of Washington, DC, Ralmaranda Best of Princeton, NC, Zaylister Raquel (Edward) of McLeansville, NC, Shena Sterling of Norcross, Georgia, Lynnette Atkinson of Greenville, NC, and Sharvette Williams of Kernersville, NC; one sister, Prescilla Newsome of Virginia; one sister-in-law, Annie Mae Wiley, Goldsboro, NC; great grandchildren, Lakita, Donnell, Brianna, Davyne, Jessica, Adryan, Malcolm, Christopher, Justyn, Nicole, Chandler, Jalen, Camden, Avante, Zoe, Zion, and Ethan; great, great grandchildren, Janaya, Trey, Kammy, Keelan, Niki, and Zackari; several nieces, nephews, cousins and others who called her Mama Nit, Granny, Nana, The Lady, and Nit. She never met any strangers. She also leaves bonus children, Mary Robinson, Linda Hart, Linda Bagley, Faye Holloman, Robert (Doris) Atkinson, Danny (Gloria) Atkinson, & Barbara Jean Witherspoon; and a special friend & sister, Jeanette Powell.
Walk Thur Viewing Only (not to exceed 10 people at once):
Monday, May 11
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
First Missionary Baptist Church
414 West First St
Princeton, NC 27569
Graveside Service:
Tuesday, May 05
11:00 AM
Everette Cemetery
Princeton, NC
Zaylister (Nit), age 93, was the youngest of six children birthed to the late Jonah and Nancy Coley Howell. She was born in Wayne County, NC on June 12, 1926. She passed on Thursday, May 7th, 2020 in Greensboro, NC.
Zaylister graduated from Fremont High School and relocated to New York City. She later returned to North Carolina and married the late Roosevelt (Jack) Wiley of Fremont. To this union, three daughters were born, Nancy Rebecca Atkinson, Linda Delores Sims of Greensboro, NC, and Jacqueline Jones (Oscar) of Princeton. After Jack's passing, she remarried to the (late) Ralph Stevens of Princeton, NC.
Zaylister was a very hard worker. She was a very strong-willed and dignified woman. She worked as a Housekeeper, Nanny, and Farm Worker. She also worked at the Sylvania Company before becoming a Certified Nurse's Aide. She accepted Christ into her life as a young girl and served at St. Stevens Disciple's Church for many years. She recently became a member of the First Baptist Missionary Church in Princeton, N.C.
Her real passion was cooking and Oh how she loved to cook. Her food was delicious. She hosted an open table to anyone who wanted a good, wholesome meal. She loved to entertain.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jonah and Nancy Howell; one brother, Curley B. Howell of New York; three sisters, Christine Howell of New York, Faydine Best and Goldie Hardy of Princeton, NC; one daughter, Nancy Atkinson of Washington, DC and one grandson, Eric Atkinson of Greenville, NC; two son-in-laws, Reginald Atkinson of Washington, DC and William (Bobby) Sims of Greensboro, NC.
She leaves to cherish her memories: Linda Sims of Greensboro, NC and Jacqueline Jones (Oscar) of Princeton, NC; two grand(daughters) of whom she raised, Stephanie Nicholson (Darryl) of Garner, NC and Sharita Iseah of Goldsboro, NC; grandson, Reginald O'Keith Atkinson of Raleigh, NC; granddaughters, Cheryl Atkinson and Jennifer Atkinson of Washington, DC, Ralmaranda Best of Princeton, NC, Zaylister Raquel (Edward) of McLeansville, NC, Shena Sterling of Norcross, Georgia, Lynnette Atkinson of Greenville, NC, and Sharvette Williams of Kernersville, NC; one sister, Prescilla Newsome of Virginia; one sister-in-law, Annie Mae Wiley, Goldsboro, NC; great grandchildren, Lakita, Donnell, Brianna, Davyne, Jessica, Adryan, Malcolm, Christopher, Justyn, Nicole, Chandler, Jalen, Camden, Avante, Zoe, Zion, and Ethan; great, great grandchildren, Janaya, Trey, Kammy, Keelan, Niki, and Zackari; several nieces, nephews, cousins and others who called her Mama Nit, Granny, Nana, The Lady, and Nit. She never met any strangers. She also leaves bonus children, Mary Robinson, Linda Hart, Linda Bagley, Faye Holloman, Robert (Doris) Atkinson, Danny (Gloria) Atkinson, & Barbara Jean Witherspoon; and a special friend & sister, Jeanette Powell.
Walk Thur Viewing Only (not to exceed 10 people at once):
Monday, May 11
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
First Missionary Baptist Church
414 West First St
Princeton, NC 27569
Graveside Service:
Tuesday, May 05
11:00 AM
Everette Cemetery
Princeton, NC
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Zaylister ''Nit' Howell Stevens, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Walk Thur Viewing Only (not to exceed 10 people at once)
Monday, May 11, 2020
1:00 - 6:00 pm (Eastern time)
First Missionary Baptist Church
Guestbook
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