FRANKLIN—Rachel Rose Myrick Pope, 82, died quietly in Richmond May 25, 2008, after a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Pope was born July 1, 1925 in Como, N.C.

She was the second child of the late Carlton and Annie Mae Myrick of Como.

She attended Hertford County Schools. On Feb. 3, 1945, she married the love of her life, Lonnie Lee Pope of Newsoms.

They lived in Newsoms for several years before moving to Franklin, where she lived more than 50 years.

A calm, loving and caring person, she was always willing to extend a helping hand to family, friends and her Franklin community.

She worked as a domestic for many of those years to help support her family. She was very active in the lives of and helped to raise her many grandchildren, who she loved and cared for like her own children.

She was an active member of First Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Franklin, where she served as deaconess and a faithful servant of the Lord.

She was a wonderful neighbor, and touched the lives of everyone she met.

She had an insurmountable abundance of love for life and family.

Having departed this earthly life she joins in eternal life her husband, Lonnie Lee Pope Sr.; her brother, Henry Myrick of Franklin; her son, Lonnie Jerry Pope Jr. of Oxon Hill, Md.; and her granddaughter, Bria Sims of Richmond.

Survivors include her brother, Timothy Myrick of Como; her sisters, Rowena Taylor of Baltimore, Md., and Thelma Deloatch of Rich Square, N.C.; her children, Barbara Hunt of Alexandria, Melvin Pope of Dale City, Coral Lassiter (Teensi) of Philadelphia, Pa., Brenda Morgan of Hinesville, Ga., Stephanie Beal (Poochie) of Woodbridge, Diaphine Holland (Dia) of Greensboro,

N.C., Donnie Pope of Woodbridge, Rachel Janet Sims of Richmond, Alvin Pope of Richmond, Debbie Pope of Greensboro, Denise Pope (San) of Franklin and Jackie Pope of Franklin; 24 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three sister-in-laws; one brother-in-law; as well as a host of daughter-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held today at 1 p.m. at First Seventh Day Adventist Church, Franklin. Minister in charge will be Michael Dyson.

Burial will follow in Mill Neck Missionary Baptist Church, Como.

Elvin Vaughan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.