Viola K. Noel, 92, of Eden, NC died August 17, 2021. Public viewing will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday August 20, 2021 at Perry Spencer Funeral Home, Eden, NC. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday August 21,2021 at Hamlin Cemetery, Eden, NC.

Viola Elizabeth Keen Noel was born in Axton, Virginia on May 9, 1929 to the late Elder General George Washington Keen and Elizabeth Martin Keen. Viola attended school in Henry County, Virginia. She worked many years ago in a restaurant in Eden, NC, she also worked at Hatley’s Laundry, in Eden, NC, then at Stanley Town Furniture Company in Bassett, Virginia. She also worked at Fieldcrest Cannon Mills, Inc. where she retired. Mother Viola was a faithful and dedicated member of Ephesus Primitive Baptist Church. She united with the church on Mother’s Day 1962. Shortly after uniting with the church, she became clerk of the church. In the year 2000 she was chosen as mother of the church. She also served faithfully, assisting with other churches and bringing out food. When she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, He became the love of her life. Her love for God and her faith in Him sustained her through many precarious trials and tribulations. Mother Viola was very much anointed in her gift and talent for singing. This was a gift that brought her great joy, peace, and pleasure, as well as comfort in her service to God and people. Her love for God and the joy she experienced was expressed and shared through the songs she sang of God’s love, salvation, and deliverance for His people. All those who would listen and join in with her as she sang also experienced the Spirit’s power being manifested as they sang. Her favorite song was come In the Union. One of her favorite Scriptures was the 23rd Psalm. Mother Viola also enjoyed being a chauffeur (back in the day) for some of the ladies of the church. She was also a prayer warrior, sometimes holding prayer meetings in her home. Mother Viola also enjoyed cooking and canning fruits and vegetables, making sure the shelves were stocked with food for the family and others who were in need. And although she did not have a lot of earthly possessions, she surely stored up those heavenly treasures in her heart. She was a real jewel. Mother Viola was preceded in death by: two children, Susie Artis, and Donnie Keen, one grandson, Anthony Artis. Siblings: McKinley Keen, Lena Keen Penn, General Keen, Samuel Keen, Mary Keen, Inez Keen, Harriet Keen Dillard, Emma Keen Tinsley, Daniel Keen, Woodson Keen, and Marilyn Dillard. Husbands: Jesse Manns and Dec. Willie Noel.

Those left to cherish her memory, her children: Elder Walter Keen (Doris) Ridgeway, Virginia, Ruby Keen Adams (Ben) Eden, NC, Jessie (Sandra) Keen Jessup (Alfred) Gainesville, Virginia, Johnny Keen (Lauretta) Eden, NC. One sister, Loraine Evans (Roanoke, Virginia). Sixteen grandchildren: Pam Artis, Eden, NC, Charlena Artis Davenport, Chapel Hill, NC, Robert Artis (Top) (Cheryl), Melvin Artis (Leann), Wendy Artis Stewart (Paul), Portia Adams, Craig Adams Pantalone (Paul), Jerald Adams, Virginia, Leander Adams, NC, and Cynthia Adams Greensboro NC, Ronnell Jessup Kernersville, NC, Cedrick Jessup (Lorraine) Oklahoma, Elder Rodney Keen, (Dawn) Ridgeway, Virginia, Byron Keen, Ridgeway, Virginia, Kim Stubblefield, Jamel Keen, John Blackwell, Emerald Blackwell, Jacob Blackwell, Seth Dix, (all of Eden), 38 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren.