Lillie (Lil) Jordan Carowan | Eastern NC Now

    Mrs. Lillie (Lil) Jordan Carowan, age 100, a long-time resident of 179 Pungo View Road, Belhaven, died peacefully at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital on September 7, 2025. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many.

    Graveside funeral services, officiated by Reverend Lawrence Jones, will be held at the Carowan - Judkins Family Cemetery in Terra Ceia at 11:00 a.m. September 12, 2025. Food and fellowship will follow at the First Baptist Church of Smithton.

    Lil was born March 29, 1925, on a small farm on the east side of Cuckold's Creek, halfway between Belhaven and Pantego. The second of four children born to the late Trelonnie (Lonnie) Arthurway Jordan and Thelma Keaton Jordan, Lil was also preceded in death by her two sisters, Patience Credle and Ann Trippe, and brother, Trelonnie Arthurway (Bud) Jordan, Jr.

    The family moved to Belhaven in the late 1920's, living on Water Street across from the Town dock and the Jordan Oil Company and Marina that was initially established by Lil's maternal grandfather, H.R. Keaton. Being so close to the water, Lil spent every chance of her early childhood fishing, crabbing, swimming, sailing, and playing at the "Beach" (the community center) with her many friends and other "wharf rats," as her mother would say.

    Music became an early passion. Growing up in the Great Depression, she belonged to the Belhaven Community Band under the direction of Carl Jakerson. Playing the clarinet, she accompanied the band at the opening of the Lost Colony and annually marched in the Tulip Festival and the Belhaven 4th of July Parade. Dancing, however, was her favorite entertainment. She spent many a lunch hour from school dancing at the Harbor Grill, and her evenings at the Dr. Pepper Shop. During WWII, she and the "gang" enjoyed the local U.S.O. with the "boys" of the PT boat crews that often docked at her father's marina.

    Faith, family, and community soon became the most important things in her life. At the age of 8, she made her profession of faith and was a devoted, founding member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Smithton, choir member, member of the Woman's Missionary Union, and representative to the Southern Baptist Convention. After graduating high school in 1942, she attended Hardbarger Business College in Raleigh and subsequently worked for the Jordan Oil Company. For 25 years, she was a faithful volunteer at Pungo District Hospital, and in later years was an active participant at the Belhaven Seniors' Center. She was well known for sharing her fudge and pimento cheese. But foremost, she loved her family.

    On December 18, 1948, Lil married the late Glenn A. Carowan, former general manager of Tideland EMC, and moved to Terra Ceia and later to Pungo Creek. Surviving are her two sons, Glenn A. Carowan, Jr. of Cambridge, Maryland and Arthur B. Carowan of Avon, Indiana; their respective wives, Loranne Billingsley Carowan and Janet Maxwell Carowan; her treasured five grandchildren, Aubrey Messick, Stephanie Chapman, Bonnie Abey, Arthur B. Carowan, Jr., and Carrie Helgason; and fifteen great grandchildren: Kevin, Jr., Karson, Kaiden, Kaleb, Kamden, Kenna, Joseph, Haley, Harpa, Griffin, Regan, Liam, Mason, Maddie, and Ben.

    Arthur Bennet Carowan, Jr, Kevin Messick, Kevin Messick, Jr. Kaiden Messick, Brandon Abey and Joseph Abey will serve as pallbearers, with Karson, Kaleb, and Kamden Messick as alternates.

    The family will receive friends Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Paul Funeral Home in Belhaven.

    Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Smithton, 2951 Seed Tick Neck Road, Pinetown, North Carolina 27865-9386. or the charity of one's choice.

    Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.