Lillian Cecelia Haynes Jordan | Eastern NC Now

    Lillian Cecelia Haynes Jordan, age 93, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 13, 2026 peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her 5 children. She was born March 26, 1933 in Goldsboro, NC and lived in Louisiana, Texas, Delaware, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia throughout her life returning to eastern North Carolina to retire. She was the daughter of the late Lewis Austin Haynes and Vera Henrietta Tripp Haynes.

    Lillian graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1951 and attended East Carolina Teacher's College graduating in 3 years with a Science Teaching degree in 1954. She then performed biological science research for 10 years at North Carolina State University and then at the University of Texas at Austin. Upon moving to New Castle, Delaware in the early 60s Lillian created and ran a Preschool and Kindergarten program. In the early 70s she moved back to eastern North Carolina where she was a substitute teacher in Elizabeth City, taught adult consumer education classes, and was a Mary Kay consultant until she began her master's program at East Carolina University. Lillian graduated with her Speech Pathology graduate degree in 1975 and worked in the North Carolina school system helping children learn/relearn how to talk and also worked in the North Carolina nursing home system helping adults learn/relearn how to communicate. She found immeasurable personal fulfillment in her speech therapy career and helped thousands of children and adults learn to communicate again. During her spare time she loved volunteering at her church, traveling, dancing, gardening, and community service. Lillian contributed countless hours of service to the Daughters of the American Revolution Edenton Tea Party Chapter and the North Carolina First Families and Colonial Dames.

    In addition to her parents, Lillian was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Wade Hampton Jordan, Jr., and her sister Shirley Louise Haynes Rumer.

    Lillian is survived by her children, Robert A. Jordan and wife Marla of Pinetown, NC, Tonja L. Jordan of Henderson, NC, Kalla J. Sparrow and husband Don of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Wanda J. Clark and husband John of Littleton, NC, and David A. Jordan of New Bern, NC; grandchildren Donald W. Sparrow, III of Hagerstown, MD, Jeffrey W. Sparrow and wife Emily of Stevensville, MD, Brian J. Sparrow and wife Courtney of Annapolis, MD, and Stephen D.A. Shirk and wife Jasmine of Beulaville, NC; and her 5 great-grandchildren Miles T. Sparrow, Logan W. Sparrow, Zoe O. Sparrow, Ethan D. Shirk, and Hannon P. Sparrow.

    Lillian's family will receive friends and family from 12:30 - 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Warren Chapel UMC, 13259 NC Hwy 33 East, Blounts Creek, NC 27814. A 'Celebration of Life Service' will be held immediately after the visitation at Warren Chapel UMC with Lillian's former Pastor, Betty Jo Rodgers, officiating.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Warren Chapel UMC, 13259 NC Hwy 33 East, Blounts Creek, NC 27814 or to the Tripp Family Cemetery Fund, care of Warren Tripp, 955 Down Shore Road, Blounts Creek, NC 27814.

    Online memorials and memories can be submitted at www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington, NC is providing this honored service for the Jordan Family.