Addie Naomi Moore Word, who held a Bachelor of Science degree, was the First Lady Emeritus at East End Baptist Church.
Addie Naomi Moore Word was the last of three children born to John Moore and R’Della Smith Moore on Oct. 11, 1909, in Pender County, N.C. She spent her early years living on 24 acres of farmland that her grandfather, Simon Smith, purchased Nov. 29, 1881.
While she was in her early teens, the family of five moved to Norfolk. They lived in a house on Charlotte Street before purchasing a home on Broad Creek Road, now Virginia Beach Boulevard. Miss Moore attended the Norfolk Public Schools. After high school, she attended Barbar Scotia College in North Carolina and graduated from Johnson C. Smith College in 1933 with a B.S. in Education.
She returned to Norfolk after completing her work at J.C. Smith and was hired as a teacher, working first with kindergarten then second grade children, at Liberty Park Elementary School. Mrs. Word went on to teach for more than 30 years in the public schools of Virginia, retiring in 1971.
Addie Naomi Moore met and married the late Clarence James Word of Danville on June 30, 1945.
Addie Word was involved in the formation of the East Suffolk Garden Club; the Girl Scouts, Pastor’s Aide and Senior Women’s Sharing Group at East End; the Suffolk Chapter of the International Minister’s Wives and Minister’s Widows Inc.; and a number of other organizations.
On the evening of April 17, 2010, Addie Word entered her eternal rest.
She leaves to mourn her passing: one daughter, Shirley Word-Kimbrough and her husband Leslie, of Cambridge, Mass.; two grandchildren, Derrick Word Kimbrough and Laurance Vernon Kimbrough, both of Cambridge; a nephew, Retired Judge Lester Vernon Moore Jr. and his wife Thelma of Norfolk; a loving East End Baptist Church family and a host of other relatives and friends.
A celebration of her life will be held at East End Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 1 PM.
Harris Funeral Home has been entrusted with the home-going service. Visit www.vharrisfuneral home.com for more information.