LOUISBURG - Octavia Lassiter Merritt, 90, died Friday evening, Feb. 27, 2009. Funeral services were Sunday, March 1, at Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Kellie Gallagher-Smith and the Rev. George McGill officiating. Burial followed at Lancaster Memorial Park.

She was a daughter of the late Willis O. and Beulah Jackson Lassiter. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Maurice Glenn Merritt Sr. and Stuart Y. Merritt.

Surviving: daughters, Mildred M. Kimball (D. Boyd) of Henderson, Frances M. Willard (Bob) of Louisburg, Brenda M. King (Cliff) of Kittrell, Nancy M. Neal of Louisburg; sons, Maurice Glenn Merritt Jr. (Flornida) of Union, N.J., Douglas Ray Merritt (Bonnie) of N. Wilkesboro; 14 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Home Care Hospice, 928 N. Main St., Louisburg, NC 27549.

Arrangements handled by Strickland Funeral Home, Louisburg.