Rose Read West, 74, daughter of Frank A. Read, Sr. and Nannie Perry Read, born in the Wood Community of North Carolina, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015 after a valiant battle with cancer. She attended Gold Sand School, Atlantic Christian College, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University, and worked as an art teacher, artisan potter and weaver.

Following the death of her second husband, E. Carlyle West, she became CEO of Bold Corporation, a chemical packaging company headquartered in Charlotte, NC, with production facilities in Tifton, Ga. She diligently expanded the company in following years, finally retiring to her beach home on Oak Island, NC.

She is survived by her former husband, James L. Mercer of Windsor, NC; three children, Elizabeth Mercer O'Ham (David) of Charlotte, NC; Linda W. Boyd (Jesse) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and James F. Mercer (Garrett) of Charlotte. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, the loves of her life: Beth, Tyson and Ferne O'Ham, Zachary and Ian Mercer; and Mary Boyd.

Also surviving are her brothers, Frank Read, Jr. (Rose Marie) of Louisburg, NC, Perry Read (Carolyn) of Charlotte, NC; and a sister, Nancy Mann (James) of Wilmington, NC.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to SECU Hospice Home of Brunswick, 955 Mercy Lane SE, Bolivia, NC 28422.

A family memorial service will be held at the Oak Island home she loved so much on October 24th.

Paid Obituary