Mrs. Annie Bell Mason Arrington, 80, of Statesville, N.C.,went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at the Gordon Hospice House.
Miss Annie, as she was affectionally known, was born in Alexander County on March 26, 1939, and was the daughter of the late Watt Jiles Mason and Ethel Shoemaker Mason. She was a graduate of Hiddenite School and AB&F Business College, where she obtained her Interior Design degree.
On June 29, 1957, she married Harold Lee Arrington and they shared 44 years of marriage before his passing on July 2, 2001.
Miss Annie was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church for 60-plus years. She served in many capacities, including Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, and was an active member of Deeper Life Women’s Ministries. She was a member of the Gideon’s Auxiliary, where she served as former secretary of the Statesville North Camp. As a youth, she served as a choir director at Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Miss Annie was the founder, owner and operator of Arrington Interiors, where she did interior design and decorating and was a master wallpaper hanger. She was co-founder of Arrington Paint Contractors with her beloved husband Harold, providing high-end restoration work. Miss Annie was a former member of the American Business Women’s Association for 25-plus years. She and Harold, along with their children and grandchildren, were owners and operators of Arrington Tree Farm in West Jefferson, providing a choose-n-cut Christmas tree farm experience for families from several states.
She was a member of Oaklawn Garden Club which provided many services to the community. She also served as a Cub Scout den leader.
Miss Annie was extremely artistic. Her talents could be seen in her oil paintings, fine needle work of various mediums, floral designer, artistic bead work that included Chrismons on her church Christmas tree and family ornaments. Miss Annie’s seamstress skills included dressing brides and bridesmaids and Southern Gospel groups with their apparel. She was an extremely talented cook and was most sought after for her homemade apple butter by the case.
She was a philanthropist and generous to those in the community and beyond with her time and money without taking any credit.
Miss Annie was a daughter, a wife, a mom and most importantly, a “Grammy.”
In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Ray Mason and Dalmer Mason (Brenda); a sister, Versi Lee Adams (Shorty); three brothers-in-law, Tom Arrington (Rachel), Elmer Arrington (Irene) and Ed Welborn.
Left to cherish the memory of Miss Annie are her three children, Phil Arrington and wife Ann of Statesville, Tonda Arrington Hopkins and husband Hoppy of Locust Grove, Va., and Aleix Arrington and wife Teresa of Stony Point. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Candis Beck (Scott), Kyle Arrington, Ashley Reep (Josh), Jessie Hastings, Mary Morgan Latham (John), and Jack Arrington, along with great-grandchildren Corbin, Braxton, Raegan, Gaige, Makayla, Callie and Ella. She is further survived by step-grandchildren, Theresa Jenkins and Harry Hopkins III (Mandy), along with step-great-grandchildren, Amber, Lauren, Hayden, Aaron, Peyton and Alex. Two sisters-in-law, Diane Sherrill Mason and Clara Arrington Welborn, and numerous nieces, nephews and a special “son” Dan McLelland, who was more than a former employee — “he was family,” also survive.
A service to celebrate the life of Miss Annie will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at New Prospect Baptist Church with Rev. Joey Campbell, Rev. Mark Robinette, and Rev. David Childress officiating. Burial will follow in the New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from 1:30 until 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Gideon’s International Statesville North Camp, P.O. Box 1321, Statesville, NC 28687 or to the Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com
Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Annie Bell Mason Arrington.
Special thanks to all the staff and caregivers at Brookdale Peachtree Senior Living, where she resided for the past two years. Also, to the staff of the Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, who cared for her in her final weeks at Brookdale and the Gordon Hospice House.