Bertie COUNTY NC Obits Judge Robert Earl Williford ********************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm ******************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mmaker52@aol.com Claudia Williams Judge Robert Earl Williford 14 September 1926 - June 20 1991 HE WAS “CHRISTIAN WHO MATURED” LEWISTON WOODVILLE - Family, professional associates an friends filled the First Baptist Church of Lewiston to overflowing Saturday afternoon to pay a final tribute to retired North Carolina Chief District Judge Robert Earl Williford. Judge Williford, 64, died June 20 in a Norfolk Hospital. He had retired from the Judicial District 6-B bench effective 1 April on advice of his physician. The Rev. Steve Conerly, pastor of Lewiston Baptist Church, said Judge Williford had “joined the angels going from the visible church of God to the invisible.” The pastor called Judge Williford “a Christian who had matured.” He said that many are Christians but fail to mature, but added that Judge Williford continued to mature and as a result became a man of no compromise in his daily life.” He stated at the outset that it was impossible to speak of him worthily, “but I know your love is here to fill in any of the spaces that I may leave.” A relative newcomer to the community and Lewiston Baptist Church, Rev. Conerly said sometimes he thought Robert Earl’s influence on the community and the church may have been because he was a Judge, but then he realized, he continued, that Robert Earl would have been influential even if he had not been a Judge because “he dwelled on Christ day after day--his influence came from his desire to stay with his Lord day by day. The pastor said Mr. Williford showed his love in his church but also in his professional life. While he had no children of his own, he had a great love for children, Rev. Conerly continued, and he was concerned that each should have a Christian education. In private conversations with his pastor Judge Williford had spoken of a form of child molestation for which the law will never punish parents and that is their failure to give their child (children) a Christian education, to come to church and Sunday School with them. The pastor said, “Robert Earl would not want me to eulogize him but to eulogize Christ….he would want me to tell you there must be a response to Christ’s death.” In conclusion he said Robert Earl left his family a legacy because they know where he is. A native of Bertie County, Judge Williford was the son of Bessie P. (Peele) and Lloyd E. Williford of Lewiston Woodville, who survive along with his wife, Ruth Pierce Williford. He was appointed chief judge in 1989 and served the counties of Hertford, Northhampton, and Bertie. He received his law degree from Wake Forest University in 1952 and was in private practice of law with an office in Lewiston. He served as Bertie County Clerk of Court from 1966 to 1971; assistant district attorney of the 6th judicial district from 1971 - 76 and district court judge from 1976 - 89. He was a member of the Sixth District Judicial Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and Davie Masonic Lodge #39. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Lewiston Woodville, and Army veteran of World War II. The 4:30 funeral service was followed by burial in Hoggard Memorial Cemetery. Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, was in charge of arrangements.