Mary Elizabeth Harrell Dail

Mary Elizabeth Harrell Dail, 89, a longtime resident of Edenton, NC, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at The Landings of Albemarle in Hertford.

Born in Chowan County on October 31, 1935, Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of the late Earl David Harrell, Sr. and Martha Chappell Harrell Winslow and the widow of the late James Carlyle “Pete” Dail, Sr.

Mary Elizabeth grew up in Sunbury and graduated from Sunbury High School. After graduation, she moved to Edenton where she met the love of her life and worked with Norfolk and Carolina Telephone Company. Following her marriage on October 16, 1955, she and her husband traveled several years while he served in the US Coast Guard, and later they made their permanent home in Edenton where they raised their three children. After raising her children, she went to work at Drs. A.F. Downum, Sr. and Jr. as an office manager for their optometrist office for twenty years.

She was a member of Edenton Baptist Church where she had taught children’s Sunday School, worked with GA’s, and was a member of its Helen Hughes Circle. When Edenton Baptist Church started a mission church in the Cape Colony area, she became active in helping get it established. It became Albemarle Baptist Church, where she was a charter member. There she served on the hospitality, flower, and bereavement committees, taught children’s Sunday School and loved working in Vacation Bible School.

Mary Elizabeth also enjoyed her years of being a Cub Scout Den Mother and an Edenton Jaycette. The joy of her life was being a wife, mother, and Mamaw. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her but leaves a legacy of love and faith.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, James C. “Jim” Dail, Jr.; grandson, Thomas Allen Dail, Jr.; stepfather, L.F. Winslow, Sr.; brothers, Earl David Harrell, Jr. and Thurman Ray Harrell, stepbrother, Leonard C. Winslow Jr., and by a sister, Reba Harrell Umphlett.

Surviving is her daughter, Linda Dail Edmundson (Frankie); a son, Thomas Allen Dail, Sr.; daughter-in-law, Susan Reaves Dail, all of Edenton; sister, Eloise Harrell Nelson of Florida; and a stepsister, Joyce Winslow Britt of South Carolina. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Jessica Dail Montgomery (Jamie) of Greenville, Elizabeth Edmundson Swicegood (Brian) of New Bern, Christopher Franklin Edmundson (Tanya) of Winterville, Mary Catherine “Cady” Dail Shackelford (Christian) of Benson, Daniel Reaves Dail (Kimberly) of Greenville, Tyler Dail Edmundson of Edenton, and Victoria “Tori” Katlin Dail (Justin) of Conway. She was blessed with 12 great-grandchildren, Mary Ella Swicegood, Kylie Ada Edmundson, Eva Grace Swicegood, Gavin Cruz Montgomery, Aaron Carlyle Edmundson, Tinleigh Jade Edmundson, Joshua Wilkins Swicegood, Liam Banks Montgomery, Daisy Vera Edmundson, Laken Christopher Edmundson, Kaden James Edmundson, and Emerson Isla Burgess; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A service in celebration of her life will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, and will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Koby Strawser and the Rev. Greg Brinson. Friends may visit with the family in the funeral home immediately following the service. Prior to the chapel service, the family will hold a private graveside committal in Beaver Hill Cemetery where she will be buried next to her beloved husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Edenton Baptist Church, 200 S. Granville Street, Edenton, NC 27932.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.