Elsie Gentry Britt, age 84, passed away at her home on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. She was the wife of Judge Samuel E. Britt, with whom she celebrated 61 years of marriage this past December. The youngest of ten children, she was born to the late William Henry Gentry and Lelia Chandler Gentry on August 10, 1929 in Person County, NC. Upon graduation from Allensville High School, she entered Wake Forest University where she was to meet her husband. Upon graduation, she became a teacher and taught in the school systems of Union and Robeson County, as well as Orange County, FL. She was privileged to have taught in Lumberton High School and Littlefield High School before retirement. Elsie's family consists of Dr. Samuel E. Britt II and wife, Dianne Harrison Britt, of Lumberton, Nancy Jane Britt Wagner and husband, Mark Y. Wagner, of Lumberton, and Daniel Gentry Britt, of Atlanta, GA. She was the proud grandmother of six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is survived by a brother, Berley Berry Gentry, of Greensboro, and a sister, Virginia Gentry Fortner, of Kannapolis, NC. Her loving influence has extended to many nieces and nephews. Following her marriage in 1952, she joined her husband, who was serving in the Air Force, in Orlando, FL. She was with him in France, also, and upon his release from service, they returned to Lumberton. Elsie was a very active member of the First Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher in the Children's Department and also in the Adult Department. She served on many of the church committees and was a choir member. Women's Missionary Union was one of her favorite places of service and she did so as its director for several years. One of her pleasant memories was leading that ministry in its hundred-year celebration of the WMU. Things of beauty always interested her and it explains her interest in garden clubs and flower arrangements. She was a member of Mr. & Mrs. Garden Club, Garden Belles Garden Club, Flower Study Club, and Lumberton Garden Club Council. She participated in many garden club shows and, more often than not, received the blue ribbon for her arrangements. Her studies qualified her to become a master flower judge for garden clubs and, ultimately, she became a lifetime flower judge. She served several terms for the City of Lumberton Beautification Committee. One of her achievements was to organize the First Annual Open House Christmas Tour that has been so successful in Lumberton. An avid golfer, she formed many friendships at the Pinecrest Golf Club of Lumberton, where she was a multi-winner of the Elsie Whiting Ladies Golf Tournament.