Campin B Merritt

Campin Berley Merritt was born on June 9, 1937, in Bayboro, North Carolina, to the late Thomas and Amanda Davis (Tom and Momma Mandy). Family and friends affectionately knew her as Camp and Ms. Candy. On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, she slept away at her residence, peacefully in His arms, after a sudden illness.

Campin was educated in the Pamlico County school system. On November 1, 1954, Campin was joined in holy matrimony to Carlton Hezekiah Merritt, who preceded her death on March 12, 2007. From this union, three children were born: Carol Larue Merritt (Davis), Carlton Leon Merritt, and Ronald Devall Merritt. Campin continued to reside in Oriental N.C. until Carlton’s discharge from the U.S. Army when he relocated his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Campin worked for Economy Laundry and Montrose Laundry during the 1960s and early 1970s. She later began working with the School District of Philadelphia in the mid-1970s. She worked with children with disabilities as a Teacher’s Assistant at the Hill-Freedman Middle School until she retired in 2006.

Campin was raised in a Christian family and was baptized at an early age at her home church in North Carolina, where she received her Christian foundation. Due to a decline in health, she did not attend church as often in her later years. However, she was a woman of faith who loved the Lord. The Bible was a source of comfort and strength to her throughout her life.  She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in her earlier years.

Campin was a quiet, warm, and friendly person who was loved by many. She believed in staying to herself. She did not like engaging in or listening to gossip. When it came to that, her favorite line was “I don’t know.” She lived life on her terms. In her earlier years, she enjoyed traveling to the casinos and dinner shows sponsored by a previous apartment complex where she lived. In her later years, her favorite pastime was seeing her children and grandchildren, her morning cup of coffee, sitting in her massage recliner, watching her vintage western movies and shows, and drinking iced cold Pepsi Cola.

When the doctors informed Campin of her diagnosis, they asked her what she would like to do. She told them, “If God is ready for me to come home, then I’m ready.” Unfortunately, she left us sooner than we expected or hoped, but we are thankful that God did not let her suffer long. Campin was preceded in her death by her son: Carlton Leon Merritt; sisters: Ester-Mae Wilson, Doretha Farrow, Shirley Jones, Nancy Avery; and brothers: Thomas Allen, Luke, Josephus, Edward Earl, Alonso, and Johnny Davis; sisters-in-law: Linda Gray Graves (Tom), Barbara Lavern Ollison (Joseph William); Brothers-in-law: Metric, Curtis (Ida), and Julius Merritt. Campin was the youngest of Tom and Momma Mandy’s eleven children. She is with her family in glory now.

Campin leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory: her daughter, Carol Larue Davis, Norman (son-in-law), Ronald Devall (son), six grandchildren: Tamika Maria Davis, James Calvin Davis, Jr., Rhondell Daniese Avery (Merritt), Shakerrah Corbin (Merritt); Davena Charlene Brothers (Andre, Sr.), and Norman Davis Jr.; ten great-grandchildren: James Reed Davis, Jazmine Davis, Khalil Davis, Shayla Davis Terry, Jarrett Corbin, Jasmine Corbin, Tyler Donnell Johnson, Anya’e Simone Avery, Andre Jesse Brothers, Jr., Alexander Jesse Brothers; five great-great-grandchildren: Zakir, Noah, Za’kee, Mahiyah, and Humza Davis. Three sisters-in-law: Deloris (Dee) Bowman of Silver Spring, Maryland, Sadie Merritt of Philadelphia, and Glenda Faye Merritt of Pamlico, NC; one brother-in-law: James Leroy Merritt of Pamlico, NC, her daughter of love, Maty Ngom, her sister-friends Pearl Powell, Joyce King, Barbara Young and a host of other loved ones, including nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors. 

Our family would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the many kind expressions of sympathy, words of comfort, and prayers extended during our time of grief. In addition, the family would like to extend a special and warm appreciation to Maty Ngom and Annette Wilcox (Homecare Aides); Barbara Savage, Teya Campbell, Tachira Ingram, Renee and Michael Martin (Presser Senior Apartments Management), Keystone Care nurses, Julie, David, and Whitney.

May God forever bless and keep each one of you in His tender loving care.

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