HENDERSON - Rachel Sykes Tant Newton, age 91, a resident of 7829 NC Hwy. 39 South, died Thursday, October 25, 2012 at her home.  Born on September 18, 1921 in Franklin County, she was the daughter of the late Moses R. Sykes and Iola Strickland Sykes.  She was a retired Rehab Therapist at John Umstead in Butner.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 PM in the J. M. White Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Tammy Ayscue.  Burial will follow in Rogers Cemetery in Creedmoor.

She is survived by one son, G. C. Tant, Jr. of Epsom; two sisters, Ermenia S. Gray of Butner and Frances S. Howell of Rocky Mount; three granddaughters, Rhonda T. Rogers and husband Todd, of Durham, Tammie T. Gullie and husband Jason, of Durham, and Sheila M. Baker and James Phillips of Creedmoor; and four great-grandchildren, Sarah Baker, Haleigh Jade Phillips, Camden Gullie, and Sydney Grace Gullie. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, George C. Tant, Sr. and Jack O. Newton; a son, Nelson Tant; three sisters, Mildred S. Brown, Wanda S. Leech, and Beadie S. Yendt; and four brothers, Raymond Sykes, Ruben Sykes, Bayard Sykes, and Woodrow Sykes.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:30 till 2:00 PM at J. M. White Funeral Home.  At other times they will be at the home at 7829 NC Hwy. 39 South.

Serving as active pall bearers will be Jason Gullie, Todd Rogers, Larry Latta, Bobby Ray, Wayne Aiken, Larry Bennett, T.C. Stevenson and James Phillips.

Serving as an honorary pall bearer will be Baxter Aiken.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Maria Parham Medical Center, Cardiac Rehab Department, 566 Ruin Creek Rd., Henderson, NC 27536 or Duke Homecare and Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Dr., Suite 101, Durham, NC 27704.

Arrangements are by J. M. White Funeral Home.

Paid Obit