Reverend Henry Bell Pickett, Jr.

Reverend Henry Bell Pickett, Jr., 81, son of the late Henry Bell, Sr. and Velma Pickett was born March 21, 1938 in Morehead City, NC.  He departed this life April 30, 2019.  He was predeceased by his sisters and their spouses, Della Collins (John ‘Tootsie”) and Mary Murrell (Elihue).

He attended W.S. King High School in Morehead City, North Carolina.  After high school Rev. Pickett graduated from Elizabeth City State Teachers College and was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army.

In July of 1963, he and his family moved to Raleigh for his employment at Mary E. Phillips Elementary School.  Rev. Pickett taught 6th grade, became a guidance counselor at East Milbrook Middle and a Baptist Preacher at Oberlin Baptist Church.

Over the years Rev. Pickett received numerous awards and honors.  In the community he was well known as a great role model, hero, and humanitarian.  For 12 years he was president of the Raleigh-Apex Branch of the NAACP.  In 2000 he was honored with the Humanitarian Charles A. McLean NAACP award, and the Governor’s Award-Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  He served on the Trustee Board of Elizabeth City State University and the Executive Board of Project Direct.  He was also a member of the  Southeast Raleigh Assembly.  He continued to serve as Associate Minister at First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church until his declining health would not allow him to attend.

He is survived by his wife, Mary H. Pickett of the home; son, Marquis Pickett (Ginny) of Jacksonville, FL; daughter, Sherry Aldridge (Eugene) of Raleigh, NC; four grandchildren, Eugene Aldridge, Bria Pickett, DeShaun Aldridge and Marco Pickett; three sisters, Martha Brown Mills, Delores Adams (Roy) and Emma Pickett; and by a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Rev. Pickett’s favorite scripture passage since his high school days was Romans 8:31 – (If God be for us, who can stand against us?)

Funeral service 12:00 noon Saturday May 11, 2019 at First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, 1515 Crosslink Road, Raleigh, NC preceded by an 11:00 AM visitation.  Interment will follow at Carolina Biblical Gardens.  Viewing from 2:00 - 8:00 PM Friday May 10, 2019 at Haywood Funeral Home.

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