Mrs. Carness Pope Underwood

She was the daughter of the late Birttie and Dallas Pope. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. As a child of the Depression era, she was no stranger to hard work. A middle child with 10 siblings, washing clothes by hand with lye soap in a big cast iron pot was one of many chores she had growing up on a farm. After marriage, she stayed home and raised her five children. She later worked for Johnston County Schools for 11 years as a baker and at Champion Products. In her later years, she took care of others – babysitting children in the community and visiting and caring for elderly and sick in her church and community. Carness attended Bethesda Baptist Church in Clayton for 50 years, where she was well known for her cooking talents and her love of children. She was an extraordinary baker—her pecan pies were always in demand. Having grown up on a farm, she was also well acquainted with the fields and woods around her. While not formally educated, taking a walk in the woods with Carness was like walking with a botanist beside you as she could identify and describe all of the flowers, plants, and trees.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Graham Underwood and her daughter, Carolyn Underwood. She was also predeceased by her sister, Lorene Baker, brothers, Labron Pope, Verlon Pope, Ruben Pope, and Billy Pope. She is survived by four children – Jim Underwood & wife Kim of Washington, DC, Charles Underwood of Clayton, Janice Underwood & husband Kent Jeffries of Fuquay-Varina, and David Underwood & wife Tabitha of Clayton. Grandchildren include Amanda Underwood, Theo Farge, Jacob Olive & wife Nikki, Joshua Olive, Clayton Underwood, and Hailey Olive. Surviving siblings include brothers, John Pope & wife JoAnne of Smithfield, George Pope & wife Gail of Smithfield, sisters, Virginia Benson of Smithfield, Elsie Smith of Jacksonville, Louise Van Hoy & husband Harding of Clayton.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at McLaurin Funeral Home Chapel, Clayton, NC. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McLaurin Funeral Home. Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com. Arrangements by McLaurin at Pinecrest, Funerals & Cremations.