Mrs. Cleo Veal Hood of Lillington passed away on July 26, 2012. She was 99 years of age and had been in declining health for a number of years.

She was a retired teacher. She had previously served for a time as Postmistress in Bunnlevel, NC, and worked in the offices of several area businesses.

Born May 17, 1913, in Deepstep, Georgia, she came to Harnett County in 1937 with her husband, Herbert Hood, who was a teacher and later a principal and Director of Transportation in Harnett County. She was a graduate of Young-Harris Junior College in Georgia, and continued her education through correspondence courses at the University of North Carolina, and was among the first four-year graduates of Campbell College. She was beloved as a third grade teacher at Lillington and Shawtown Elementary Schools for many years.

Her husband, Charles Herbert Hood preceded her in death in 1965. She is survived by her three sons and their wives, Howard and Dottie Hood, Robert (Bert) and Patty Hood of Lillington, and Glenn and Ann Hood of Buie's Creek, as well as four grandchildren, Charles Hood, Crystal Poole, Eric Hood and Melissa Poovey, and by nine great-grandchildren. A brother, Veron Veal of Deepstep, GA, and sisters Jane Veal, of Bogart, GA, and Hazel Byrd of Bunnlevel, and many nieces and nephews also survive her.

Cleo's life revolved around her church, her family, and her beloved flower and vegetable gardens. Through her example, she taught her family to value education and service to others. She was always willing to share her flowers and the products of her vegetable garden with others. She canned and froze produce from her garden, made jams and jellies from fruits from her trees and vines, and shared the fruits of these skills with her family and her friends.

She loved learning new skills, and after her retirement took classes in painting, basket weaving, upholstery, and doll making to satisfy her innate curiosity. She spent thousands of hours visiting the sick and homebound, taking them baked goods, and other gifts from the heart, and was active in her church, Lillington United Methodist Church, until she could no longer attend regularly.

A celebration of her life will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Lillington United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Elton Hendricks officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 2-3 p.m. Burial will follow at Harnett Memorial Park.

While flowers are appreciated, the family asks that you consider a donation in her memory to the Lillington United Methodist Church, 1201 Main Street, Lillington, NC, or to The Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust, Inc. (www.cartfund.org), c/o Dr. Thomas J. Holmes, P.O. Box 454, Buie's Creek, NC 27506.

The family will be using Ann's Flowers, 910-893-9192.A celebration of her life will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Lillington United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Elton Hendricks officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 2-3 p.m. Burial will follow at Harnett Memorial Park.