b. October 1, 1927
by Mamré Marsh Wilson, Saint Paul’s Church, Beaufort, 2012
Miss Kathryn on the left and her great granddaughter celebrating a birthday!
Kathryn Sewell was the only daughter of Lottie, a housekeeper, and Capt. Jack Sewell, a chief engineer on a Beaufort-based menhaden boat. One grandfather traveled on horseback downeast in Carteret County as a Free Will Baptist minister. The family lived on north Orange Street, overlooking Town Creek. Three older brothers served as Kathryn’s protectors and friends. She recalls many grocery delivery trips with a brother to Harkers Island, including bumpy roads and ferry boat rides.
Kathryn began school at Saint Paul’s School for kindergarten. After graduation from Beaufort High School and college in Greensboro she returned to Beaufort and became active in the USO. She helped the town watchmen monitor the coast for German submarines. She worked in the personnel department at Cherry Point Air Station, where she met her husband, Ed Nelson. On their first formal date, Kathryn took Ed to Saint Paul’s for a Maundy Thursday service. He was from New Bern, but it didn’t matter to the person who needed ushers. Ed’s first time in the church was the beginning of a long life for both of them.
As a “cradle” Episcopalian with a mother who was very active in the church, Kathryn has attended and served her church all her life. She was able to walk from home to Sunday School, where her class met in the church, in a special small pew below the “lamb” window. At age 8, Kathryn had diphtheria and was quarantined at home. Upon her return from the long absence from Sunday School her teacher said, “Well, looka here, little Kathryn’s back from the dead!”
While in high school Kathryn became a Sunday School teacher herself, following in the footsteps of her role model, Florence Brooks. Children she taught as a teenager are still members of the parish today. Sunday School lasted an hour, beginning with an assembly, a learning time for the Creed, Lord’s Prayer, colors of the church seasons, and singing. Kathryn played the piano for the assembly, and Mrs. Brooks commented one time to her “You’re getting more out of this than we are!” A window in the present-day classroom was painted by her friend Mamré Wilson and dedicated to Mrs. Brooks.
Kathryn and Ed Nelson had two children, Charlotte and Ed Junior. When “little” Ed was old enough, he went to Sunday School. He was in his mother’s room, as she had volunteered, once again, to teach a class of kindergarteners. Her classroom in the parish hall was surrounded by the love of God, with three little pews built by a parishioner and dedicated in memory of the infant son of a parish family. While rector of Saint Mary’s in Kinston, our present bishop, Clifton Daniel 3rd, secured the specifications for the pews. A retired priest built the small altar. The piano that Kathryn played as a young teenager rested against the north wall. Nearby was her storytelling area.
Kathryn celebrated 50 years as the kindergarten teacher in 2005, then continued serving until her retirement in 2010.