ASHEBORO, NC — William “Boe” Snipes, 90, Rockingham, NC, passed on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Funeral will be held at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at South Ridge Baptist Church, 139 School Street, Rockingham, NC, 28379, with a viewing from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm prior to the service (family will be present). Public Viewing will be held on Monday, December 26, 2022, 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Nelson Funeral Home, 1021 E. Washington Street, Rockingham, NC 28379. Donations can be made to the East Rockingham Senior Center for Meals, Emanual Holiness Church in East Rockingham, or South Ridge Baptist Church in East Rockingham. The family will receive friends and visitors at the home of his son and daughter-in-law Eric and Lisa Snipes at 65 7th Ave Aleo, Rockingham, NC, 28379. Nelson Funeral Service is serving the Snipes Family.
Mr. Boe, William Jervin Snipes, Sr went home to be with the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ on Dec 22nd on Thursday at 8:41am. He died at Brookdale assisted living in Asheboro, NC surrounded by his children. He had moved to Brookdale in January to be near his daughter.
Boe was born May 15th, 1932, He was always so happy that his son, Eric Snipes, shared his birthday. His beloved wife, Dianne Snipes, could not afford a gift for him, so she told him she was having Eric for his birthday. He was born to the late Kenton Barney Snipes, and Sallie Mae Port, who he loved so much that he signed his life over to the US Navy for addition years, so he could help pay for their home, they were about to be homeless. He was going to sign for another 6 years after that, but his mom become sick, and he did not want to put her in nursing home, so he did not re-enlist to take care of her. He never regretted it because that is when he met, his wife, Dianne.
Out of the Navy, he picked up a job at J.P. Stevens, a textile factory, to support his family. He would go a couple of nights a week to the bootlegger to drink, and the Lord spoke to me, “your soul is mine”. He knew then that he had to turn his life around and follow Jesus. He got on his knees and prayed for God to forgive him for everything he done wrong, for every sin in his life. He took his liquor money and went to get a pizza for his family on December 9th, 1970.
He was never happy working for other people. After his Father-in-Law, died in 1972, He cleaned off the flowers on his grave, he kept some of the silks, He put them in the closet. One day he was walking by that closet, his heart felt moved to “make a flower”. He went to Roses dime store, bought a basket for $1.24 cents. Once he got home, he asked God to help him, he dug the flowers out of the closet, and arranged the basket. He took his sons, Willie, and Ken, and headed to sell that arrangement. He sold his first flower and use that money to buy three more baskets. Boe’s Florist was started in East Rockingham, and still is open today by his son, Eric. He was known as “Boe knows flowers.” He worked until he was 80 years old. He retired officially, but he continued to sweep the floors, and ride shotgun with all the delivery drivers until he was 89.
Boe never met a stranger, he never cared if you were rich or poor, or what race you were. He believed in respecting a person no matter who you were. He learned to loved people growing up. He was so poor growing up his entertainment was learning to dance with his neighbors in Bennettsville, SC. Everyone lived in one room shacks with their families. Everyone was just trying to survive the depression. So, the radio and dancing were all they had. That dancing he adored with his sisters, nieces, and who ever would cut a rug with him all thru his life. Later, in life he had his on-signature dance, known as the BOE Dance. He always said, “if I die tomorrow, it’s been a great trip, the man upstairs is who keeps him moving.” He was still trying to dance the week before he died.
Boe loved his family. He was the happiest when he was with them. He loved more than anything that each one lived for years in East Rockingham near him. Boe was married for 48 years, he took care of his wife to the end of her life. They had 5 children, Willie (Wendy), Ken (Lisa), Lance (Virginia), Eric (Lynn) and Laura (Brian). He dearly loved his grandchildren, Angel (Robbie), Little Boe (Emily), Little Eric, Clint, Amber, Jereomy, Josh (Alysa), Isaiah, Millie, Isaac, Aiden, Josia, and Bree “Diana”, then the Lord Blessed him with Great grandchildren, Little Robbie, Cayden, and Johan. He always was so proud of them for just being honest hardworking people. He was preceded in death by his daughters in law, Wendy, Lisa, and Grandchild Elisha. He also thought the world of his nieces and nephews.
