Delois Carstella Armstrong Hawthorne was the youngest child of the late George McClinton Armstrong and Josephine Hurdle Armstrong. She was born June 8, 1941 and departed this life Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro, New Jersey.
Delois received her education from Perquimans County Schools and spent her early years working on the family farm raising chickens, hogs, goats, and growing crops over 100+ acres of land. One of the many stories she told of her childhood was how her Pappa made her and her siblings participate in his daily bible studies which often included a side of humor. As a result, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in her childhood. She joined Melton Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Winfall, NC) and served faithfully as an usher until she relocated to New Jersey in 1969 where she resided until her transition. From her perspective, falling in love with Jesus was the best thing she had ever done! The second was her unconditional love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Family, and spending time with family and friends, was important to her. She cherished every visit back home to North Carolina over the years.
Delois’ career choices were primarily centered in serving others. In the height of her career, she loving served as a Home Health Care Assistant for adults and special needs children until she retired. She geninuely loved all people! Most of her spare time was spent doing things that bought Glory to God such as reading the bible, participating in many bible study and prayer groups, cooking, sharing stories and spreading humor, word search puzzles, and supporting grandchildren’s activities.
Delois spent her last thirty-three years as a faithful member at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ. She served wherever needed, but her first love was always in the usher ministry. Leading, mentoring, cooking, evangelizing, and missionary supported engagements is what brought her joy. She was named “Mother of the Church” May of 2024 and she did not take it lightly that her charge was to continue to lead men and women, boys and girls to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Delois was preceded in death by seven siblings: Geneva Combine, Joseph C. Armstrong, Sr., Dervin L. Armstrong, Bessie M. Norris, Booker T. Armstrong, Sr., Edward E. Armstrong, and Sally Mary E. Barcliff.
The legacy and memories of Delois will be cherished by: one brother, William Roosevelt Armstrong, Sr., of Hertford, NC; six children, Wayne Armstrong (Angela) of Middlesex, NJ, Dwayne Armstrong (Carmen) of Dunellen, NJ, Wilma “Reta” Blair (Minister William “Ray”) of Winfall, NC, Donna Perry Carter and William E. Perry, Jr. of Plainfield, NJ, and Dinah S. Perry-Miller (Darnel) of West Windsor, NJ. She will be deeply missed by nineteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.