Selma – Elsie Jeanette Thorne Bizzell, age 89, passed away on Friday August 14, 2026 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. She was born in Wilson County on November 12, 1936 to the late Onnie Lee Thorne and Annie Mae Woodard Thorne. In addition to her father and mother, she is also preceded in death by her husband, Adam Rudolph Bizzell; brothers, Charles Gordon, Ronnie Earl and a half brother, Thomas Irvin Thorne; sister, Shelby Thorne Greene.

The family will receive visitors at Parrish Funeral Home on Wednesday August 19, 2026 at from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM. A graveside service will be held following the visitation at 11:00 AM on Wednesday in Selma Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Bizzell worked for Eaton Corporation (previously Shallcross) for at least 34 years. She was a member of River Oak Church of God (previously Selma Church of God) for 80 years.

She is survived by her sons, Rudy Bizzell of Selma, Ricky Bizzell and wife Martha of Lillington; sisters, Laura Pollock (Eddie) of Kenly and Marietta Massey (Doug) of Princeton; grandchildren, Ben Bizzell, Rikki Bizzell, Sarah Bizzell (Lorenzo) and Tim Bizzell; great grandchildren, Atticus, Calla and Zeke Bizzell; numerous loving and thoughtful nieces, nephews and their spouses and children.

The family would also like to thank the kind and thoughtful home caregivers: Tinkey, Tessa, Anita, Destiny and those at Brookdale’s Clairebridge Facility: Felicia Crudup, Annie Snead, Fredrick Henry, LaJeana Graham, ShaToyia Dinkins and Martha Diakite, as well as the kind nurses and CNA’s at the SECU Hospice House: Tiffany, Lance, Krystal, Maggie and Terry.

She loved the Lord, her church, flowers, gardening and everything UNC( in later years, it was Duke), her family, especially all of the babies, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

More than anything, it is her prayer that all come to know Jesus as their only Lord and Savior.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Free Will Baptist Children's Home in Middlesex, North Carolina is PO Box 249, Middlesex, NC 27557 or to the SECU Hospice House: Johnston Health Foundation (with "Hospice Fund" or "SECU Hospice" in the memo line) and mail it to Johnston Health Foundation at P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577.