Mrs. Novella Pickett, known fondly as "Aunt Honey," passed away peacefully at her home in Maple Hill, NC, on July 13, 2026, at the age of 90.

A devoted and loving spirit, Honey's life will be celebrated at a homegoing service on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 12 noon, at Lee's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Maple Hill. Interment will follow at Lee Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the church, from 11:00 am to 11:50 am, before the celebration.

Honey leaves behind treasured memories for her brother, Elisha Watkins, and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. To her, family extended beyond blood, as seen with Lynda Farrior, her devoted caregiver and adopted family friend, and Pearl Shepard, her lifelong best friend.

A woman devoted to her faith, Honey inspired those around her with her unconditional love and kindness. Though she had no children of her own, she was a motherly presence to many, embracing her nieces and nephews as if they were her own. She reveled in the joy of travel and embraced life's finer pleasures with grace.

Her legacy as an encourager endures, as she often urged those around her to pursue education and excel in their endeavors. Honey's spirit of warmth and encouragement will be deeply missed by all who knew her.