VANCEBORO | Mrs. Sarah Evelyn Brinkley Cleve departed her earthly life at Bayview Nursing Home in New Bern on Friday December 18, 2015, at the age of 99. The funeral service will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m., in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel in Vanceboro. Burial will follow in Vanceboro Cemetery. Mrs. Cleve was born on August 6, 1916, in New Bern, where she resided until her marriage to William Edward Cleve, Sr., of Vanceboro on August 15, 1924. She graduated from New High School in 1934. She was a member of Vanceboro United Methodist Church and the Ada Smith Circle (where she held office as President and Secretary simultaneously). Mrs. Cleve was a very active member of her church and her community. She retired from the Office of Tax Collector for Craven County. She Lived in Vanceboro after her marriage up until she became a resident of Bayview Nursing and Rehab Center due to health in May 17, 2007. Mrs. Cleve was loved and will be sorely missed by many. Mrs. Cleve was preceded in death by her husband; grandsons, Jonathan Ipock, and Wayland Shiver; parents, William Alec, and Addie Jenkins Brinkley; sister, Mary Carawan; and brother, William M. Messick. Mrs. Cleve, a wonderful and loving mother, was survived by her four children, William Edward Cleve, Jr., and wife, Amanda, of Kinston, Evelyn Cleve Smith and husband, The Reverend Bobby E. Smith, of Benson, Carol Ipock of Vanceboro, and Susan Anderson and husband, Elwood, of Englewood, Tenn.; She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bobby E. Smith, Jr. (Lisa) of Benson, William E. Cleve, III (Linda) of New Bern, Cindy Smith Wetherington (Eddy) of Cove City, Melody Cleve Lewis (Allen) of Vanceboro, Lynwood M. Ipock, and Perry D. Ipock (Renee) of Vanceboro; 16 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; brother, William P. Brinkley of Florence, S.C.; and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Sunday prior to the service from 2-3:30 p.m., at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Vanceboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to at stjude.org. Online condolences may be made at wilkersonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Wilkerson funeral home. Sign the guest book at Kinston.com.