CLEVELAND – Oneita Rawls Knox, age 96, of School Street, Cleveland, died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Genesis Eldercare Nursing Center of Salisbury, where she was a patient, following a period of declining health.

Mrs. Knox was born Sept. 18, 1910, in Catawba County to the late Robert and Sarah Sherrill Rawls. She was educated in the public schools of Catawba County and was a retired homemaker.

Mrs. Knox was a member of Third Creek AME Zion Church, where she was a Deaconess; member of the Parent Body Missionary and other organizations in the church; Order of the Eastern Star; and was a member of the Lunch Bunch at the West Rowan nutrition site in Cleveland.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband John Wesley Knox, whom she married Aug. 27, 1938; and foster son John Gilbert “Gib” Niblock.

She is survived by nieces Annie Bell Caldwell of Salisbury, Roberta McCombs of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Sarah Ruth Robinson of Shelby; nephew Leon McCombs of Sherrills Ford; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, family and friends.

Service: The funeral will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Third Creek AME Zion Church, Cleveland, with the Rev. Donnie Kent, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation: The visitation will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the church.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be sent to noblekelsey@aol.com.