Kermit Best

Kermit Best, 90, of Wilson, died Thursday, September 21, 2023, in his home.

Funeral, Sunday, 5:00 PM, Wilson Memorial Service, followed by a time of visiting and sharing.  

Surviving is his wife, Evelyn Taylor Best; daughter, Loretta Atkinson (James) of Lucama; son, Doug Best of the home; grandson, Kenny Easter (Amanda) of Elm City; triplet great-grandchildren, Shelby Jane, Ava Grace, and Jackson Easter; sisters, Peggy Barnes and Ruth Whitley of Lucama; brothers, Harold Best (Alice) of Wilson and Ricky Best (Gwen) of Winterville.

Kermit was the second oldest of eight siblings. One of his first loves was baseball. He made the team at school, however, his Father came and got him and told him he couldn't play ball he had to come home and work on the farm.

Later as he grew up and met Evelyn Taylor and they dated for a short while and married in January 30, 1954. After his first born Kermit Douglas Best was born in November 7, 1954 he told his father that he had to quit farming because he was not making any money and he needed to provide for his family. So he came to Wilson and got a job at Batten Auto Parts on Barnes Street. He worked there for about 15 years and while he was working there he met his friend Rudolph Barnes who taught him how to rebuild engines and grind crankshafts. After working at Battens he opened up his own business Best Engine Parts Service and successfully ran it for 42 years. He retired in 1999.  He was known for his expertise in engine rebuilding and grinding of crankshafts for auto and diesel engines. He raised and provided well for his family. Not only his wife and children but his parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. He would lend people money and cosign for lots of people for cars and houses. 

He would tell you he was so poor he had to name himself. When he started to school the teacher ask him his name and he told her "Tinkie".  She said no, that is your nickname so he told her his name was Kermit. He picked that name from a guy down the road that had died.

His name was Kermit so he figured that guy wouldn't need his name any more so his picked that name without a middle name. His parents were uneducated so they didn't know he had changed his name for a while. After his son was born he went to Goldsboro at the courthouse and had his name legally changed from David Miller Best to Kermit Best.

He was a very good businessman and worked hard so his family could have everything he never had himself as a child.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William David Best and Mary Etta Parrish Best of Wayne County; great-grandchild, Dolly Easter; brothers, William, Donald and Wilbert Best.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lucama Church of God, PO Box 40, Lucama, NC 27851-0040.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com