The God who is The Great I Am has called Rev. Annie Belle Hunter Corpening, 99, from labor to reward on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family. Rev. Annie Belle was born July 4th, 1924 to the late Shuff Hunter and the late Donnie Hunter Moore, and as the years progressed, her birthday became a time of celebration and gathering across the community every summer. In her youth, she and her siblings enjoyed the pastime of fishing, and it was said of her that she truly became a disciple of Christ and a fisher of souls. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Earl Corpening on March 23, 1940, and together they maintained their residence as well as a great presence in her greatly loved Yellow Mountain Road neighborhood, which was home to their family for many generations. Annie Belle and Earl and their children became pillars of the Lake James community, and she lived to be the Matriarch of five generations of the family.

Mrs. Corpening worked in the public sector for many years. From her early career days at Broughton Hospital, to her time with Burke County Public Schools as a custodian at the newly built Freedom High School, to her favorite position as Foster Grandparent at Western Carolina Center and Blue Ridge Community Action. She cherished her time of being "Belle-Belle" to all the children she served and loved. As a community volunteer, she was active as a Board member of the Lake James Community Center, as a charter member of the Lake James Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary, and as a member of the Burke County Branch NAACP.

Rev. Annie Belle spent her life as a servant of the Lord. She answered the call to Preaching Ministry in 1957, and served as an Assistant Pastor until November 2002, when she was appointed Pastor of her beloved St. James Holiness Church of God, and served in that capacity until her passing. She was a faithful member of the Burke County Prayer Band, and a mentor and role model to many young Pastors, Preachers, and Ministers. The only thing more important to her than her family and her Church was her relationship with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her faith has now become sight, and the work she has done will forever speak for her.

Waiting for Rev. Annie Belle at Heaven's Gate are her parents; her siblings; her husband; her son Robert Earl Corpening; her daughter Min. Laura Corpening Ervin; her grandson Wesley C. Ervin; and her bonus son Robert Lee Darty. She is survived by sons Phifer Kenneth Corpening and wife Sarah, and Alexander Corpening and wife Martha, all of Morganton; daughters Shirley C. Fields of Garysburg, NC, and Betty C. Caldwell of the home; brothers-in-law Hugh Corpening and wife Lula, and James Corpening and wife Eloise, Morganton; 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 33 great-great grandchildren; special cousins Ms. Jessie Martin and Ms. Armelia Fleming, Morganton; best friends Rev. Mother Lula M. Williams, Winston-Salem, and Rev. Naomi Cantrell, Morganton; and a host of nieces, nephews, neighbors, parishoners, and Ministry friends.

Proverbs 31: 28-31

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

A homegoing celebration honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Annie Belle Corpening will be held Wednesday July 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in the Corpening Memorial Chapel of McCain Funeral Home & Cremations with Rev. Cardell Chambers serving as presider and Bishop Shawn Hooper as the eulogist; interment will follow at Shiloh A.M.E. Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service; the family will allow public tributes to Rev. Corpening to be made from 12:30 p.m. until 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday during the receiving hour.   Rev. Corpening will lie in repose for the public from noon until 6 p.m. on Tuesday July 18 at the funeral home.

The homegoing celebration will be live-streamed on our funeral home Facebook Page & YouTube Channel, the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A