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OCTOBER 2007
OBITUARIES
as of
October 26, 2007
THOMAS MURRAY EVANS
LORIS, S.C. -- Thomas Murray Evans, 64, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, at his residence. He was the owner of Southern Acoustical Ceiling and Drywall. He was predeceased by father, Lennon Evans and mother, Louise Evans of Bladenboro.
Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Lennon Crossroad Baptist Church with the Reverends Kimberly Hyatt and Fred Senter officiating. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda Hardee of Loris, S.C.; two sons, Tommy Evans of Whiteville, and Chris Evans of Sunset Beach; step son, Jonathan Hardee of Loris, S.C.; a daughter, Susan Gregory of Wilmington; three brothers, David Evans of Bladenboro, Maurice Evans and Otis Evans Evans, all of Bladenboro; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Visitation will be held at Lennon Crossroad Baptist Church in the fellowship hall on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.
The family will receive visitors at the home of David and Linda Evans, 1472 Murray Haywood Rd., Evergreen.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice, 241 B. Singleton Ridge Rd., Conway, S.C. 29526.
CAROLYN JACQUELINE CAMPBELL
BRONX, N.Y. -- Carolyn Jacqueline Campbell, 60, formerly of Clarkton, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, at Calvary Hospital.
Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.
DOROTHY SMITH COLLIER
WHITEVILLE -- Dorothy Smith Collier, 87, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was born in Elizabethtown, the daughter of the late Robert Dexter and Rosalee Smith. She was preceded by her husband, James L. “Hap” Collier.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at First Baptist Church in Whiteville. A private burial service will be held at Whiteville Memorial Cemetery. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her sons, James Lewis Collier Jr., and Timothy Lee Collier; a daughter, Suzanne Collier Royal; and grandchildren, Savannah Collier, Hap Collier, Victoria “Tori” Collier, and Chess Royal.
Visitation with the family will be held at the home Friday from 7-9 p.m. at 131 Fuller Street in Whiteville.
Family will receive friends at the church at 10 a.m. before the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 412 North Madison St., Whiteville, N.C. 28472.
Special thanks to her wonderful caregivers: Barbara McMillian, Lucille Stephens, Betty Johnson, and Hazel McMillian.
JOHN WESLEY SIMMONS
WHITEVILLE -- John Wesley Simmons, 70, died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, at his residence. He was the son of the late Clarence Simmons and Connie Cribb Simmons.
Simmons was employed with Federal Paper Company for 16 years and retired after 20 years in the U.S. Army serving two tours of duty in Vietnam.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at McKenzie Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Kerry Peeler officiating. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his three sons, Duane Wesley Simmons of Hampton, Va., Gregory S. Simmons of Hayes, Va., and Michael A Simmons of Grafton, Va.; a daughter, Shannon Leigh Spivey of Columbus County; two sisters, Ester Batten and husband Garland of Whiteville, and Barbara S. Carroll and husband Frank of Lake Waccamaw; and two grandchildren, Grady Thomas Simmons and Jessica Leigh Simmons.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ester Batten, 470 White Hall Rd., Whiteville.
Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, P.O. Box 636, Whiteville, N.C. 28472.
EDNA MATTIE BLANTON
LORIS, S.C. -- Edna Mattie Blanton, 75, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, at Loris Healthcare. She was the widow of John D. Blanton. Born in Horry County, she was the daughter of the late Don and Eula May Hinson Rabon.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Inman Chapel with interment in Lake Swamp Cemetery, Loris, S.C. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Diane Blanton of Loris, S.C.; two sons, Johnnie Ray Blanton and Ronnie Blanton, both of Loris, S.C.; three brothers, Paul Rabon of Conway, S.C., Edward “Tenie” Rabon of Georgetown, S.C., John Blanton of Loris, S.C.; three sisters, Bobbie Black of Charleston, S.C., Shirley Faye Hodges of Loris, S.C., and Ernestine Boone of Conway, S.C.; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
LUCILLE ZIRBEL
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Lucille Zirbel died on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. Born in Mitchell, S.D. She moved to Seattle in 1946. Zirbel has relatives that live in Columbus County.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Streenz of Aberdeen, S.D.; husband, Lawrence Zirbel and daughter, Bonnie Zirbel. She is survived by her daughter, Janet Zirbel.
At her request no services will be held.
Memorials may be made to Holt International, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, Ore.
EDITH ANDERS INGRAM
RALEIGH -- Edith Anders Ingram, 55, formerly of Lake Waccamaw, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at her residence. She was born in Columbus the daughter of the late Lacy and Adlee Bowen Anders.
Ingram was a member of The Lord House Prophetic Ministry in Durham. She worked for B-D Pharmaceutical Company in Durham.
Final rites will be held at noon on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Chappell Funeral Home Chapel, 555 Creech Road in Garner. Burial will follow in the Carolina Biblical Gardens in Raleigh. Chappell Funeral Home of Garner is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Tyrone Ingram and a daughter, Kim Ingram, both of Raleigh; a brother, Ret. Staff Sgt. Lacy O. Anders of Woodbine, Ga.; nine sisters, Virginia Jackson of Bolton, Lena McNeil, Kay Corbett, Sheila Anders, Emma Anders, Erma McNeill, all of Lake Waccamaw, Betty Boyd of Clarkton, Annie Ruth Dunston and Gwendolyn Shaw, both of Raleigh; and four grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the funeral home.
CORNELIA RIGGINS GILES
TABOR CITY -- Cornelia Riggins Giles died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at her residence.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at the New Light AME Church in Dothan, Oct. 25 with the Rev. J.W. Nixon officiating. Burial will follow in the Bristol Creek Cemetery. Westside Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her daughters, Bertha Watson of Hampton, Va., Vernell Jordan of Dothan, Gloria Giles of Philadelphia, Pa. and Diane Giles of Dothan, sons, Bennie Lee Giles and William Troy, both of Dothan; and a sister.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the funeral home.
WARREN R. TAIT
WILSON -- Warren R. Tait, 86, died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. He was a retired professor at Barton College in Wilson.
Warren was an active member for 50 years of the Wilson Lions Club. Awards bestowed upon him were N.C. Lions Foundation’s Jack Stickley Fellowship and a Melvin Jones Fellow (highest award in Lionism).
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at First Christian Church in Wilson. Following the service will be a time of sharing and fellowship. Wilson Memorial Service is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Smith Tait; a daughter, Diane Tait of Raleigh; a son, Dennis Tait of Lake Waccamaw; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances are suggested to the N.C. Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 39, Sherrills Ford, N.C. 28673.
DOROTHY NIXON EVANS
EVERGREEN -- Dorothy Nixon Evans, 66, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at her residence.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Mt. Horeb African Methodist Episcopal Church in Evergreen with the Rev. Ruth W. Pugh officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. D&A Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the service.
Survivors include three sons, Herman L. Walls, John D. Morman and James M. Evans, all of Evergreen; two daughters, Doris A. Williams of Whiteville, and Laura D. Stephens of Evergreen; two brothers, Raymond Adams of Fayetteville, and Robert Walls Jr. of Capitol Heights, Md.; a sister, Joyce Walls of Capitol Heights, Md.; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
GEORGE LINDSEY COLLINS III
LUMBERTON -- George Lindsey Collins III, 53, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at his home. He was born in Robeson County on Oct. 16, 1954 the son of the late George Collins Jr. and Evelyn Lindsay Frease of Fayetteville.
Collins was a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church and was employed for more than 25 years with Eagle Distributing Company.
Final rites will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Hyde Park Baptist Church with the Reverends Dennis Harrell and Mike Pittman officiating. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Meadowbrook Cemetery. Biggs Funeral Home of Lumberton is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Donna S. Collins of the home; his mother, Evelyn Lindsay Frease of Fayetteville; a daughter, Lindsay Collins of Hallsboro; four sons, Jarrett and Brad Stephens of the home, Lannee McKeithan of Lumberton and Jason Rogers of Evergreen; a brother, Thomas Michael Collins of Maplewood, Minn.; three sisters, Kathy McVicker of Tar Heel, Faye Grimes of Hope Mills and Martha Andrews of Lumberton.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Hyde Park Baptist Church and other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hyde Park Baptist Church Building Fund, 301 Roberts Ave., Lumberton, N.C. 28358.
LISA ANN IVEY OBERSHEA
ORRUM -- Lisa Ann Ivey Obershea, 42, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at her residence.She was the daughter of the late Frances Britt of Columbus County.
Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Orrum Baptist Church with the Rev. James Goodman officiating. Burial will follow in the Walters Family Cemetery. Floyd Funeral Home of Fairmont is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, James R. Obershea; two sons, Ryan Leggett of Greenville and James F. Obershea or Orrum; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will bel held from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the funeral home.
ILA GRAY PHIPPS STEVENS
TABOR CITY -- Ila Gray Phipps Stevens, 63, entered into rest Monday morning, Oct. 22, 2007, following an illness.
Stevens was born Aug. 20, 1944 in Tabor City, a daughter of J.C. Phipps and the late Ila Bruton Phipps. She had worked as a cosmetologist and was a teller for UCB and then BB&T for 18 years. She was an avid doll collector and was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and aunt. She was a member of Tabor City Baptist Church.
A service celebrating the life of Stevens will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. from the Tabor City Baptist Church with her brother-in-law, Rev. Roger Small officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Soles Cemetery. Ward Funeral Home of Loris, S.C. is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her father, J.C. Phipps of Whiteville, her three children, Whitney of Wilmington, Robert and his wife Roberta of DeLand, Fla. and Barrett of Wilmington; her sister, Kay Small and her husband Rev. Roger Small of Tabor City; her two brothers, Buster Phipps and his wife Rosemary of Loris, S.C., and Bill Phipps and his wife Ann of Tabor City and her three grandchildren, John, Michael, and Danny, all of DeLand, Fla.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family requests that those who wish may send memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 220, Raleigh, N.C. 27605.
WILLIAM McDUFFIE ‘BILL’ CARTRETTE
LORIS, S.C. -- William McDuffie “Bill” Cartrette, 70, died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, at Sunbridge Nursing Home in Elizabethtown. He was born in Columbus County, the son of the late Floyd and Annie Cartrette.
Memorial services will be held at later date.
Survivors include three sisters, Wilma Cartrette of Tabor City, Betty Joye of Hampton, Va., and Doris Craven of Charlotte; and a brother, Floyd Cartrette Jr. of Monroe.
HARRIET PRIDGEN HARRIS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Harriet Pridgen Harris, 56, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Highway 53, Tabor Church Road. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Home, 610 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, James Harris; two sons, William Harris and Taylor Pridgen; a daughter, Penny Pridgen; a brother, Davis Pridgen; and two sisters, Iris Sasser and Mary Ellen Bowen.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 7-9 at the funeral home.
IDA P. LANCASTER
FAYETTEVILLE -- Ida P. Lancaster, 90, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at her residence. She was the widow of Kenneth “Sonny” C. Lancaster. She was predeceased by a brother, John Hair.
Graveside services were held Monday, Oct. 22, at Lafayette Memorial Park. Rogers & Breece Funeral Home of Fayetteville handled the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Kenneth C. Lancaster Jr. of Fayetteville; two daughters, Martha Lancaster Widders of Charlotte and Harriett L. Jeffords of Hickory; and a sister, Frances H. Pridgen of Charlotte; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
JAMES ETHELL SOLES
GREEN SEA, S.C.-- James Ethell Soles, 79, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at Loris Healthcare. He was born in Horry County, S.C., the son of the late Dock and Mary Ethel Bullock Soles.
Final rites were held Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Inman Chapel. Burial followed in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tabor City. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City handled the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Nevata J. Soles of the home; two sons, Nelson D. Soles and wife Sandra T. of Tabor City, and Timothy R. Soles and wife Cathy L. of Loris, S.C.; a grandson, Damian R. Soles of Loris, S.C.; two brothers, Harvey Soles and Vincent Soles, both of Whiteville; two sisters, Barbara Ellis and Mary Wayne Todd, both of Whiteville. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Wade Soles and A.B. Soles.
BARBARA ‘BOBBIE ANN’ EDWARDS BABSON
BLADENBORO -- Barbara “Bobbie Ann” Edwards Babson, 62, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at her residence.
Final rites were held Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Bladen Funeral Home with Rev. Darren Andrews officiating. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Buddy Kriner of Bladenboro; two daughters, Tina K. Bridgers of Bladenboro and Elizabeth K. Williamson of Evergreen; two brothers, Billy Edwards of Atkinson and Eddie Edwards of Currie; eight sisters, Pat Ashline of Rocky Point, Trudy Burns of Castle Hayne, Linda Edwards of Bladenboro, Becky Dose of Atkinson, Michelle Fowler of Raleigh, Brenda Trosclair of Louisiana, and Hester Swaringen of Pollocksville; six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
ALEX ‘AJ’ FAIRFAX JR.
CERRO GORDO -- Alex “AJ” Fairfax Jr., 76, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at Loris Community Hospital. He was born in Columbus County the son of the late Alex and Mamie Hilbourn Fairfax. He was a member of Cherry Grove Baptist Church and was a retired meat cutter.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Cherry Grove Baptist Church with the Rev.Josh Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Meares Funeral Home of Fair Bluff is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Strickland Fairfax of the home; two sons, Jimmy Dean Fairfax and his wife Kelly of Cerro Gordo, and Alex “Lynn” Fairfax and his wife Regina of Whiteville; a brother, William “Bill” Fairfax of Tabor City; five sisters, Essie Adams of Greenville, S.C., Eva Strickland of Tabor City, Doris Griffith of Harleyville, S.C., Diantha Cartrette of Lake Waccamaw, Olyanda Suggs of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and five grandchildren, Ashlee Fairfax, Erica Fairfax, Morgan Fairfax, Zachary Fairfax and Hayden Fairfax.
The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Monday (tonight), Oct. 22 at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Cherry Grove Baptist Church, Building Fund, 9833 Swamp Fox Hwy. West, Cerro Gordo, N.C. 28430.
You may sign the guest book online at www.mearesfuneralhome.com.
TONY JOSEPH CURIALE
WHITEVILLE -- Tony Joseph Curiale, 76, formerly of Greensburg, Pa., died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at Shoreland Healthcare Center. He was born in Luxor, Pa. and was a graduate of Robert Morris College. He retired from the Pennsylvania Employment Security Commission and was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Curiale.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Greensburg, Pa., with burial to follow in Westmoreland Memorial Park. Meares Funeral Home of Fair Bluff is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Anthony Curiale and his wife Amy of Fair Bluff; two grandchildren, Mary Grace and Matthew Curiale.
You may sign the guest book online at www.mearesfuenralhome.com.
CARNELIA GILES
TABOR CITY -- Carnelia Giles died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at her residence.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Westside Funeral Home of Tabor City.
JOSHUA CECIL KELLY
BLADENBORO -- Joshua Cecil Kelly, 18, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at his residence.
Final rites were held Sunday, Oct. 21 at Bladen Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Burial followed in Singletary Cemetery at the Sandhills. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
Survivors include his father, Cecil Kelly of Bladenboro; his mother, April Kelly of Chadbourn; a brother, Jimmy Wade Kelly of Bladenboro; two sisters, Stephanie Kelly and Beth McLean, both of Bladenboro; maternal grandmother, Patricia Simmons of Crusoe; paternal grandmother, Mary Rose Hughes of Bladenboro; paternal grandfather, Jimmy Davis Kelly of Bladenboro.
EVELYN PENDERGRASS LEWIS
LAKE WACCAMAW -- Evelyn Pendergrass Lewis died Oct. 19, 2007, at the home of her daughter, Ann and son-in-law Lonnie Fox, at Lake Waccamaw, after a long illness.
Mrs. Lewis was born in Lillington, the fourth of five children of Roland and Addie Wicker Pendergrass. She was reared in Sampson County. She graduated from East Carolina Teacher’s College (now ECU) in 1940 and moved to Robeson County to teach home economics. She met and married A. Joyner Lewis. In 1946, they moved to Jacksonville, where she taught and was active in Red Cross and church activities. In 1962, they moved to Wilmington, and later to Wrightsville Beach, where she spent many happy years until her health began to fail.
A graveside service was held on Sunday, Oct. 21, at Fairmont Cemetery in Fairmont with the Reverends Somer Bower of Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church and Vaughn Earl Hartsell of Longs, S.C. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville handled the arrangements.
Survivors include daughters, Ann and son-in-law Lonnie Fox of Lake Waccamaw, and Joy and son-in-law Roy Copeland of Mooresville; granddaughters, Amy Fox Schmitzer and husband Jon, and children Kate and Jack of Wake Forest, and Beth Fox Fields and husband Mike, and children Anna and Tanner of Supply. She was predeceased by her husband, A. Joyner Lewis.
The family wishes to thank special care angels: Dr. James McCabe of Southeastern Nephrology, Beverly Buck, Meredia and Norman Spaulding, Mamie Beatty, Lula Lewis, and Diantha Cartrette.
Memorials may be made to the Renovation Fund of Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 150, Lake Waccamaw, N.C. 28450, or to the charity of one’s choice.
