www.whiteville.com
Previous Obits and Back issues
May 2008
OBITUARIES
as of
May 22, 2008
C.B BOZEMAN
TABOR CITY -- C.B. Bozeman, 80, died Thursday, May 22, 2008, in Britthaven Nursing Home, Wilmington. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. Born in Horry County, S.C., he was the son of the late Spencer and Dollie Fowler Bozeman.
Final rites will be held Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m., at Carolina Baptist Church with Reverends Randy Gheat and Freddie Garner, with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Tabor City. Inman Funreal Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by a daughter, Devona Ferreira of Tabor City; a brother, Buck Bozeman of Florida; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
ELOISE JOLLY STRICKLAND
NICHOLS, S.C. -- Eloise Jolly Strickland, 83, of the Mt. Olive community, died at her home Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Born June 5, 1924, she was predeceased by her parents, Mack and Louise Sarvis Jolly; a sister, Carleen Rowell; and her husband, Lynwood “Dick” Strickland.
Strickland received her degree from Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. She taught in the elementary school in Horry County for 34 years until her retirement. She volunteered at Fair Bluff Elementary School and worked at Martin’s Skating Rink in Mullins, S.C.
Strickland was a lifelong member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the WMU.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Cox-Collins Funeral Home of Mullins, S.C. is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Maxie Strickland of Mt. Olive; a daughter, Sandra Small of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a sister, “Crickett” Martin of Mullins, S.C.; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Visitation will be held Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1960 Mt. Olive Church Rd., Nichols, S.C. 29581.
GLADYS FRINK HARDIE
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Gladys Frink Hardie, formerly of Chadbourn, died Tuesday, May 20, 2008.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by D&A Funeral Services of Chadbourn.
Survivors include daughters, Rosel McNair, Ardell King, Betty Jane Hardie; sons, Billy Hardie, and Deacon Bobby Hardie.
Visitation will be at the home of Deacon and Mrs. Bobbie Hardie, 111 Best Rd., Whiteville and at the family home, 933 Tommie Wooten Rd., Chadbourn.
NANCY MARIE EVANS
HAMILTON
BRUNSWICK -- Nancy Marie Evans Hamilton, 57, died Tuesday, May 20, 2008. She was born Feb. 12, 1951 in Columbus County, the daughter of Memory Evans and Sadie Marie Jones Evans.
Hamilton was a child nutritionist with Whiteville City Schools and a member of Brunswick Baptist Church.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Peacock’s Chapel In The Pines with Rev. Merle Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Peacock’s Columbus Memorial Park. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by her son, Donnie Hamilton of San Diego, Calif.; her parents, Memory and Sadie Marie Jones Evans of Brunswick; two brothers, James Memory “Buddy” Evans of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Ricky L. Evans of Hallsboro; a sister, Pamela O’Leary of Jacksonville; and three stepsons, Paul, Timmy and Christian Hamilton, all of Bladenboro.
The family will receive friends Thursday, May 22 from 7-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Brunswick Baptist Church, 106 Poplar St., Brunswick, N.C. 28424 and Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 121 W. Main St., Whiteville, N.C. 28472
ANNIE BELL MONROE
WHITEVILLE -- Annie Bell Monroe, 75, died Monday, May 19, 2008, at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Thomas Nelson officiating. Burial will follow in the Campground Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by two sisters, Ruby Simmons and Ella Mae Monroe, both of Whiteville.
Viewing will be from noon-8 p.m. at the funeral home on Saturday, May 24. Viewing will be at the church Sunday one hour prior to the service, and there will be no viewing after the service.
REV. VANCE LEWIS
ELIZABETHTOWN -- Rev. Vance Lewis, 90, died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Bladen County Hospital.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Baldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. David Camps officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Bullock of Elizabethtown; two sons, Edward Lewis of Elizabethtown and Antonio Lewis of Raleigh.
Friends may visit the family at the home of Arthur and Elizabeth Bullock, 3295 Peanut Plant Road, Elizabethtown.
Viewing will be at the funeral home on Friday from noon-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon. Viewing will be at the church Saturday one hour prior to the service and again following the service.
JAMES ‘JIMMIE’
CLARENCE ELKINS
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- James “Jimmie” Clarence Elkins, 46, formerly of Clarkton, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008. He was born Nov. 5, 1961 the son of the late Clarence Eugene and Patsy Ruth Elkins.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Clarkton Cemetery.
He is survived by a daughter, Tasha Rende of Roseboro; a sister, Jennie Tedder of Hallsboro; a brother, Sidney Eugene Elkins of St. Pauls; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
ELI MELVIN
RICHMOND, Va. -- Eli Melvin Sr., 84, formerly of the Northwest community in Brunswick County, died Friday, May 16, at the VA Medical Center.
Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.
SUSIE MAE CREECH STONE
LAKE WACCAMAW -- Susie Mae Creech Stone, 86, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was the daughter of the late Onzie Creech and Sarah Fynn Creech and the widow of Thomas Elbert Stone. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Irene Croom and Marie Kornegay; and a brother, Raymond Creech.
Mrs. Stone was tax supervisor with the Columbus County Tax office for more than 22 years. She was also a member of Lake Waccamaw United Methodist Church.
Graveside service was held Thursday, May 15, at the Lake Waccamaw Cemetery with Reverends Doug Currin and Mack McMillan officiating. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville handled the arrangements.
Survivors include her daughter, Sharon Stone Walker of Laurinburg; four sisters, Elsie Hayes of Hallsboro, Winifred F. Corbett of Lake Waccamaw, Eloise C. Cooke of Lakeland, Fla., and Betty C. Meares of Whiteville; a granddaughter, Michelle Walker Merkle; a great-granddaughter, Sarah Clare Merkle; and a great-grandson, Stone Walker Merkle; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
WILEY ‘WALLY’
THURMAN LYNN
WHITEVILLE -- Wiley “Wally” Thurman Lynn, 84, died Sunday, May 18, 2008. He was born in Chadbourn, Dec. 18, 1923, the son of the late Carl and Willie Mae Pridgen Lynn, and grandson of James Wiley “Jim” Lynn and Betty Bowen. He was preceded in death also by brothers, Samuel L. Lynn and James Carl Lynn Jr., his first wife, Rosa Ethel Marlow, and a granddaughter, Loretta Joyce Pridgen.
Since childhood Wally had been interested in engines and fast cars. A superb mechanic, he built his first racecar. Entering his first race at Island Drag way, Hackettstown, N.J. he won his first race. His second race at Old Bridge Raceway in Old Bridge, N.J. in a 1937 Fiat he built with a 437 cubic inch engine. Winner of this race, he set a record of4.41 seconds at 92.98 mph, that remains today. Wally built his third car with tube chasers, a 1923 T. Roadster, sponsored by Ford Motor Company and Don’s Speed Shop of Edison, N.J. He retired in 1967 to open “Wally Lynn Competition Engines” in Port Reading, N.J. to build racecars and engines. He moved to North Carolina in 1977 to be near his daughter and family, where he opened and operated Economy Carburetor Ignition until the early 2000’s. Wally enjoyed spending his days in the company of his grandson, Dwight watching NASCAR with a cup of coffee and a apple turnover and spending time with his great grandchildren “Taterbug” and “Honey Bunny.”
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Worthington Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sam Lloyd Sarvis officiating. Interment will follow in the Pridgen Cemetery in Whiteville. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Diane Harrelson Lynn of the home; daughter, Gerri Lynn of Whiteville; sons, Thurman Linwood Lynn of Hollywood, Calif.; a special nephew, John Ray Marlowe of Convent, N.J. whom he raised as a son; stepdaughter, Paula Matheson of Chadbourn; a sister, Dorothy Smithers of Whiteville; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be, Davis B. Pridgen, Linwood Pridgen, Bonnie Ray Pridgen, Lacy Wilson, Robert Jordan, Brandon Lynn and Thomas Pridgen.
Special thanks to Dr. Richard Fleming, physician and friend who went the extra mile in providing medical and hospice care, and Advantage Hospice staff who provided care and comfort.
Visitation will be held 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at the funeral home.
RUBY JEANNETTE
GRAHAM
LAKE WACCAMAW -- Ruby Jeanette Graham, 70, of the St. James community, died Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. She was the daughter of the late James Russell and Addie Jacobs Graham.
Final rites were held Saturday, May 17, at Worthington Funeral Home Chapel with Reverends Graylen Mitchell, Arthur Smith III, Lucy Young, Dennis Newton, and Norman Spaulding officiating. Burial followed in the St. James Memorial Cemetery.
She is survived by a sister, Marjorie Green of Lake Waccamaw; and two brothers, William Graham and Clayton Graham, both of Lake Waccamaw.
WILLIS GENE JOHNSON
BLADENBORO -- Willis Gene Johnson, 22, died Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home with Reverends Darrin Andrews and Scott Lewis officiating. Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his father, Billy Johnson of Dublin; his mother, Kim Spurling of Bladenboro; a daughter, Nevaeh Marie Johnson of the home; two brothers, Christopher Shane Johnson of the home, and Dustin Spurling of Bladenboro; grandmothers, Margaret Hammond of Bladenboro, and Grace Johnson of Dublin.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at the funeral home.
ELOISE BORDEAUX
SUTTON
ELIZABETHTOWN -- Eloise Bordeaux Sutton, 80, died Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Bladen County Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Tilman Benjamin and Mary Belle Bordeaux.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. David Elks and Rev. Paul Berry officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery. Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Wilton Sutton of the home; a son, Benny Sutton of Elizabethtown; two daughters, Linda Potter of Kelly, and Doris Anderson of Elizabethtown; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
EDWARD MILLS CARTER
CHADBOURN -- Edward Mills Carter, 84. died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Liberty Commons in Whiteville. He was the son of the late Walter George and Martha Mills Carter.
Carter was a veteran of the Navy serving during World War II. He was a member of Chadbourn Baptist Church and was retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He was a former chief of the Chadbourn Fire and Rescue Squad and was a charter board member of the Klondyke Fire Department Board of Directors.
Final rites will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Chadbourn Baptist Church with Rev. Sean Roberds officiating. Burial will follow in Columbus Memorial Park in Whiteville. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by a wife, Evelyn Gray Carter of the home; daughter, Carol C. Williamson of Tabor City; a son, Ken Carter of Wilmington; sister, Mary Alice Edmunds of Chadbourn; brother, Julian Carter of Tryon; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Chadbourn Baptist Church, 504 Howard Street, Chadbourn, N.C. 28431.
LEMUEL ‘LEM’
ALEXANDER SMITH JR.
CLARKTON -- Lemuel “Lem” Alexander Smith Jr. passed away on Saturday afternoon, May 17, 2008. He died peacefully at his home in Clarkton with his beloved family by his side.
Mr. Smith was a World War II veteran, and graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Lem had a long and active career in business as a car dealer, oil distributor, and textile executive in Bladen County. He retired in 1995 as budget officer and assistant director of the Division of Services for the Blind in Raleigh. Lem’s great passions were his community, his church, and his family.
Active in civic affairs, Mr. Smith served as a member of the selection committee of the John Motley Morehead Foundation, Bladen County Board of Education, Bladen County Hospital Board, advisory board of People’s Savings and Loan Association, Clarkton Town Council, and the Clarkton Lions Club. He was twice elected Mayor of Clarkton (1953-57 and 1968-71), chairman of the Farmer’s Day Committee (1954), and recently served as chairman of the Clarkton Zoning and Planning Board. A lifelong member of Clarkton Presbyterian Church, Mr. Smith was a devoted Sunday School teacher and superintendent, deacon, and elder. He also served as a member and chairman of the Wilmington Presbytery Council, moderator of the Wilmington Presbytery, and in recent years was a delegate to the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic.
Family was always a central part of his life and he drew great joy from teaching his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and numerous of their friends to water ski at White Lake and the Intra-Coastal Waterway. Saturday night steaks on the grill with family and friends was a decades-long ritual now traditionalized by much of his extended family. Relaxing and visiting (“porchin”) on the long front porch of his home was another family staple. In the past five years, he never missed a chance to lead the cheering section for his granddaughter Annalie’s figure skating competitions.
Lem is survived by his wife, Opal Gray Meggs Smith; daughter, Kelly Gray Smith Ricketts and husband Curtis D. Ricketts of Clayton; son, Lemuel Alexander Smith III and wife Donis Noe Smith of Wilmington; granddaughter Annalie Kelly Gray Ricketts of Clayton; and step-grandson Nicholas John Noe of Charlotte; a brother, Charles David Smith and wife Betty Jo Smith of Plant City, Fla., sister-in-laws, Annabelle Smith, of Charlotte and Marilyn Meggs Lewis and husband Sonny Lewis of Jamestown; brother-in-laws, Dale Preetorius of Martinez, Ga. and Norwood Lesane Meggs of Clarkton; 18 nieces and nephews, and 42 grandnephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Clarkton Presbyterian Church. A private family burial will precede the memorial service at 10 a.m. at Clarkton Cemetery. The family will receive family and friends at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Clarkton Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 663, Clarkton, N.C. 28433; and Community Home Care and Hospice, 411 S. Poplar Street, Elizabethtown, N.C. 28337.
