ELOISE B. SPENCE
CHADBOURN -- Eloise Baker Spence, 76, died Monday, April 2, 2001 at her home.
She was the daughter of the late Carrus and Mary Elizabeth Godwin Baker and the widow of Robert L. Spence Jr.
Graveside services were conducted Wednesday, April 4 at Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery by the Rev. Robert Norman. Worthington Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
She is survived by two sons: Robert Lee Spence III of Whiteville and Kenneth Spence of Chadbourn; one daughter: Rebecca Spence Smith of Spartanburg, S.C.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
ANNIE T. HAMILTON
WHITEVILLE -- Annie Belle Todd Hamilton, 88, died Monday, April 2, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
She was the daughter of the late John Nolan and Hattie Louvenia Ward Todd and the widow of Marion Hugh Hamilton.
Final rites will be conducted Friday, April 6 at 2 p.m. at Chadbourn Church of God by the Reverends Robert Jackson and James H. Nobles. Interment will be in Columbus Memorial Park, Whiteville. Worthington Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by five sons: Willard Hugh Hamilton, Gary M. Hamilton, and Marvin E. Hamilton, all of Whiteville, Wayland F. Hamilton of Lake Waccamaw, and Calvin M. Hamilton of Chadbourn; four daughters: Carolyn H. Nance and Mary H. Dyson, both of Chadbourn, Brenda H. Blackmon of Bladenboro, and Wanda H. Hinson of Whiteville; four brothers: Henry Todd and James Earl Todd, both of Bladenboro, J.C. Todd of Chadbourn, and Elwood Todd of Fayetteville; three sisters: Leona Edwards, Eunice Ward, and Kathleen Yarborough, all of Bladenboro; 27 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Worthington Funeral Home, Chadbourn.
Her grandsons will serve as active pallbearers.
ROSE HILBURN
Farmer
WHITEVILLE -- Rose Hilburn, 68, died Wednesday, April 4, 2001 at her home.
She was the daughter of the late Tyner and Flauda Hilburn.
Final rites will be conducted Saturday, April 7 at 11 a.m. in the Inman Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Jackie Godwin. Interment will be in the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Inman Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by two nephews: Ricky and Randy Hilburn, both of Whiteville; two nieces: Tammy Hyatt of Clarkton and Barbara Benton of Whiteville.
Visitation will be Friday from 7-9 p.m. at the Inman Funeral Home.
THOMASENA LEACH
Retired educator
CHADBOURN -- Thomasena Leach died Monday, April 2, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
She was a retired educator in the schools of Columbus County for 30 years.
Final rites will be conducted Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. in First Baptist Church by the Rev. Jessie L. Timmons. Interment will be in Belvue Cemetery, Chadbourn. D & A Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by one daughter: Angela Leach of Chadbourn; one brother: Herbert McCoy of Chadbourn; five sisters: Faye M. Dees, Marie Capehart, Joyce Dees, Albenny Burney, and Sinatra Peacock, all of Chadbourn; and one grandchild.
There will be a wake Saturday from 7-8 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Chadbourn.
MAUD WYCHE
Artist
HALLSBORO -- Maud Wyche died Thursday, April 5, 2001 at New Hanover Regional Hospital.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary.
CHARLES G. WARD
MILWAUKEE, WIS. -- Charles Gilbert Ward, 66, formerly of Whiteville, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary.
ELASSIE MCCOY
BRONX, N.Y. -- Elassie P. McKoy, formerly of Whiteville, died Thursday, May 31, 2001 in New York.
Final rites will be conducted Tuesday, June 5 at 2 p.m. at Prong Chapel Freewill Baptist Church by the Rev. Perry Shipman. Interment will be in the George Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by one daughter: Debra McCoy of Bronx, N.Y.; two sons: James McCoy and Timothy McCoy, both of Bronx, N.Y.; and one sister: Marie McCray of Chadbourn.
STELLA SHIPMAN
Homemaker
CLINTON -- Stella Shipman, 62, died Friday, June 1, 2001 in Clinton.
Final rites will be conducted Thursday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Second St. Paul Baptist Church in Hallsboro by Elder Bobby Lamb. Interment will be in the Campground Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by one son: Larry Bell of Whiteville; two sisters: Larthine Bracey of Hallsboro and Mable Nichols of Bolton; one brother: Herman Frink of Clinton.
JESSIE BALDWIN JR.
Retired brick mason, Veteran
WHITEVILLE -- Jessie Baldwin Jr., 80, died Friday, June 1, 2001 in Tacoma Park, Md.
Final rites will be conducted Friday, June 8 at 1 p.m. at Central Baptist Church by the Rev. David Flowers. Interment will be in the Mitchell Field Cemetery, Clarkton. Peoples Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by three daughters: Daisy Ann Hill and Katherine Brown, both of Washington D.C., and Deloris Jerry of Forestville, Md.; two sons: Howard Percell Baldwin of Whiteville and Kenneth A. Baldwin of Forestville, Md.
The family will receive friends Thursday, June 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Peoples Funeral Home.
HOUSTON D. WHITE
International Paper retiree
RIEGELWOOD -- Houston Devon White, 65, died Monday, June 4, 2001 in the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center, Wilmington.
He was the son of the late Joel Wallace and Mary Tyree White. He retired from International Paper after 38 years of service.
Final rites were conducted Wednesday, June 6 at Riegelwood Baptist Church by the Rev. Charles Hester. Interment was in the church cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Hedgepeth White of the home; one daughter: Ginger White Cumber of Riegelwood; one son: Mark Devon White of Wilmington; one brother: Bernard White of Chadbourn; one sister: Betty Lou W. Hedgepeth of Whiteville; and four grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were: Billy Stephens, Doug Cook, Gene Barbar, Kenneth White, Terry Bryant, and Buddy Purvis.
HORACE M. CREECH
WHITEVILLE -- Horace M. Creech, 69, died Monday, June 4, 2001 in Wilmington.
Final rites were conducted Wednesday, June 6 at Peace United Methodist Church by the Reverends Delma Cribb and Harold Hinson. Interment was in Lake Waccamaw Cemetery. McKenzie Mortuary handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Pat P. Creech of Whiteville; one daughter: Debra C. Fazekas of Fayetteville; three sons: Horace M. Creech Jr. of Southern Pines, John Erie Creech of Pennsylvania., and Earl Creech of Whiteville; one brother: Edison Creech of Whiteville; and two grandchildren.
HORACE L. HARDEE
GREEN SEA, S.C. -- Horace L. Hardee, 54, died Monday, June 4, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
Final rites will be conducted Thursday, June 7 at 3 p.m. in the Little Bethel Freewill Baptist Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Inman Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle Hardee of Green Sea, S.C.; one son: Chris Hardee of Loris, S.C.; one daughter: Dawn Hardee; two brothers: Alton Hardee of Columbia, S.C. and Carl Hardee of Eastover, S.C.; one sister: Blanche Lewellon of Mullins, S.C.; one grandchild: Hannah Hardee.
Memorials may be made to the Little Bethel Freewill Baptist Church, c/o Phyllis Williams, 1002 Stake Road, Tabor City, N.C. 28463.
LIZZIE A. SUMMERSETT
Co-founder Penn’s Grill
WHITEVILLE -- Lizzie Arp Summersett, 93, died Wednesday, June 6, 2001 at Columbus County Hospital.
She was born in Columbus County, the daughter of the late Leonard and Martha Jane Ward Arp. She was a member of Peace United Methodist Church. She and her husband, the late Penn Summersett, founded Penn’s Grill in Whiteville.
Final rites will be conducted Friday, June 8 at 3 p.m. at Peacock’s Chapel In The Pines by the Rev. Martin Benton. Entombment will be at Shiloh United Methodist Church Mausoleum. Peacock Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by one daughter: Leola S. Engen and her husband Gene of Whiteville; six grandchildren: Carol Thompson of Whiteville, Betty E. Faircloth of Battle Creek, Mich., Bill Engen of Newberry, S.C., Dale Duncan and Charlie Duncan, both of Whiteville, Teresa Andrews of Wilmington; ten great-grandchildren: Jessica Thompson, Travis and Brad Faircloth, Matt, Casey, Averie and Landyn Engen, Brandon Duncan, Grace and Scott Andrews Jr.; and two nieces: Patsy Benton of Lake Waccamaw and Hilda Cartrette of Whiteville. She was preceded in death by a daughter: Grace S. Duncan of Whiteville.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. at Peacock’s Chapel In The Pines.
WILLIAM L. THOMPSON JR.
Retired truck driver, Veteran
KERNERSVILLE -- William Luther Thompson Jr., 72, formerly of Columbus County, died Wednesday,
June 6, 2001 in the VA Medical Center, Salisbury.
He was the son of the late William Luther and Lizzie Martin Thompson and a veteran of WWII.
Final rites will be conducted Friday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Worthington Funeral Home by the Reverends Bervin Ferguson and W. Guy Formyduval. Interment will be in Union Valley Baptist Church Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel Williamson Thompson of the home; two sons: Gregory J. Thompson and wife Pam of St. Louis, Mo. and Steven R. Thompson and wife Debbie of Lewisville; five sisters: Edith Williamson of Rock Hill, S.C., Mary Loil T. Honeycutt and Dot T. Ward, both of Chadbourn, Opal T. Pope of Richmond, Va., and Barbara T. Horne of Marion, S.C.; two grandchildren: Felicia M. Thompson and Gregory J. Thompson II, both of Jasper, Ga.; two step-grandchildren: Brandy Kemper of Calif. and Chris Beshears of Springfield, Mo; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Worthington Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Lewisville Baptist Church Building Fund, 125 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, Lewisville, N.C. 27023.
ODESSA M. LEMON
ORLANDO, FLA. – Odessa Murphy Lemon, 100, formerly of Whiteville, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001.
Final rites were conducted Saturday, Oct. 20 at Central Baptist Church by the Rev. David Flowers. Interment was in the Cherry Grove Cemetery, Whiteville. Peoples Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
She is survived by four grandchildren.
Friends may visit at the home of Claris Nobles, 420 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Whiteville.
ALVIN T. GRAHAM
Dupont employee
BOLTON – Alvin Theron Graham, 51, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001.
Final rites were conducted Sunday, Oct. 21 at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Interment was in the Freeman Community Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Caleatha T. Graham; three daughters: Angela Ramani Daniels of Brooklyn, N.Y., Christel Linette Graham of Bronx, N.Y., and Miriam Elvila Graham of Greenville; his mother: Laura Bernice Graham of Bolton; three sisters: Dorothy Leverett of Willingboro, N.J., Amanda C. Jacobs and Rosa Greene, both of Bolton; two brothers: Dewey Graham of Bolton and Garey E. Graham of Cincinnati, Ohio.
KATIE R. NANCE
Columbus County Hospital employee
CHADBOURN – Katie Ruth Nance, 63, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Final rites will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at St. John Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Adolphus Lawrence. Interment will be in the Belview Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Willie Curtis Nance; one daughter: Marilyn Chism of Durham; one son: Willie Curtis Nance Jr. of the home; three sisters: Cassileen Frink of Chadbourn, Novella Gail Frink and Annie R. Burch, both of Washington, D.C.; two brothers: Lewis E. Frink of Clinton, Md. and Charles E. Frink of Oxon Hill, Md.
Friends may visit the family at the home of Cassileen Frink, 928 Tommie Wooten Road, Chadbourn.
MAYBELL W. ROGERS
Textiles inspector
CHADBOURN – Maybell Williamson Rogers, 83, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
She was the daughter of the late Dock Robert Williamson and Annie Haywood Williamson and the widow of William "Bill" Robert Rogers.
Final rites were conducted Monday, Oct. 22 at Macedonia Baptist Church by the Rev. Vernon Williamson. Interment was in the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
She is survived by four sons: Robert E. Rogers and Tommy G. Rogers, both of Evergreen, Roy A. Rogers and Dallas W. Rogers, both of Chadbourn; three daughters: Shirley R. Oliver of Fairmont, Frances R. Gause and Doris R. Taylor, both of Lumberton; two sisters: Lucille Britt of Orrum and Annie Pearl Hinson of Bladenboro; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were: Keith Rogers, Tommy Wayne Rogers, Darrell Gene Rogers, Bill Rogers, Craig Rogers, and Jason Rogers.
CLAUDETTE F. BLACKWELL
Textiles supervisor
EVERGREEN – Claudette Fields Blackwell, 64, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
She was the daughter of the late William Taft Fields and the widow of William Broughton Blackwell.
Final rites will be conducted Monday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. at Boardman Baptist Church by the Rev. Hal Stephens. Interment will be in Boardman Baptist Church Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by four sons: Richard Ted Phillips of Clarkton, William "Sammy" Taft Phillips of Evergreen, Kenneth Mark Phillips of the home, and William "Bill" Broughton Blackwell Jr. of the home; two daughters: Kim Long of Whiteville and Polly Sarvis of Nakina; her mother: Lois Loretta Inman Fields of Fayetteville; three sisters: Polly Welshans of Charleston, S.C., Amelia Leggett of Fairmont, and Betsy Smith of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two brothers: Corbett Fields of Evergreen and Thad Fields of Bladenboro; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be: Branton Powers, Thomas Nance, Bobby Sanderson, Tevis Britt, Paul Willoughby II, and Buddy Davis.
TOMMY L. WARD
CLARKTON – Tommy L. Ward, 41, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 in Columbus County Hospital.
Final rites were conducted Sunday, Oct. 21 at Heavenly Light Holy Temple, Evergreen, by Minister Emmett Ward and Pastor Dorothy Gause. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery. Cunningham and Sons Mortuary of Clarkton handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Annie Elizabeth Freeman-Ward of the home; his mother: Kathleen Ward of Evergreen; six sisters: Mable Ray Ward, Pastor Dorothy Gause, Marie Anton, Nellie Johnson, Annette Johnson, and Motaleen Ward, all of Evergreen; and three brothers: Thurman Ward, Calvin Ward, and Johnny Ward, all of Evergreen.
Friends may visit the family at the home of Annie Elizabeth Freeman-Ward of Clarkton.
JUDY F. MEARES
Homemaker
CHADBOURN – Judy Carol Fipps Meares, 53, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 at Columbus County Hospital.
Final rites were conducted Sunday, Oct. 21 at Meares Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Billy Stines. Meares Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce E. Meares of the home; one son: Sean Meares of the home; two daughters: Heather Pike of Chadbourn and Misty Russell of Clarkton; her mother: Mazzie G. Ellis of Cerro Gordo; two brothers: Joe Fipps and Bobby Lynn Fipps, both of Cerro Gordo; and four grandchildren.
RUDOLPH T. BROWN
RIEGELWOOD – Rudolph Thomas Brown died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001 at his home.
Final rites will be conducted Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church by the Rev. Duren. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Smith Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by two daughters: Denise Peavy of Clayton and Jacqueline Brown of the home; three sisters: Bernice Johnson of Pensacola, Fla., Ethel McCullum of Durham, and Celesa Bateman of Springfield, Mass.; five brothers: Aulley Brown of Brooklyn, N.Y., Walter Brown of Springfield, Mass., Lloyd Brown, Foster Brown, and Raymond Brown, all of Riegelwood.
HARLEY JOHNSON
WHITEVILLE – Harley Johnson of the Cedar Grove Community, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2001.
Final rites will be conducted Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in the Sandhill Cemetery, Bladenboro. Smith Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Clara Johnson; two sons: Harley B. Johnson and John Daniel Johnson; five brothers: the Rev. Daniel Johnson of Lauderdale, Fla., Hiram Johnson of N.J., Ronald Lee Johnson of Fayetteville, Johnny Johnson of Milwaukee, Wis., and Nieka L. Wright of Whiteville; five sisters: Sandra Johnson Hammonds of Swanea, S.C., Evang. Margaret Jones, Sylvia George, Natalie Johnson, and Arnatha Lennon, all of Whiteville.
A wake will be held Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home.
JO ANN B. NEALEY
Homemaker
LORIS, S.C. -- Jo Ann Bessent Nealey, 54, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 at the Loris Community Hospital following an illness.
She was born Aug. 6, 1947 in Conway, S.C. Mrs. Nealey was the daughter of the late George Roland Bessent and the late Mary Daisy Causey Bessent. She was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist faith.
Final rites were conducted Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Hardwick Memorial Chapel by the Reverends Gary Green and Mack Hutson. Entombment was in the McPherson Cemetery, Chadbourn. Hardwick Funeral Home of Loris, S.C. handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Jackie Nealey of Whiteville; two sons: Rodney Strickland of Conway, S.C. and Randy Strickland of Tabor City; two daughters: Beverly Strickland of Conway, S.C. and Pamela Strickland of Whiteville; three step-sons: Andy Nealey and Freddie Nealey, both of Whiteville, and Gary Nealey of High Point; two brothers: Earl Bessent and Reuben Bessent, both of Loris, S.C.; two sisters: Vernell Blanton of Conway, S.C. and Catherine Quinn of Winter Haven, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers: Jackie Bessent and David Bessent; and three sisters: Florene Hughes, Edna Norris, and Margie Martin.
HAZEL S. RHODES
Homemaker
LORIS, S.C. – Hazel Orie Smith Rhodes, 66, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 at Loris Community Hospital following an illness.
She was born Feb. 6, 1935 in Nakina, the daughter of the late Oliver Lee Smith and the late Ada Milligan Smith and the widow of James Wendell Rhodes. Mrs. Rhodes was a homemaker and a member of Liberty Baptist Church.
Final rites will be conducted Monday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at Hardwick Memorial Chapel by the Rev. Earl Elvia. Interment will be in the Old Springfield Cemetery. Hardwick Funeral Home of Loris, S.C. is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by one son: Mike Rhodes of Loris, S.C.; two daughters: Phyllis Suggs of Loris, S.C. and Susan Thompkins of Conway, S.C.; two brothers: Wendell Smith and Fred Smith, both of Nakina; three sisters: Edna Bratcher, Mae Porter, and Bell Rhodes, all of Nakina; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother: Willard Smith.
