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Robert Duval Norris, 70, went to be with the Lord Friday morning. A Chadbourn native, he was the son of the late Robert Lee (Rob) Norris and Pearl Eliza Guyton Norris.
He graduated from Chadbourn High School and attended Western Carolina College.
Norris was an employee of The News Reporter Company for 51 years. He semi-retired about three years ago but continued to work part time in the office supply division. He was making a delivery to Southeastern Community College Friday morning when he collapsed, apparently from a massive heart attack. Whiteville Rescue transported him to Columbus Regional Healthcare where he was pronounced dead.
He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and a member of the Day Care Committee. He had also served on the Brunswick Town Board.
A high school athlete, Norris maintained an interest in sports and helped the late Jiggs Powers record sports information for The News Reporter. He was a member of the Whiteville Optimist Club, sponsors of the Dixie Youth baseball program, and had served as a coach in that league. He had also served as a Dixie Youth baseball commissioner, coached youth football and was also an umpire and referee in youth sports programs.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 2 p.m. in Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Steven Bailey officiating. Interment was in Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn handled the arrangements.
Norris is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Gore Norris, of their home in Brunswick; two sons, Greg D. Norris and wife Lucille of Garner, Mark A. Norris and wife Susan of Marietta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Greg Norris Jr., Heather Norris, Sam Norris and Laura Norris; and a sister, Betty N. Kinlaw of Lexington, S.C. Daniel and Jessica Horne, children of special friends Kenny and Mary Horne, called him PaPa.
Pallbearers were Wayne Batten, Drew Cox, David Faulk, Pat Powell, Lennox Soles and Frank Turner. Honorary pallbearers were deacons of Trinity Baptist Church and members of Whiteville Optimist Club. Worthington Funeral Home was in charge of services.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund, 201 South Thompson Street, Whiteville, N.C. 28472, or to Whiteville Optimist Dixie Youth Baseball, c/o Don Harritan, 1108 Woodland Drive, Whiteville, N.C. 28472
HARRY COLLINS
Custodial worker
CHADBOURN – Harry Collins, 83, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 at her residence.
He was custodial worker.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Union Funeral Home of Whiteville.
Survivors include four daughters, Debra Norris, Sharon Frink, Brenda Norris, and Patricia Turner; and six sons, Anthony Collins, Tyrone Norris, Fentruss Chestnutt, Eugene Norris, Lionell Norris, and Kenneth Norris.
THOMAS “TOM” RAY JOHNSON
Farmer
EVERGREEN – Thomas “Tom” Ray Johnson Sr., 73, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006 at his residence. He was the son of the late William O. and Rena Leggett Johnson.
He was a retired farmer in the evergreen community.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Evergreen United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Hines officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Aliece Hill Johnson of the home; a daughter, Donna J. Bartley and her husband, Cecil of Evergreen; two sons, Tommy R. Johnson Jr. and his wife, Linda of Evergreen, and Mark Johnson and his wife, Wendy of Evergreen; two brothers, Bill Johnson and Jerry Johnson, both of Evergreen; two sisters, Sondra Merritt of Whiteville, and Grey Pearce of Winston-Salem; six grandchildren, Chad Bartley, Jordan Bartley, Judith Johnson, Chance Johnson, Holli Johnson, and Ashley Young.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers, Brett Harwood, Butch Johnson, Grant Johnson, Jerry Johnson, Jonathan Merritt, Matthew Merritt, John Nance, Mitch Nance, Terry Wayne Nance, and Jimmy Pearce.
Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Monday, Feb. 13 at the funeral home.
FLORA B. GODWIN
CERRO GORDO – Flora Burney Godwin, 89, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 at Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. She was the daughter of the late Mack and Mollie Lee Burney and the widow of James Albert Godwin Jr.
Graveside services were held Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Godwin Family Cemetery near Cerro Gordo with the Rev. Howard Fowler officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn handled the arrangements.
She is survived by two sons, Benny W. Godwin and Kenneth M. Godwin, both of Cerro Gordo; two sisters, Sarah Burney and Beulah Haynie, both of Tar Heel; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
RALEIGH STEPHENS
ELIZABETHTOWN – Raleigh Stephens, 75, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 at Sunbridge Nursing Facility.
A graveside service was held Saturday, Feb. 11 at Whiteville City Cemetery. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
He is survived two brothers, Isaac Stephens of Carvers Creek, and Casper Stephens of Lake Waccamaw; a sister, Dallas Walker of Elizabethtown.
CHARLES H. BRAYE
RIEGELWOOD – Charles Herbert Braye, 87, died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 at Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. He was born on Jan. 21, 1919 in Bladen County the son of the late John H. and Mary Bowen Braye. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Inez Elouise Andrews Braye.
Final rites were held Saturday, Feb. 11 at Pleasant Union Missionary Baptist Church in East Arcadia. Burial followed in Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Riegelwood. Dunn Funeral Home of Burgaw handled the arrangements.
He is survived by a son, Hayden A. Braye of Castle Hayne; five daughters, Gwendolyn Gray and Mary Lucille Garrett, both of Baltimore, Md., Audrey Lowry of Snellville, Ga., Judi Bankhead of Burtonsville, Md., and Inez Perry of Timonium, Md.; a brother, Wade Braye; 24 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
CELESTINE JACKSON
SOUTHPORT – Celestine McCracken Jackson, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 at Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport.
Final rites will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. from Brown’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Southport. Burial will follow in Northwood Cemetery in Southport. Smith Funeral Home of Wilmington is handling the arrangements.
She is survived by her children: Nathaniel Jackson and Deborah Swan, both of Southport, Dewey Jackson of Atlanta, Ga., Cheryl Brown, Elton Jackson, and Kelvin Jackson, all of Southport; two sisters, Laura Gore and Mary White, both of Southport; a brother, George McCracken of Southport.
Visitation will be Monday, Feb. 13 from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home in Wilmington. Viewing will be at the church one hour prior to the services.
LOU FOWLER WARD
CLARENDON – Lou Fowler Ward, 81, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 at her residence. She was born in Columbus County, the daughter of the late Van and Annie Mae Fisher Fowler and the widow of Raleigh Owens Ward.
Final rites were held Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Inman Chapel conducted by Dr. Tom Ward and the Rev. Wayne Faulk. Interment followed in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Tabor City. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City handled the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Ward Tinkler of Clarendon; a son, Roger Ward of Clarendon; a sister, Rosa Lee Stocks of Jacksonville; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
WILLIAM DANIEL “BILL” GRICE
Veteran
LAKE WACCAMAW – William Daniel “Bill” Grice, 64, died unexpectedly, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 at his residence.
He was born in New Hanover County on March 2, 1941 the son of the late William David Grice and Mattie Jones Grice.
Grice had served in the United States Coast Guard. He had been employed with International Paper Company in Riegelwood for many years. He had also been employed as a sales representative with Atlantic Mack Trucks in Wilmington, and retired as a business owner of a local home health care company. He was a longtime member of Cheerful Hope Baptist Church in Delco.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at the First Baptist Church of Lake Waccamaw by Dr. Dale Tanner, and the Reverends Milford Hudson, and Jimmy Grice. Interment will follow in Lake Waccamaw Cemetery. Andrews Mortuary of Wilmington is handling the arrangements
Survivors include his son, William Kevin Grice and wife Rhonda McPherson Grice; a daughter, Leighann Grice Laverdure and husband Gary; four grandchildren, Katie, Ashley, Austin, and David; a brother, Bobby Grice and wife Linda; and ex-wife and special friend, Frances Grice Hill.
The family will receive friends at the home of Kevin and Rhonda Grice, 1300 Spivey Road in Whiteville.
Active pallbearers will be Brian Grice, Darren Grice, Josh Turner, Mark Barnhill, Phil Grice, and Stan Grice. Honorary pallbearers will be his best friends, Britt Edge, Howard Ellis, Phillip Caines, D.J. Peterson, Dan Bolinger, and Jesse Malpass.
PHILLIP H. EDWARDS
BLADENBORO – Phillip Houston Edwards, 44, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.
Final rites were held Sunday, Feb. 12 at Bladen Funeral Home with the Reverends Charles Burst and Clifton Kinlaw officiating. Burial followed in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Bladenboro. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his spouse, Deborah B. Edwards; a son, Sam Edwards of the home; a daughter, LeAnn Edwards of the home; his mother, Jeanette Lee of Whiteville; a half-brother, Joey Edwards of Bladenboro; a sister, Connie McLean of Chadbourn; and one grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hickory Grove Baptist Church Building Fund.
BILLIE SUE TAYLOR
ELIZABETHTOWN – Billie Sue Taylor, 59, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 at the home of her daughter. She was predeceased by her parents, Howard F. White and Mildred White, and also a brother, Howard White.
A memorial service will be held Monday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. at Bladen Funeral Home with Chaplain Tim Gore officiating. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Allan and wife Laura Readling Taylor of Elizabethtown; a daughter, Stevie Lowe Craig and husband Scott Craig of Hope Mills; two sisters, Jerryll Brady Dean of Fayetteville, and Archie Kay Tyndall of Clarkton; three grandchildren, Matthew Zachary Lowe, Noah Alexander Michael Taylor, and Harley Sue Ann Taylor.
After the service friends will be received at the home of Archie Kay Tyndall of Clarkton.
WINFORD H. HESTER
BLADENBORO – Winford Harmon Hester, 60, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006 at his residence. He was the son of the late Miller and Beatrice Hester.
Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Bladen Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Barnhill officiating. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his spouse, Barbara Hester; a son, Kenneth E. Hester of Apex; a daughter, Penny R. Fisher of Hope Mills; three sisters, Shelby Myers of Ohio, Barbara Phillips of Belmont, and Karen Daniel of Elizabethtown; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at the funeral home and at others times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Robeson.
MARY S. FAULK
WHITEVILLE – Mary Stephens Faulk, 82, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. She was formerly from Chadbourn.
Final rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at S&L Funeral Home Chapel in Fair Bluff with the Pastor Anthony Stephens officiating. Burial will follow at Stephens-Wright Cemetery in Tabor City. S&L Funeral Home of Fair Bluff is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a brother, Henry Stephens of Tabor City; three sisters, Corrine Vereen, Magdelene Stephens, and Ernestine Swinton.
Viewing will be from 1-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at the funeral home. Family will receive friends at the home of Henry Stephens, 209 West 5th Street, Tabor City.
THELMA HINSON
WHITEVILLE – Thelma Hinson, 92, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006 at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary in Whiteville.
WILLIAM L. BREWER
DELCO – William Lunsford Brewer, 79, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006 at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary in Whiteville.