Obituaries

WHITEVILLE -- Walters Flowers Jr., 73, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington. He was a truck driver.

Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. Gregory Hewett. Burial will follow in the Campground Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Martha; daughters, Bettye Felder (William) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sharon Boone (Harold), Linda George, Mevelyn George, all of Whiteville, and Glenda Cunningham (Dan) of Fayetteville; sons, Charles Flowers (Gwen) of Wilmington, Tarrace George of Florida, Ronald George of Bladenboro; five grandchildren, William Felder IV (Paula) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Maurice L. Flowers and Charlene F. Njoroge (Alfred), both of Stone Mountain, Ga., Beverly Boone and Tevin Demmie, “his buddy and right hand” of Whiteville; five great-grandchlidren, Terrell Flowers, Melissa and Michelle Mbogo of Stone Mountain, Ga., Hannah Wyatt of Lexington, Ky., Ojeida Austin of Brooklyn, N.Y., three sisters, Martha Dowdy, Geneva Bright, both of High Point, Annie Moore (Doug) of Gibsonville; two brothers, John Henry Flowers (Irma Jean) and Rufus Flowers, both of High Point; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Viewing will be at the church Monday (today) from noon until 1 p.m.

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Edgar J. Brennan, 77, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at Bladen County Hospital, Elizabethtown. He was predeceased by his parents, Levi and Mary Lou Brennan.

Final rites were held Saturday, Nov. 18, at Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church with Dr. William G. Young and the Rev. Jim Woodruff officiating. A private burial was held at Sam Mote Cemetery, White Lake. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Brennan of the home; a son, Dale Brennan of White Lake; a daughter, Sue Corbett of White Lake; two brothers, Lester Brennan of Elizabethtown, and Johnny Brennan of White Oak; three sisters, Betty Smith of Lillington, Hannah Schmidt of New Jersey, and LaRue Lentz of Elizabethtown; and three grandchildren.

In liue of flowers memmorials may be made to White Lake Fire Dept., P.O. Box 7250, White Lake, N.C. 28337 or White Lake Water Rescue, P.O. Box 7070, White Lake, N.C. 28337.

EVERGREEN -- Glovenia Kirby Brown, 53, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, in an automobile accident near Whiteville. She was a home health aide.

Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at St. Mary’s Baptist Church by the Rev. Nathaniel Scott. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Community Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, April Braddy of Evergreen; four sons, Michael Kirby of Atlanta, Ga., Reggie Kirby of Charlotte, Chris Kirby of Wadesboro, and Corey Kirby of Wagram; her father, Clarence Tanner of Wadesboro; a sister, Josephine Simon of Monroe; and a brother, David Kirby of Wadesboro.

There will be no public viewing. (See story page 5-A of the printed edition)

WHITEVILLE -- Roy Hyatt Epps, 87, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, at Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville.

Epps, a native of Sampson County was born Oct. 17, 1919, the son of the late James Edward “Eddie” and Frankie O’Quinn Epps. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucy Matthews, Catherine Railey, and a brother, Tollie Epps.

He was a veteran of the United States Navy have served in World War II. He retired from the automobile industry and was a Scottish Rite Mason.

Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ben Horton officiating. Burial will follow in the Watson Cemetery in Marion, S.C. at 3 p.m. Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home of Clinton is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include two daughters, Louise Hill and husband Jerry of Riegelwood, and Linda Alcorn and husband Gerald of Jonesboro, Ga.; a son, Roy H. Epps Jr. and wife Carrie of Charlotte; three sisters, Pansy Horton Bordeaux of Moorehead City, Virginia Moye of Greenville, and Frances Butler of Turkey; seven grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday (tonight) from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home and at other times at the home of his sister, Frances Butler, 24 Railroad Street, Turkey.

HENDERSON -- Patricia “Patsy” Sessions Martin, 75, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, at her home. Born on Aug. 13, 1931 in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late Robert Clanton Sessions and Bennon Burchette Sessions, and was the widow of Charles Douglas Martin Sr.

She was a homemaker and a member of Flat Rock United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Mary V. White Sunday school class, and was a former member of the choir. She was also active in the Kerr Lake Ladies Club.

Final rites were held Sunday, Nov. 19, at Flat Rock United Methodist Church by the Rev. Pam Gilliam. Burial followed in the church cemetery. J.M. White Funeral Home of Henderson handled the arrangements.

Survivors include a son, Charles Douglas Martin Jr. of the home; two daughters, Patricia M. Twisdale of Henderson, and Susan M. Greer of Fuquay-Varina; a sister, Linda S. Averette of Murrell’s Inlett, S.C.; a brother, Harold Sessions of Whiteville; and two grandchildren, Katherine A. Greer of Fuquay-Varina and Annie J. Twisdale of Henderson.

LELAND -- James “Jimmy” Newton Squires, 65, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at Brunswick Community Hospital, Supply. He was born Aug. 8, 1941 in Brunswick County, the son of the late Newton and Bertha Potter Squires. He was employed with Dupont and Lanier and Sons Paving of Leland.

Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Carter officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Lela Patrick Squires; a son, Donald Squires of Leland; a daughter, Lisa Milligan of Leland; a brother, Paul Squires of Delco; and three grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday (tonight) at the funeral home.

RIEGELWOOD -- Timothy Carl Mai, 49, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, along with his wife Mary Ann Gasper Mai as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster. He was born on April 17, 1957, the son of Carl and Irene Frankenfield Mai. He was a insulation worker with Rainbow Insulation.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at the Prosper Baptist Church in Delco, with the Rev. Eddie Watts officiating. Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home of Wilmington is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, Amanda Webb-Mai of Dunkirk, Md.; two brothers, Mark Mai of Florida, Mike Mai and wife Erica of Leland; a sister, Tina Acker of Tamaqua, Pa.; a grandchild; eight nieces and four nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Prosper Baptist Church, P.O. Box 710, Delco, N.C. 28436 or the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016.

RIEGELWOOD -- Miguel Angel Jurado, 13, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster. He was born Aug. 4, 1993, Ocala, Fla. He attended Acme Delco Elementary School.

Final rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Cristo El Rey by the Rev. Marcos Leon-Angulo in Riegelwood. Interment will follow in the Delco Cemetery. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his father, Inocencio Jurado of Ocala, Fla.; his mother, Maria Cruz Martinez Jaines of Riegelwood; two brothers, Eleuterio Ruiz Martinez of Whiteville, and Jesus Martinez of Riegelwood; two sisters, Christina M. Martinez and Vaneza Arellano Martinez, both of Riegelwood. He was preceded by a sister, Suley Ruiz Martinez.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the funeral home.

CHADBOURN -- Mary “Susie” Thomas, 48, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2006, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center, Wilmington. She is the daughter of the late Thomas Wilkins.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Cartret Cemetery, 224 C.M. Cartret Road, Chadbourn. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include her mother, Mary Ruth Wilkins of Leland; a son, Daniel Thomas of Chadbourn, a daughter, Amanda Clark of Conway, S.C., two brothers, Thomas Wilkins Jr., and Steve Wilkins, both of Leland.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Monday (tonight) from 7-9 p.m.

The family will receive friends at the home of her mother in Leland.

RIEGELWOOD -- Danny Ruiz Jacobs, 6, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000, as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster. He was born Aug. 8, 2006, in Columbus County. He was a student of Acme Delco Elementary School.

Final rites will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Mt. Sinai Holiness Church with the Reverends Mike Jacobs and Brian Beaver officiating. Burial will follow in the Delco Cemetery. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his mother, Leshia Mechel Jacobs of Riegelwood; his father, Eleuterio Ruiz Martinez of Whiteville; a brother, Jessie Ruiz-Jacobs of Riegelwood; maternal grandmother, Zelda Jacobs of Wallace; paternal grandmother, Maria Cruz Martinez Jaimes of Riegelwood, and paternal grandfather, Ines Ruiz of Riegelwood.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Donnie C. “Pete” Jacobs.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the funeral home.

RIEGELWOOD -- Mary Ann Gasper Mai, 43, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, along with her husband Timothy Carl Mai as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster.

She was born on Feb. 14, 1963, she was a daughter of Joseph K. and Minnie P. Lowhorn Gasper, also of Riegelwood. She was a bookkeeper.

Survivors include her parents and a sister, Tina Gasper Kern and husband Darrel of Northhampton, Pa. and a nephew, Bryan Joseph Miller of Miami, Fla.

RIEGELWOOD -- Suley Ruiz Martinez, 23, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster. She was born April 23, 1983 in Guerrero, Mexico. She was employed with Southport Boatworks.

Final rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Cristo El Rey by the Rev. Marcos Leon-Angulo in Riegelwood. Interment will follow in Delco Cemetery. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include her husband, Daniel Carachure of Riegelwood; a daughter, Katie Carachure of the home; her mother, Maria Cruz Martinez Jaimes of Riegelwood; her father, Inez Ruiz of Riegelwood; two brothers, Eleuterio Ruiz Martinez of Whiteville, and Jesus Martinez of Riegelwood; two sisters, Christina M. Martinez and Vaneza Arellano Martinez, both of Riegelwood. She was preceded in death by a brother, Miguel Angel Jurado.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the funeral home.

BOLTON -- Samuel Ellis Mitchell, 49, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2006. He was born July 22, 1957 in Bladen County. He was a maintenance supervisor with Corbett Package Company in Wilmington.

Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at New Hope Baptist Church with the Reverends Don Carter and Mike Jacobs officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his parents, Samuel David Mitchell and Pennie Ruth Patrick Mitchell of Bolton; three sisters, Patricia Tatum and Francine Ramos, both of Bolton, and Delma Hathway of Whiteville.

CERRO GORDO -- Edwin Vance Fields, 83, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, at Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville. He was the son of the late Fred and Mary Elizabeth Griffin Fields and the wife of the late Madeline Boswell Fields.

A graveside service was held Sunday, Nov. 19, at Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Elmore Strickland officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn handled the arrangements.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Fields White of Chadbourn; a son, Rev. Edwin Thomas “Tommy” Fields of Chadbourn, a stepson, Johnnie Inman of Florence, S.C.; brothers, Bobby Fields of Chadbourn; sisters, Shelby Jean Rabon of Wilmington and Billie Britt of Leland; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, three step-grandchildren, and thre step-great-grandchildren.

RIEGELWOOD -- Mike Browne, 25, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, along with his dad and stepmother, Tim and Mary Mai, as a result of the Riegelwood tornado disaster.

He worked as an electrician by trade and volunteered with the Acme Delco-Riegelwood Fire and Rescue for two and a half years.

Final rites with fireman’s honors will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. at Riegelwood Baptist Church. Interment will follow at a later date in Oleander Memorial Gardens. Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home of Wilmington is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his precious baby girl, whom he loved more than life; his mom and adopted father, Glinda and John R. Browne III, a brother, Ryan Browne, and his grandparents, John and Jean Browne, Elizabeth Jones and John Reintzel.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations for Mike’s daughter be made to the Browne Fund, c/o Acme Delco-Riegelwood Fire Department, 100 John Riegel Rd., Riegelwood, N.C. 28546.

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Arnold Lee Melvin, 75, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at his residence. He was a veteran of the United States Navy.

Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Marshburn Cemetery, White Lake. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his spouse, Mae Melvin of the home; a son, Greg Melvin of Plattsmouth, Neb.; two daughters, Donna Astern of Virginia Beach, Va., and Teresa Jones of White Lake; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the home.

WHITEVILLE -- Emma Jane Spivey, 78, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006 at Loris Healthcare, Loris, S.C. She was the daughter of the late Mitchell Kelly and Lona Beck Duncan, and the widow of Grover Lee Spivey.

Final rites were held Saturday, Nov. 18 at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Donald Spivey with interment in Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Clarendon. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City handled the arrangements.

Survivors include two daughters, Janet Spivey Hardwick of Galivants Ferry, S.C., and Linda Spivey Smith of Kings Mountain; three sons, Linwood Charles Sivey of Whiteville, Ronald Spivey of Denver, and Eugene Spivey of Belmont; three sisters, Hazel Hinson and Ruth Hinson, both of Archdale; Marvaleen Ward of Trinity; 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

RAEFORD -- Mitchell Graham, 49, formerly of the Spring Branch community, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at Womack Army Medical Center, Fayetteville.

Arrangements will be announced by S&L Funeral Home of Fair Bluff.

GLOUCESTER -- Wilton H. Tyree, 81, peacefully departed this life to meet his Heavenly Father, Friday, Nov. 17, 2006. He was born July 23, 1925 to the late Seth and Bessie Tyree in North Carolina.

He was a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Navy and retired from Amalgated Clothing and Textile Workers Union as a staff representative. He was a member and deacon at Petsworth Baptist Church and loved gospel singing.

He enjoyed gardening, flowers, especially growning African violets and fishing. A totally unselfish man who left no kindness undone, he was a friend to all.

Final rites were held Monday, Nov. 20, at Petsworth Baptist Church. Burial followed with military honors at Rosewell Memorial Garden Cemetery. Hogg Funeral Home of Gloucester Point handled the arrangemlents.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years was Loreen D. Tyree; a daughter, Cheryl Olphant; two sons, Mitchell Tyree and wife Kathy and Michael Tyree and wife Kathy; six grandchildren he was very proud of and loved dearly, Shannon Berry, Travis Fisher, Seth Tyree, Jessica Tyree, Lydia Tyree, and Audrey Tyree; and a brother, James Tyree.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Crowder and the staff of Riverside Walter Reed Hospice, especially Theresa and Marie for the loving care and kindness given to him.

BLADENBORO -- Juanita Bledsoe Hester, 86, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at Southeastern Regional Hospital, Lumberton. She was the daughter of the late Alma and Manley Bledsoe, and the widow of Horace Cade Hester.

Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Community Baptist Church, Bladenboro with the Reverends Robert Ohlmann, G. Horton Hall, and Earl Hester officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include two sons, Alexander Hester and Ronnie Hester, both of Bladenboro; a daughter, Sylvia Horton of Bladenboro; a sister, Geraldine Butler of Dublin; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home Monday (tonight).