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GERTRUDE ‘TRUDY’ AVANT JOHNSON
RALEIGH -- Gertrude “Trudy” Avant Johnson, 62, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006 at her home. She was born in Wilmington on Sept. 28, 1944 to Mary Elizabeth Croom and the late Homer Gause Avant Jr.
Johnson was a graduate of Meredith College. She was a longtime resident of Raleigh. She served as a volunteer for many community and non-profit organizations that included leadership positions in Raleigh Fine Arts, Interact, Carolina Ballet, N.C. Museum of History and the SPCA. She was also a Master Gardner. However, her true love was service to others through her church, Hayes Barton United Methodist, where she served in many roles showing her commitment to Christ.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, in Raleigh. Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Raleigh.
She was survived by her husband, Raymond Horace Johnson Jr. of Raleigh; her daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Johnson Spears and her husband, Carl Lindley Spears III of Wilmington; her son, Raymond Scott Johnson of Raleigh; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Maegan Grantham Spears, Lindley MacRae Spears, and Anna Carlyle Johnson Spears; a brother Wade Hampton Avant of Whiteville; a sister, Julia Ann Sutton of Clinton; her devoted and loving sister-in-law Jacquelyn King Johnson; and cousin, Mary Ellen Cain.
Tributes may be sent to the family at www.brownwynne.com
ETHEL S. MEARES
FAIR BLUFF -- Ethel S. Meares, 82, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006 at her home. She was the daughter of the late Henry Clyde and Helen Thompson Stewart.
She was a member of Porter Swamp Baptist Church and was preceded in death by a son Franklin Eugene Meares.
Funeral services were held at Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Porter Swamp Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Moore officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Meares Funeral Home of Fair Bluff handled the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband Calvin L. “C.D.” Meares of the home; a son, W.C. Meares and his wife Elaine of Cerro Gordo; a daughter, Lois Meares of Fair Bluff; a brother, Nathan Stewart of Matthews Va.; two sisters, Dorothy Stanley of Greensboro and Helen Sizemore of Kinston; two grandsons, Franklin Scott Meares and his wife Heather of Riceville, Tenn. and Kipling Shane Meares and his wife Dana of Tabor City; three great grandchildren, Anthony Meares and his fiance Tavia Garland, Alex Meares and Morgan Meares.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Porter Swamp Baptist Church P.O. Box 98 Cerro Gordo N.C. 28430.
You may sign the guest book online at www.mearesfuneralhome.com.
DONNA LYNN STANLEY
TABOR CITY – Donna Lynn Stanley, 59, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2006 at Loris Healthcare. She was born in Nash County, the daughter of Marjorie Mauney Smith and the late Sherwood Bruce Smith. She was predeceased by a sister, Gail S. Adams.
She was the wife of Columbus County Board of Election member, Frank Stanley Jr.
Final rites were held Thursday, Oct. 26 at Tabor City Baptist Church conducted by Dr. David Coleman, with interment following in Myrtle Green Cemetery, Tabor City. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City handled the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, C. Frank Stanley Jr. of the home; a son, Mauney Stanley of Charlotte; a daughter, Megan Stanley of Raleigh; her mother, Marjorie M. Smith of Dortches; and a brother, Sherwood Bruce Smith Jr. of Dortches.
ANNIE MARIE MOORE
WHITEVILLE – Annie Marie Moore, 88, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 at Shoreland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was a homemaker.
Final rites were held Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Sandy Plain Missionary Baptist Church in Clarkton by the Rev. Cleo Williamson. Burial followed in the Mitchell Field Cemetery in Clarkton. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville handled the arrangements.
Survivors include nine daughters, Shirley Spaulding and Shelva Graham of Whiteville, Etta Harris, Susie Newell, Celestine Parker, and Hannas Wade, all of Philadelphia, Pa., Nellie Moore of Clarkton, Isabelle Burney of Riegelwood, and Avelyne Stephens of Tabor City; a son, Ronnie E. Moore of Philadelphia, Pa.
WHITEVILLE – James Barry Walters, 50, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2006. He was born March 1, 1956 in Columbus County, the son of Naomi Moore Merchant and the late Kenneth Walters.
He formerly was owner and operator of Whiteville Paint Company.
Graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Union Valley Cemetery by the Rev. Allen Pearson. Peacock’s Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his mother, Naomi Moore Merchant of Foxfire Village; two brothers, Curtis Walters of Hallsboro, and Jimmy Walters of Chadbourn; a half-sister, Paula Davis of Foxfire Village.
MARGARET BAXLEY WALTON
LUMBERTON – Margaret Baxley Walton, 76, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006, at her residence.
She was an active member of Antioch Baptist Church where she was a member of the Ruth Sunday School Class. She retired from Burlington Mills after 34 years of service. She was predeceased by a husband, Raymond W. Baxley; son, Trooper Donald Baxley; sister, Earlene Hayes, and her parents, Luke and Maude West.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Antioch Baptist Church in Lumberton with the Rev. Mark Meadows officiating. Burial will follow at the Gardens of Faith, Lumberton Floyd Mortuary of Lumberton is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her spouse, Herbert Walton of the home; a son, Terry Baxley of Whiteville; a daughter, Brenda Davis of Sanford; two sisters, Betty Prevatte and Shelby Prevatte, both of Lumberton; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and three great-step-grandchildren.
JAMES A. BRYANT
TABOR CITY – James A. Bryant, 78, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006, at his residence.
Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.
JIM HEATH JR.
DALLAS, TEXAS -- Jim Heath Jr., 50, a computer consultant, died Oct. 2, 2006, there. He was born June 18, 1956, in Wilmington.
He graduated North Brunswick High School and N.C. State University and was a computer wizard with a brilliant mind, and an electrical and mechanical master, able to fix anything he touched. Considered a genius by those who knew him, he was also clever and kind.
Survivors include his parents, Jimmie and Shirley Heath of Leland; children, Grace and Philip Heath of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Barbara Pendergrass of Raleigh.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Carvers Creek United Methodist Church, 16904 N.C. Highway 87 East in Council. Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Dallas, Texas is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, a benefit account for the children has been established at Frost Bank in Texas. Checks should be made payable to Frost Bank and mailed to: Ron Berlin, 5102 Lakehill Court, Dallas, Texas 75220.
RUTH POWELL
BALTIMORE, Md. – Ruth Powell, 64, formerly of Hallsboro, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006, at Hospice of Baltimore.
Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mary Freeman Smith, 48, formerly of Riegelwood, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2006.Final rites will be held Friday, Oct. 27 in Birmingham, Alabama. Smith Funeral Home is announcing for the family.
Survivors include a daughter, RaSheka Smith of the home; her mother; Marjorie Freeman of Riegelwood; two sisters and one brother.
EDNA W. STEPHENS
CHADBOURN -- Edna Williamson Stephens, 90, died on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. Her home was in Chadbourn at 221 East 3rd Avenue, where her son, Ricky, took care of her for more than 11 years so that she could remain in her home.
She was born February 6, 1916 to Kinchen and Sarah Williamson in Columbus County. She had a half brother and sister at the time of her parents’ marriage. Later she had two brothers, all of whom have passed away. Her parents took into their home, four of her orphaned first cousins. One first cousin, Ruby Edmund Cade, 94, of Florida remains living.
She was married to the late Frederick G. Stephens on Dec. 17, 1938. They had five children: Oleun K. Stephens of Ocean Isle, Ronald V. Stephens of Stanfield, Sharon S. Read of Charlotte, Ricky Stephens of Chadbourn, and Marta S. Miller of Buford GA. They had 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She was a great daughter, wife, and mother.
Sarah, Edna’s mother, lived with Edna and Frederick, after her home burned, and she lost her son, Ned in the fire. Sarah lived with them from before the birth of their first child, Oleun, until she died at age 91. Edna cared for her dying mother in their home for the last three months of her life, most of which time Sarah was bed-ridden. Edna slept on the floor beside her bed for about the last two weeks of her life.
Edna was proud of her parents and happy to have cousins to live and play with her. Though she considered it a blessing, and it was, one should remember that she gave up attention and material things and never had one regret. Her grandmother Candace, wanted to give her a nice string of pearls. Her father refused because he would want to buy pearls for the other three adopted girls so they would feel just as special as his own daughter, and so go the stories, told with pride.
A funeral service was held on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Chadbourn Baptist Church. Rev. Sean Roberds officiated. Burial followed at Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery, and Worthington Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Pallbearers were Darryl Stephens, Lance Read, Daniel Read, Tracey Stephens, Randall Miller, and Randy Miller. Five of these men were grandchildren, except Randy Miller, who was her son-in-law.
Special thanks go to Chadbourn Baptist’s Sunshine Class and Multi-focus Mission Group, the pianist who played at the service, Cara Roberds who helped staff the nursery for the service, all the friends who brought food and the CBC Kitchen Committee who served it to the family, Jennie Campbell who helped care for Edna in the home for many years, and Melody Watson, a long-time family friend, who came into the home and helped in many ways after Edna’s death.
Memorials may be made to: Chadbourn Baptist Church; 504 N. Howard Street; Chadbourn, N.C. 28431.
Beneath her handkerchief, Edna is holding a piece of a blanket, which was woven on a loom by her Grandmother Candace W. Williamson. The thread for the blanket was made on a spinning wheel. A piece of the blanket has been handed down for generations.