BISHOP AARON GORE

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Bishop Aaron Gore, a native of Nakina, and a lifelong resident of New Haven, Conn. who was the pastor of the New Bethlehem U.F.W. Baptist Church for 34 years and presiding Bishop of the Northern New England Conference of the U.F.W.B. Baptist Church’s Incorp., transitioned peacefully with family Monday, June 11, at Yale New Haven Hospital after a long illness.

He was the son of Marie S. Gore and the late Arlander Gore. He was married to the late Peggy (Williams) Gore. To their union three children were born: Maria Gore, Aaron (Andrea) Gore Jr., and Brian K. (Marta) Gore. He was blessed of his offspring with five grandchildren: twins Brittany and Briana Gore, Erin Alexandra Gore, Kayla Christine and Vernon Kendall Jr. and Brian Bostick.

In the past he served as chairman of the NewHallville Cooperative Housing Corp. for two years. In his capacity as Senior Pastor he was not only a Pastor, but a bridge builder and a humanitarian. Under his leadership he orchestrated an emergency shelter, clothing distribution center and Soup Kitchen in the Hill neighborhood.

His passionate commitment to spread the Word of God continued unabated, despite various struggles. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Gore used his strong personality and eloquent oratory to spearhead the doctrine of Christ. He combined the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.

He leaves a legancy of strength, perseverance, kindness, gentleness, and love for his family and friends. Online guestbook available at www.curvinkcouncil.com.

EARL MAJOR STONE

WHITEVILLE -- Earl Major Stone, 60, died Monday, June 25, 2007, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington. He was born in Columbus County, the son of the late Robert Elwood Stone and Estelle Blackwell Stone.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, June 27, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tabor City, with the Rev. Henry Ward officiating. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City handled the arrangements.

Survivors include his mother, Estelle B. Stone of Tabor City; two sons, Durke Stone of Lake Waccamaw and Jamie Stone of Hallsboro; a daughter, Angela S. Godwin of Whiteville; four sisters, Tricia Simmons of Nakina, Evelyn Cox and Thelma Byrd, both of Tabor City, and Christine Evans of Whiteville; and four grandchildren.

MARY LUCILLE HORNE

WHITEVILLE -- Mary Lucille Horne, 74, died Monday, June 25, 2007. She was born Aug. 6, 1932 in Marion County, S.C. the daughter of the late Lloyd and Mae Cox Tyler. Mrs. Horne was the widow of the late Boyd Waldo “Buddy” Horne. She retired after 39 years with Carolina Telephone and Telegraph. She was co-owner of Ward’s Grill and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday (today), June 28, at Trinity Baptist Church with the Reverends David Kelly and Stephen Bailey officiating. Interment will follow in Peacock’s Columbus Memorial Park. A Peacock Service, Whiteville.

Survivors include her son, David Horne and wife, Janice of Apex; a grandson, Austin Boyd Horne; a brother, Raymond Tyler and wife Brenda of Wilmington and two sisters, Lillie Tyler Williamson and Rosalie Tyler Williams and husband, Kenneth, all of Whiteville.

CHARLES P. HONEYCUTT

CHADBOURN -- Charles P. Honeycutt, 71, died Monday, June 25, 2007, at Duke Medical Center, Durham. He was the son of the late John Henry and Martha Walker Nance Honeycutt Sr.

Final rites were held Wednesday, June 27, at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church, Whiteville with the Rev. Jerry Spivey officiating. Burial followed in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn handled the arrangements.

Survivors include three sons, Randy Honeycutt of the home, Barry Honeycutt of Leland, and Tim Honeycutt of Whiteville; stepson, Junior Kellihan of Abbottsburg; stepdaughters, Christine Norris of Whiteville, and Liz Evers of Bladenboro; brothers, John Honeycutt Jr. and Leroy Honeycutt, both of Chadbourn, and Bill Honeycutt of Norfolk, Va.; a sister, Martha Ray Dalton of Chadbourn; and seven grandchildren.

GEORGE GREGORY
HOLLAND

CHADBOURN -- George Gregory Holland, 53, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare.

Final rites will bel held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Zion Wall Freewill Baptist Church, Chadbourn with Elder Windell Gore and Rev. Allen Livingston officiating. Burial will follow in Belvue Cemetery. D&A Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ann Holland; two daughters, Taheshia and Danielle Holland, both of Chadbourn; three sons, Russel Davis of Whiteville, Maurice Holland of Raleigh, and Jeffrey Holland of the home; his mother, Jessie Smith of Chadbourn; a sister, Vivian Odam of Chadbourn; three brothers, Deacon Jerry Holland, Johnny Holland, Lamorris Chesnut, all of Chadbourn.

Viewing will be held on Friday, June 29 from 2-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

MARIA KATHARINA GERTZ

WHITEVILLE -- Maria Katharina Gertz, 77, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was born July 31, 1929 in Vreden, Germany the daughter of the late Heinrich Abbing and Helene Thoben Abbing. She was the widow of Josef B. Gertz.
Gertz was a seamstress with her family’s business in Germany before moving to the United States.

Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Jim Byrne officiating. Burial will follow in Whiteville Memorial Cemetery. A Peacock Service.

Survivors include two daughters, Sonja Gertz Sellers and husband, Donald of Whiteville and Heidi Forsyth of Batavia, Ill.; a special granddaughter, Ashley Butler; three grandsons, Derek Sellers, Zackre Sellers and Tyler Sellers; three grandsons of Batavia, Ill.; a brother, Anton Abbing of Maples, Fla.; five sisters, Elisabeth Ricke of Cincinnati, Ohio, Katherina Robers and Charlotte Lansing, both of Vreden, Germany, Josefine Scherzberg of Iserlohn, Germany, and Wendeline Kosters of Ahaus, Germany.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Helene Hamachers. Special thanks to Linda Simpson for all her help, love you Oma.

The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday (tonight), June 28, at the funeral home.

HOLLEY SHAW

CLARKTON -- Holley Shaw, 85, died Thurday, June 28, 2007, at Bladen County Hospital.

Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.

CAPT. DAVID A.
BARKSDALE SR.

ORANGE PARK, Fla.-- Captain David A. Barksdale Sr., 85, formerly of Columbus County, passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2007, following a lengthy illness. Born in Coburn, Va., he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1945 and was a star athlete playing football and boxing.

Captain Barksdale served his country 29 years as Aviator and Professor of Naval Science, retiring in 1988. Following his Naval career, he moved to Clay County from Pensacola, Fla., and taught in the Clay County School System.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Annie Browne Barksdale; a son, David A. Barksdale Jr. and wife Patty; daughters, Lynn B. Abbott, Elizabeth R. Barksdale, and Mary B. Mancino; grandchildren, Lucy and Anna Barksdale, Forest, Megan and Amanda Abbott, Katie, Samantha, Casey and James Mancino.

The family will honor Captain Barksdale’s request for cremation and asks that memorials be sent to the Northern Florida Chapter of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2131 Mango Place, Jacksonville, Fla. 32207.

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 950 Park Ave., Orange Park, Fla.

FERNIE MAYBERRY TODD

BLADENBORO -- Fernie Mayberry Todd, 80, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Bladen County Hospital, Elizabethtown. He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Todd.

Todd was a veteran of the United States Navy.

Final rites will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday (today), June 28, at Oak Grove Original Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Greenwood officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Larue Davis Todd of the home; a daughter, Linda Capps of Goldsboro; three stepsons, Dale Adams of Warsaw, Ronald Meares of Whiteville, and Rev. Elvin Meares of Bladenboro; a brother, Jessie Todd of Loris, S.C.; three grandchildren, a great-grandchild; seven step-grandchildren, and nine great-step-grandchildren.

MILDRED TINNIN NEWTON

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Mildred Tinnin Newton, 64, died Sunday, June 24, 2007, at her residence. She was a retired school teacher of Bladen County.

Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29, at Baldwin Branch Baptist Church, Highway 242 South, Elizabethtown. Burial will follow in First Baptist Church Cemetery, Elizabethtown. F.W. Newton & Sons Mortuary of Elizabethtown is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include her husband, F.W. (Fig) Newton; a daughter, Fonda Newton Downing of Washington, D.C.; three sons, Fairley Wendell Newton Jr. of Raleigh, Fairron Wardale Newton of Alpharetta, Ga., Flinton Warrick Newton of Marietta, Ga.; a brother, Clifton E. Tinnin of Mebane; and six grandchildren.

Viewing will be Thursday (today), June 28 from 1-5 p.m. A wake will be held on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

DAVID CROWELL ‘D.C.’
BUFFKIN

WHITEVILLE -- David Crowell “D.C.” Buffkin, 77, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at his residence. He was the son of the late Albert Franklin and Bessie Lou Noble Buffkin.

Buffkin retired from Federal Paper Board Company after 38 years of employment.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29, at Columbus Memorial Park, Whiteville with the Rev. Hubert Herring officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Green Buffkin of the home; a son, David Alan Buffkin of Whiteville; three sisters, Margaret Dunn, Mildred Hinson, and Inez McKee, all of Whiteville; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 10-10:40 a.m. Friday, June 28 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Columbus County Department of Aging, 827 Washington Street, Whiteville, N.C. 28472 or to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Midway Drive, Whiteville, N.C. 28472.

MYRTLE LEE BLACKWELL
SIMMONS

CLARENDON -- Myrtle Lee Blackwell Simmons, 85, died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, in Newport News, Va. She is the daughter of the late Charlie M. Blackwell and Mary Simmons Blackwell.

Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 29, at Inman Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tabor City. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.

Survivors include her children, Beatrice Stewart and J.C. Simmons, both of Newport News, Va., Donald Ralph Simmons of Trinity, and Ray Simmons of Clarendon; a sister, Essie McCormick of Nichols, S.C.; 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

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