 |
|
CLAIRE JANE BROOKS
McGIRT
WHITEVILLE -- Claire Jane Brooks McGirt, 86, former teacher at Whiteville High School, died on Friday, March 23, 2007. The daughter of William Dannelly Brooks Sr. and Elizabeth Jane Edwards Brooks, she was born on Nov. 14, 1920, in Boardman, Columbus County. After growing up in Butters and Evergreen, she attended Flora MacDonald College in Red Springs, receiving an A.B. in English and history in 1941. Upon graduation, her lifetime dedication to teaching began with teaching positions in Bolivia, Warsaw, and Selma.
On Nov. 17, 1945, she married her high school sweetheart, Ed Lane McGirt, at Evergreen Methodist Church. They lived in Whiteville for a brief period and then moved to Wilson, where their only daughter, Brooks, was born. They then lived in Columbia, S.C., where Claire taught at Blaney High School. They moved back to Whiteville in 1952, where Claire began teaching in the Whiteville City School system. She taught senior English at Whiteville Senior High School for many years and served as advisor for many extracurricular activities, including yearbook and publications. She also authored the lyrics for the Whiteville High School fight song. Claire retired from teaching in 1980.
A long-standing member of the Whiteville United Methodist Church, Claire served in many positions, including church historian, first editor of the church newsletter, adult Sunday school class teacher, and member of many diverse boards and committees. She was an active member and past president of the local chapter of Business and Professional Women. An avid amateur genealogist who provided assistance to many others, she was a charter member of the Southeastern Genealogy Society. She was also a 20-year member of the Bladen Stars chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Claire was preceded in death by her daughter, Rachel Brooks McGirt Maxwell; her parents; and her sister, Rachel Eleanor Brooks. She is survived by her husband, Ed; her son-in-law, James Wilson Maxwell; her granddaughter, Leslie Caroline Maxwell; her brother, William Dannelly Brooks Jr., his wife, Sara Floyd Brooks and their children; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Whiteville United Methodist Church or to an organization of the donor’s choice.
The family will receive friends on Monday (today) in the church parlor from 2-3:45 p.m. The funeral will be at 4 p.m. at the Whiteville United Methodist Church with Reverends David Benson and Homer Morris officiating. Burial will follow in the Whiteville Memorial Cemetery. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Carlton Williamson, Jimmy Oakley, Gene Worthington, Clyde Burns, Wayne Overcash, Bill Ashley, Dan Biser, and Les High.
ELBERT TROY ‘E.T.’
MITCHELL
FAIR BLUFF and NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--Elbert Troy “E.T.” Mitchell, 77, died at home in Fair Bluff, Thursday, March 22, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Robeson County on Aug. 5, 1929, he was a lifelong resident of the area until he moved to Fair Bluff in 1993. He graduated from Fairmont High School and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Sudan Shrine Temple at New Bern.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma; sons, Elbert Troy Mitchell Jr. (Candy) of Charlotte and Chris Mitchell (Kim) of Fairmont; daughters, Beth Leggett (Rick) and Linda Leggett (Jeff), all of Fairmont; four grandchildren, Matthew Lamb of Greenville, Kasey and Morgan Leggett, both of Fairmont, and Nicholas Mitchell of Fairmont; a brother, Bernice Mitchell of Fairmont; and two sisters, Jean M. Butler of Charlotte and Millie M. Brown of Sun City West, Ariz.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Sarah Alice Elivington Mitchell; his parents, Medwin Leroy and Rebecca Nance Mitchell; a grandson, Mitch Lamb; a brother, Daniel Homer Mitchell; and a sister, Voncille M. McDonald.
A graveside service was held at Floyd Memorial Cemetery in Fairmont on Saturday, March 24, with the Rev. Steven L. Brown officiating. Floyd Funeral Services of Fairmont handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 725-A Wellington Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28401 or to a charity of one’s choice.
BRIDY SWINTON
CHADBOURN – Bridy Swinton, 99, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Medical University Hospital of South Carolina.
Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, St. Mary’s AME Church, Chadbourn. Burial will follow in Belvue Cemetery, Chadbourn. D&A Funeral Services of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Roane of Philadelphia, Pa., Lula Reaves of Chadbourn, and Sarah Brinkley of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a son, Ronald Swinton of Springfield, Mass.; a brother, Robert Williams Sr. of Chadbourn.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home Monday, March 26 (tonight) from 2-7 p.m.
ARNESA FAULK SMITH
NAKINA – Arnesa Faulk Smith, 81, of the Reaves Ferry community, died Friday, March 24, 2007, at her home. She was the daughter of the late James Randall Faulk and Hettie Benton Faulk and the wife of the late James Paul Smith.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Inman Funeral Home Chapel, Tabor City. Burial will follow in the Smith Cemetery of Nakina. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Simmons of Chadbourn and Linda Long of Tabor City; two sisters, Diane Nesbon of Dade City, Fla. and Lucille Lewis of Lumberton; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
ALVERTA ESTELLE SUGGS STOVER
CHADBOURN – Alverta Estelle Suggs Stover, 78, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was the daughter of the late Henry O. and Bertha Lenora Morris Suggs.
A graveside service was held Friday, March 23, at Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Kate Rascoe officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn handled the arrangements.
Survivors include a brother, Doris M. Suggs of Whiteville; two stepsisters, Dorothy Winnies of Chadbourn and Louise Crawford of Fuquay-Varina; a stepbrother, Gordon Batten of Whiteville; and two grandchildren.
LARRY DAVID NANCE
BLADENBORO – Larry David Nance died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at his home. He was the son of the late Edwin and Evelyn Nance.
Nance was a significant part of NASA’s Apollo Program in the 1970’s and a pioneer of the Space Shuttle Program. He retired from the Boeing Company at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Final rites were held Saturday, March 24, at Richardson Baptist Church, Bladenboro ,with the Reverends Richard Mabe and Darin Andrews officiating. Burial followed at Singletary’s Cemetery, Sand Hills. Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Connie P. Nance of the home; three sons, Larry David Nance Jr. of Florida, Mark Nance of Bladenboro, and Buddy Walley of Whiteville; three sisters, Shannon Walley of the home, Helen Nance and Janice Gooden of Bladenboro; three brothers, Steve, Jimmy and Bobby Nance, all of Bladenboro; and six grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Richardson Baptist Church, 9842 Center Road Bladenboro, N.C. 28320.
CATHERINE KELLY
ALLEN DEVANE
BLADENBORO – Catherine Kelly Allen Devane, 79, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Bladen County Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, James William Devane.
Final rites were held Sunday, March 25, at Bethel Baptist Church with Dr. Mack Roberts officiating. Burial followed in Allen Cemetery. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown handled the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda Joan Devane Boyd of Sewell, N.J.; and a sister, Edna Anne Allen Rozier of Lumberton; and a granddaughter.
PEARL SELLERS
WHITEVILLE – Leta Pearl Sellers, 84, died Sunday, March 25, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville.
JAMES FOSTER McCLAIN
WHITEVILLE – James Foster McClain, 91, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Final rites were held Sunday, March 25, at St. James AME Church with the Rev. J.A. Richburg officiating. Burial followed in the Millican Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville handled the arrangements.
MILDRED M. MOORE
CLARKTON – Mildred M. Moore, 89, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was a homemaker.
Final rites will be held at noon Tuesday, March 27, at Sandy Plain Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchell Field Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include three daughters, Susie Vermel Sumpter of Whiteville, Miriam Spaulding of the home, and Linda Moore of Clarkton; a son, Tyson Elwood Moore of Clarkton; and a sister, Sarah Carlene Bowen of Chesapeake, Va.
Viewing will be at the funeral home Monday (today) from noon until 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 9-10 a.m. Viewing will be at the church Tuesday from 11 a.m. until time for the service, and there will be no viewing after the service.
JAMES LEROY DYSON
CHADBOURN – James Leroy Dyson, 66, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at his residence. He was the son of the late Crowell D. and Hazel Cartrette Dyson Sr.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Chadbourn Church of God with the Reverends Jonathan Simmons and James Howard Nobles officiating. Interment will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Hamilton Dyson of the home; a daughter, Teresa Dyson of Chadbourn; a son, Marion Leroy Dyson of Chadbourn; three sisters, Laura Viola Sarvis and Dorothy Dyson, both of Chadbourn, and Mildred Floyd of Farmville; three brothers, Crowell Dyson Jr., Johnny F. Dyson, and Francis Dale, all of Chadbourn; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
PHILLIP M. SMITH
WHITEVILLE – Phillip M. Smith, 65, died Sunday, March 25, 2007, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fayetteville.
Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.
