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NOVEMBER 2007
OBITUARIES
as of
November 16, 2007
VERNICE CONYERS BELLAMY
TABOR CITY -- Vernice Conyers Bellamy, 63, of the Iron Hill community, died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Geneva Conyers.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at New Light AME Church in Dothan with Pastor Joseph U. Batts officiating. Burial will follow in the Butler Cemetery in Dothan. Westside Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her husband, Herbert Bellamy; her children, James Stephens and Annette Stephens, both of Loris, S.C., Dan Stephens of Wampee, S.C., Debra Farmer of Dothan, Dora Clarida of Lillington, Johnell Stephens and Franklin Stephens, both of Atlanta, Ga., Danielle Stephens of Tabor City; brothers and sisters, James Conyers of Tabor City, Bertha Faulk, Sarah Pierce and O.B. Conyers, all of Dothan, Betty Stewart of Loris, S.C., Catherine Williams of Iron Hill, Maxine Hemingway of Cedar Branch, S.C., and Isaac Conyers of Wilmington.
Family visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at the funeral home.
BRENDA GALE WILLIAMS
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Brenda Gale Williams, 59, formerly of Tabor City, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. She was the daughter of the late Oscar Lee and Mamie Williams.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Columbus County Singing Union Cemetery in Tabor City. Westside Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Tanya; four brothers, James Williams, Charles Williams, Oscar Williams, and Robert Williams; two sisters, Mamie Louise Gordon and Catherine Chestnut.
Family visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 at the funeral home.
MARY MOORE WILLIAMS
CLARKTON -- Mary Moore Williams, 70, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Bladenboro County Hospital Elizabethtown.
Final rites will be held at noon on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Central United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ronald Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in Mitchell Field Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors incljude a son, John J. Williams of Manassas Park, Va.; brothers, Aquilla Eugene Moore of Clarkton and Locke Moore of Raleigh.
Viewing will be at the funeral home on Friday from noon until 7 p.m. Viewing will be at the church Saturday from 11 a.m. until time of the service, and there will be no viewing after the service.
MAGGIE NEWSOM THOMPSON
WHITEVILLE -- Maggie Newsom Thompson, 93, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at her residence. She was born in Birmingham, Ala. She was a cook.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by S&L Funeral Home of Whiteville.
Survivors include two sons, William Mille, Wilbert Thompson Jr., and Cornell Thompson. Predeceased was Perry Brown Thompson.
ESTHER NORRIS HAYES
WHITEVILLE -- Esther Norris Hayes died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Shoreland Healthcare. She was the widow of Ernest David Hayes Jr. and the daughter of the late James Lewis Macklin and Retha Irene Sarvis Norris.
Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn with the Rev. Robin Cox officiating. Burial will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Sue Ward Sellers of Chadbourn; a son, Jerry Ray McDaniel of Orange County, Calif.; sisters, Irene Stallings, Inez Norris and Julia Ann Fowler, all of Whiteville and Susan Elizabeth Anderson of Lincolnton; brothers, M.C. Norris of Chadbourn and Danny Lane of Bennettsville, S.C.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will bel held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 at the funeral home.
PETER ‘PETE’ SIMMONS
WHITEVILLE -- Peter “Pete” Simmons, 66, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. He was the husband of the late Esther Simmons and the son of the late Alph and Edith Register Simmons. He was preceded in death by a son, Peter Dale Simmons.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Hosea Simmons Cemetery in Whiteville with the Rev. Leon Simmons officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Julie S. Rabon of the home; a son, Darrell Simmons oF Burgaw; brothers, Rev. Leon Simmons of Lexington, and Roger Simmons of Whiteville; sisters, Sadie Long of Whiteville, Sissy Eastman of Whiteville, and Annie Welch of Charleston, S.C.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
BILLY ‘BILL’ BATTEN
CHADBOURN -- Billy “Bill” Batten, 75, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Liberty Commons in Whiteville. He was the son of the late Jessie and Bessie Soles Batten.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Worthington Funeral Home with Reverends Kenny Todd and Doug Mathis officiating. Burial will follow in the Batten Family Cemetery in Chadbourn. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Maggie Mae McLamb Batten of the home; daughters, Willa Dean Thompson and Christy Batten, both of Whiteville; sons, Billy Ray Batten,Weldon Batten, and Daniel Batten, all of Chadbourn, Jerry Wayne Batten of Hemingway, S.C.; brothers, Robert Batten of Whiteville and J.C. Batten of Chadbourn; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
MILDRED HINSON PREVATTE
WHITEVILLE -- Mildred Hinson Prevatte, 66, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Howard and Mary Spivey Hinson.
Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Worthington Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Rattz officiating. Burial will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a daughter, Sandra P. Fowler of Whiteville; a son, Lonnie Prevatte of Whiteville; sisters, Rosalee Lewis of Fayetteville and Nancy Ward of Whiteville; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 at the funeral home.
JOSEPH ALLEN CONNER
WHITEVILLE -- Joseph Allen Conner, 22, died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2007, at his residence.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the McPherson Cemetery in Chadbourn with military honors.
Survivors include his wife, Ashley Diane Fipps Conner of Fayetteville; a son, Triston Lokie Conner of Fayetteville; his parents, Daphene Conner and Terry Allen Graham of Whiteville; a brother, Asa Conner of Whiteville; grandparents, Thomas and Cissy Whaley Conner of Whiteville.
Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the funeral home.
KENNETH BROWN McDONALD
CLARKTON -- Kenneth Brown McDonald, 77, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at N.C. State Veterans Nursing Home. He was the son of the late Lonnie McDonald and Myrtle McLaughlin McDonald.
Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Bladen Funeral Home with the Rev. Stewart Link officiating. Burial will follow at Clarkton City Cemetery. Bladen Funeral Home of Elizabethtown is handling all the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley McDonald of the home; two sons, Ken McDonald of Rome, Ga., and Dean McDonald of Morehead City; a daughter, Dawn McDonald of Hamlet; and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, P.O. Box 1984, Elizabethtown, N.C. 28337 and Columbus County Humane Society.
TEDDY ‘TED’ MARSHALL NANCE
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Teddy “Ted” Marshall Nance, 42, formerly of Evergreen, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, at his residence. He was the son of the late Thomas Edison and Angelina Hewitt Nance.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn with the Rev. Linzy Nance officiating. Burial will follow in the Williamson’s Crossroads Baptist Church Cemetery. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include two sons, Timothy Nance and Marshall Nance, both of Cantonment, Fla.; brothers, Thomas Kenchen Nance of Evergreen, Kevin N. Nance of Chicago, Ill., and Kelly Clark Nance of Atlanta, Ga.
Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the funeral home.
CHESTER DERAND SPIVEY
TABOR CITY -- Chester DeRand Spivey, 50, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Loris Community Hospital.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Inman Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Spivey Cemetery. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Joann Watts of the home; his mother, Merlene Spivey of Tabor City; a brother, Randy Buffkin of Kings Mountain; and a daughter, Tiffany Oxendine of the home.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m.
ADDIE IDA LEE LACEY NEALEY
STAFFORD, Va. -- Addie Ida Lee Lacey Nealey, 37, formerly of Whiteville, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, at Falls Church, Va.
Final rites were held Friday, Nov. 9, at First Baptist Church in Bladenboro with the Rev. Gregory Taylor officiating. Burial followed in the Shaw-Lacy Cemetery in Bladenboro. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville handled the arrangements.
Survivors include daughters, Shanise Nealey, Brianna Nealey, and Charlie Grace Drew, all of the home; sisters, LáFonte Morris of Nyack, N.Y., Phillis Robinson of Bladenboro, Deborah Gillespie of Lumberton, and Claudia Walton of Stafford, Va.; a brother, Douglas Lacey of Bladenboro..
BETTY J. HAMPTON
LUMBERTON -- Betty Joe Troy Hampton, 66, affectionaley known as, BJ and Queen Betty knew how to live. While many struggle with burnout, worry, boredom and self-image, BJ found new peace, new joy, and a new life in the secret place of The Most High Jehovah God. At the dawn of each day, she enjoyed a new beginning. On Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, BJ made a transition and her spirit returned to the God who made her.
Betty Joe Troy Hampton, age 66, was born May 9, 1941, the first child of the late Joseph Cefus and Willie Belle Alford Troy. She accepted Christ, joined the Methodist Church and sang with the choir. Later in life, she joined the Montgomery Alabama Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses. She was blessed with a brilliant mind, her dad’s humor and her mother’s strength. Queen Betty, demanded professionalism, sincerity, integrity and respect. Twelve remaining siblings know her as the Harriet Tubman or the trail blazer. Betty succeeded in new directions, achieving new adventures and friends. She returned to school, completed her adult education, and worked as an LPN at Kings County Hospital. Later in life, her concern for others led BJ to work as a Group Counselor for the State of New York. Betty made many friends and maintained close relationships. She was involved in the community and labored at the NYC Board of Elections. She as a lover of people especially family and friends. She was a unique chef, a great home provider and motivator.
Queen Betty was a devoted, loving person, mother and friend. Sharing her Victory, she leaves, two sons: Edward (Paulette) Troy, Retired U.S. Air Force of Montgomery, Ala.; Donald (Joyce) Samuels of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and daughter, Sharon Samuels of Baltimore, Md.; grandchildren, Tia, Asha, Maria, Shawn’te, Shawn’tel, Chan’tel, Donald JaQuan, Kiyosha and ShaKia; and six great-grandchildren. Celebrating with BJ are 12 siblings: Barbara (Dwight) Polite of Corona, N.Y.; Dr. Bonnie (Edward) Laney of Lexington, Anna L. Troy of Elizabethtown; Jacqueline (Joseph) Troy-McCready of Hempstead, N.Y., Doris (Dr. William) Young of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Gerald F. Troy of Whiteville, Regina (Zack) Miller of New Market, Md., Reginald D. Troy, known as Yaacef Saif-ul-Bait, Elmira, N.Y., Joseph C.Troy Jr. of Whiteville, Josephine Troy of Central Islip, N.Y., Ben (Sue Ann) Troy of Lumberton, and Dwight (Janice) Troy of Elizabethtown; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, devoted neighbors and many friends in Alabama and New York.
Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Whiteville with brother James Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the Campground Cemetery in Whiteville. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Viewing will be at the Kingdom Hall Thursday following the service. Friends may visit the family at the home of Joseph Troy Jr., 145 North Mitchell Ford Road in Clarkton.
LILLIE VANCE BEST
WHITEVILLE -- Lillie Vance Best, 68, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare.
Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Timothy A. Lance officiating. Burial will follow in the Kelly Cemetery in Bladenboro. Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include her daughters, Denise Powers, Patrilla Best, Tonda Williams, and Lakisa Best of Durham; sons, Hubert Lee Best Jr. and LaMorris Best, all of Whiteville, and Jeffrey Best of Durham; brother, James Melvin Powell of Washington, D.C.
Viewing will be at the funeral home Thursday from noon until 7 p.m. and Friday from 9-11 a.m. Viewing will be at the church Friday following the service.
STELLA THERESA HEDRICK SHERMAN
LAKE WACCAMAW -- Stella Theresa Sherman, 76, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, where she and her husband, Stuart, were on vacation. She was the daughter of the late Clyde Reitzel and Stella Lamkin Hedrick.
Sherman was a graduate of Salem Academy, Salem College and Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem. She was an active member of the Lake Waccamaw Woman’s Club, Lake Waccamaw United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir, and had been extremely involved with the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Stuart Holmes Sherman; two sons, Stuart “Skip” Holmes Sherman III of Orlando, Fla. and Clyde “Ritz” Reitzel Sherman of Laguna Nigel Beach, Calif.; a daughter, Tesa Sherman Bush of Lake Waccamaw; two sisters, Marlene Neisler of Lake Waccamaw and Phyllis Miller of Lenoir, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
The family is requesting all donations be made to the Boys & Girls Homes of N.C., Inc. her memory.
BILLY ‘BILL’ BATTEN
CHADBOURN -- Billy “Bill” Batten, 75, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Liberty Commons in Whiteville. He was the son of the late Jessie and Bessie Soles Batten.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn.
Survivors include his wife, Maggie Mae McLamb Batten of the home; daughters, Willa Dean Thompson and Christy Batten, both of Whiteville; sons, Billy Ray Batten of Chadbourn, Weldon Batten of Chadbourn, Daniel Batten of Chadbourn and Jerry Wayne Batten of Hemingway, S.C.; brothers, Robert Batten of Whiteville and J.C. Batten of Chadbourn, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
TEDDY ‘TED’ MARSHALL NANCE
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Teddy “Ted” Marshall Nance, 42, formerly of Evergreen, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, at his residence.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn.
Survivors include his two sons, Timothy Nance and Marshall Nance, both of Kentonia, Fla.; and three brothers, Thoams Kenchen Nance of Evergreen, Kevin N. Nance of Chicago, Ill., and Kelly Clark Nance of Atlanta, Ga.
PETER ‘PETE’ SIMMONS
WHITEVILLE -- Peter “Pete” Simmon, 66, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare. He was the husband of the late Esther Simmons and the son of the late Alph and Edith Register Simmons. He was preceded in death by a son, Peter Dale Simmons.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Worthington Funeral Home of Whiteville.
Survivors include a daughter, Julie S. Rabon of the home; a son, Darrell Simmons of Burgaw; brothers, Leon Simmons of Lexington, and Roger Simmons of Whiteville; sisters, Sadie Long of Whiteville, Sissy Eastman of Whiteville, and Annie Welch of Charleston, S.C.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
FLORENTINO CHAVEZ PERALTA
MARION, S.C. -- Florentiono Chavez Peralta, 31, formerly of Vera Cruz, Mexico, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007, at Duke Medical Center, Durham.
Final rites were held Sunday, Nov. 11, at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn with Pastor Morberto Caraballo officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in Tenampa, Vera Cruz, Mexico.
He is survived by his mother, Cirila Peralta Hernandez of Xuchilt Tenampa, Vera Cruz; brothers, Eliseo Peralta Hernandez of Marion, S.C., Paul Chavez, Miguel Chavez, Rocio Peralta, and Vicente Ramos, all of Mexico; sisters, Juana Chaves, Julia Ramos, Maribel Ramos, and Gloria Ramos, all of Mexico.
HERBERT RUDOLPH PHIPPS JR.
TABOR CITY -- Herbert Rudolph Phipps Jr., 60, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at Loris Hospital. He was the son of the late Herbert Rudolph Phipps and Pauline Grainger Phipps.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. at Inman Funeral Home Chapel. Inman Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include three sons, Herbert Rudolph Phipps III of Clarkton, Tony Ray Phipps of Rogers, Ark., and Kim Christopher Phipps of Loris, S.C.; a daughter, Janice Phipps Owen of Clarkton; three brothers, Terry Lee Phipps and Roger Phipps, both of Tabor City, and Michael Phipps of Goldsboro; and seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
CATHERINE SIMMONS YATES
CHADBOURN -- Catherine Simmons Yates, 78, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. She was the widow of Dr. Robert Allen Yates Sr., and the daughter of the late Tonnie Macob and Blanche Griggs Simmons.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Piney Forest Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Hubert McCleney officiating. Worthington Funeral Home of Chadbourn is handling the arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Allen Yates and wife, Martha of Chadbourn; a daughter, Lee Yates McLean and her husband, Sammy of Angier; two brothers, T.M. “Sonny” Simmons of Fayetteville and Ernest G. Simmons of Fuquay-Varnina; a granddaughter, Jennifer Catherine McLean of Angier; and step-granddaughter, Courtney Clewis of Chadbourn.
Pallbearers will be John “Chuck” Simmons, Jimmy Simmons, Milton Blake, Keith Blake, John Blake, William Thompson, and Mack Ward.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 at the funeral home.
JOHN WATIS HARDEE
LORIS, S.C. -- John Watis Hardee, 86, died Saturday, November 10, 2007 at the Veterans Hospital in Charleston, S.C. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Mayo Hardee and Attie Arjane Cox Hardee; an infant brother, Shelton Hardee; and wife of 45 years, Drue Piver Hardee who died Jan. 29, 1992.
He was born in Horry County on Sept. 18, 1921, and graduated from Loris High School in 1939 and later from Bennettsville Business College. While in service, he attended Colorado State College A & M and the University of Florence in Italy. He joined the United States Army Air Force in 1943 and served in the European Theatre of Operations with the 15th Air Force located in Italy and was honorably discharged on Oct. 7, 1945. After returning home, he pursued a successful career as a farmer until his retirement. He was selected as Young Farmer of the Year in South Carolina in 1956.
He was a “Born Again Christian;” Deacon of Oak Dale Baptist Church; teacher of the Men’s Adult Sunday school class for 27 years; and church treasurer for 45 years. He was a member of Gideon’s International. He was also a Mason and was twice Master of the Loris Lodge #205 (1967-1972 and Chaplin 29 years); Scottish Rite Mason 32nd degree, and also a Shriner. He was a member of the VFW, DAV, American Legion, and was President of the Loris Farm Bureau for 53 years and was S.C. State Board Director for many years.
Survivors are brothers Avery D. Hardee, William Joyce Hardee and wife, Rosa, all of Loris, S.C.; and Defford D. Hardee and wife, Jayne, of Creedmoor, S.C.; sisters, Iris Sarvis of Loris, S.C., Elga Russ of Sanford, Mary Fipps of Raleigh, Doris Piver of Tabor City, Leatis Smith and Carolyn Edwards of Rock Hill, and Vela Wood of Smithfield. Children are Marion Banks McGee of West Columbia, S.C., Willard Banks and wife, Linda, of Fountain Inn, S.C., Marguerite H. Raines of Columbia, S.C., Valeria H. Soles and husband, Jerry, of Clayton, S.C., John David Hardee and wife, Debbie, of Supply; Wynona H. Soles and husband, Ashley, of Loris; and Nancy H. Fipps of Mullins, S.C.; 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening at Hardwick’s Funeral Home in Loris, S.C. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. from the Oak Dale Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Larry Nobles, Rev. Hobart Johnson, and Wilbur Fipps.
Committal service will follow in the Hardee Cemetery, Oak Dale Baptist Church with Military and full Masonic rites. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Willard Dean Banks, John David Hardee Jr., Jeremy Kenric Soles, Matthew Kyle Banks, Hunter Forest Fipps, and nephew, Brent Bernard Piver.
The family requests that those who wish make memorials to Gideon’s International, Box 93, Loris, S.C.; Regency Hospice, 11943 Grand Haven Drive, Suite A, Garden City, S.C. 29576, or to the charity of choice.
