Obituaries

Desiree Cromartie

Desiree Cromartie

Jan 4, 2025

Mrs. Desiree Shawnee Royal Cromartie, 50, of 2385 Holland Town Road, Salemburg, NC, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 04, 2025, at UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. 

Desiree was born on August 29, 1974, in Sampson County to James & Hilda Royal.

The public will be received on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 1:00-6:00 PM,...

Gary Winston Padgett

Gary Winston Padgett

Dec 30, 2024

Mr. Gary Winston Padgett, 61, of 509 Birmingham Ave, Carolina Beach, NC, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024, at his residence.

Gary was born on March 08, 1963, in Baltimore County, MD, to the late Winston & Elzola Padgett. Gary’s greatest loves were: his wife, family, friends, Orioles Baseball, Ravens Football, fishing, and all things country music. Gary enjoyed working...

June H. Stafford

June H. Stafford

Dec 29, 2024

June H. Stafford, 75, of Wilmington, passed away on December 29, 2024. 

A Private Family Service will be held at a later date.

Mary Joyce (McKoy) Smith

Mary Joyce (McKoy) Smith

Dec 26, 2024

Mrs. Mary Joyce McKoy Smith, 62, of 67 Grant Ave., Garland, NC, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC.

Mary was born on April 13, 1962, in Sampson County, to the late Harry & Mary Jane McKoy.

A Funeral will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 04, 2025, at Miller’s Chapel AME Zion...

Regina Marcella (Murphy) Henry

Regina Marcella (Murphy) Henry

Dec 22, 2024

Ms. Regina Marcella Murphy Henry, 61, of 4500 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia, SC, formerly of Garland, NC, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital in Columbia, SC. 

Regina was born on November 05, 1963, to Myrtise Cheek Murphy & the late, Alexander Murphy Sr. 

A funeral will be held at 11:00 AM,...

Sidney Erwin Murphy

Sidney Erwin Murphy

Dec 22, 2024

Sidney “Erwin” Murphy, affectionately known as Erwin, was the eldest child of Norman and Lizzie Murphy, born on July 6, 1968. On Sunday, December 22, 2024, Erwin transitioned peacefully from this life.

Erwin was a remarkable individual with special needs who found joy in the simplest pleasures of life. His love for watching cartoons and flipping through magazines brought him endless...

Bonnie Sue Phinney

Bonnie Sue Phinney

Dec 20, 2024

Mrs. Bonnie Sue Smith Phinney, 78, of 804 Country Club Road, Salemburg, NC, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024, at her residence.

Bonnie was born on June 07, 1946, in Oakland County, MI, to the late Melvin & Margaret Smith. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband: Robert Phinney, and her in-laws: Harvey...

Howard Glenn Smith

Howard Glenn Smith

Dec 17, 2024

Mr. Howard Glenn Smith, 79, of 1770 Old Fayetteville Road, Garland, NC, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at his residence.

Howard was born on August 04, 1945, in Bladen County, North Carolina. Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his mother, Pauline Smith Spell, step-father, Cleveland Gibson Spell, grandfather, Amos Octavius Smith Sr., grandmother, Eva Eunice Johnson Smith, and...

Johnnie Ray Pollard

Johnnie Ray Pollard

Dec 17, 2024

Johnnie Ray Pollard peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC.

Johnnie was born on October 02, 1946, in Harrells, NC, to the late John and Catherine Cooper Pollard. He attended school in Sampson County, served in the US Army, and joined the Philadelphia Police Department, from which he retired. Johnnie...

Sarah M. Knotts

Sarah M. Knotts

Dec 3, 2024

Heaven gained an angel today, Mrs. Sarah McCullough Knotts, 78, of 48 Amethyst Circle, White Lake, NC, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. 

Sarah was born on October 13, 1946, in Kanawha County, WV, to the late James McCullough and his wife, Margaret Clark McCullough. 

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 14,...

Jeffery "Jeff" Franklin Sellars

Jeffery "Jeff" Franklin Sellars

Nov 21, 2024

Mr. Jeffery “Jeff” Franklin Sellars, 79, of 1565 Tomahawk Hwy., Harrells, NC, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill. 

Mr. Sellars was born February 03, 1945, in Sampson County, the son of the late Joel Ivory Sellars and Lillie Mae Fennell Sellars. In addition to his parents, Jeff is preceded in death by his...

Victor Eugene Pate Sr.

Victor Eugene Pate Sr.

Nov 14, 2024

Mr. Victor Eugene Pate Sr., of 100 W. White Oak St., Lake Waccamaw, NC, formerly of Kerr Station, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC.

Mr. Pate was born, October 31, 1941, in the Bladen Co. (Lake Creek Community) the son of the late Edward H. Pate and Myrtle Meshaw Pate. He was...

Dwight Hayes

Dwight Hayes

Nov 12, 2024

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Dwight Hayes, beloved father, brother, and friend, peacefully departed this life. He was born on November 6, 1956, to Willie and Beulah Hayes in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dwight was one of five children in the Hayes family and was the second eldest of a set of triplets. He also had two half-sisters, Dionne Carol...

Jewel Frances Wells

Jewel Frances Wells

Nov 7, 2024

Jewel Frances Mitchell Wells, of Clinton, NC formerly of the Ingold community, passed on Thursday, November 07, 2024.  She had 95 wonderful years of loving her Lord, her family, and her friends and especially her husband Ernest Allen Wells.

A service will be held at a later date.

Evita M. Turner

Evita M. Turner

Nov 7, 2024

Mrs. Evita Mae Alford Turner, 75, of 1435 Tomahawk Hwy., Harrells, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at UNC Lenoir Medical Center in Kinston, NC.

Evita was born on May 20, 1949, in Sampson County to the late: James Bishop Alford and his wife Mary Jane Gainey Alford. In addition to her parents, Evita is preceded in death by her...

George Clifford Smith

George Clifford Smith

Nov 7, 2024

Mr. George Clifford Smith, 80, of 8804 Old Fayetteville Road, Garland, NC, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at his residence.

George was born on November 22, 1943, in Bladen County, to the late George Washington Smith and his wife, Ester Melvin Smith. In addition to his parents, George is preceded in death by siblings: James “Jimmie” Smith, and Loretta...

Dr. Robert L. McLymore Sr.

Dr. Robert L. McLymore Sr.

Nov 2, 2024

Dr. Robert L. McLymore Sr., 70, of Fayetteville, passed away on Saturday, November 02, 2024, at Hock Family Pavilion Facility in Durham, NC.

Robert was born March 19, 1954, in Sampson County, to: Fletcher McLymore and his late wife, Rosie Owens McLymore. In addition to his mother, Robert is preceded in death by one sister: Candace McLymore Carr, and two brothers:...

Dorothy Staton

Dorothy Staton

Nov 1, 2024

Mrs. Dorothy Horne Staton, 87, of 316 N. Church Ave., Garland, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024, at her residence.

Dorothy was born on March 02, 1937, in Sampson County to the late James H. Horne and his wife Rebecca Marshall Horne. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband: David Staton, brother: Charles Horne,...

Shannon "Lil Bit" Marie Adams

Shannon "Lil Bit" Marie Adams

Oct 26, 2024

Ms. Shannon “Lil Bit” Marie Smith Adams, 43, of Shamrock Square Apartments, Garland, NC, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Novant Health in Wilmington, NC.

Shannon was born on November 22, 1980, in Sampson County to the late James B. Smith and his wife, Wanda Gail Carter Smith. In addition to her parents, Shannon is preceded in death by...

Cary Gillis Bruton

Cary Gillis Bruton

Oct 19, 2024

Mr. Cary Gillis Bruton, 89, of Hampstead, NC, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC.

Cary was born on December 07, 1934, in Pender County to the late George Allen and Zula Bruton. In addition to his parents, Cary is preceded in death by his son: Gerald Bruton, two siblings: George Allen...

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