Obituaries

Jan 23, 2017

On the morning of January 23, 2017, Sinia Faye Dowless, 81, of Bladenboro passed with peace and grace in her home. She is preceded in death by her parents: Kendall and Hester Owens and five brothers: Ralph, Buford, Bethel, Donald, and Sam. Left to cherish her memory is her husband Leon Dowless of the home; two daughters: Linda Evers...

Jan 21, 2017

Gene Arnold Hall, 75, of Elizabethtown, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Eveleene Hall.

Gene is survived by two sons: James and Brian Hall, both of Florida; daughter: Dianna Zeh of Washington; two sisters: Joyce Thomas and Mary Castle, both of the home; two nephews: Albert and...

Jan 19, 2017

Mary Allen Smith, 86, of Elizabethtown, widow of Robert Dexter Smith Jr. died on 19 January 2017 at Beacon Place Hospice Facility in Greensboro. Mary was born 16 October 1930 in Columbus County to Jacob Allen Johnson and his wife Inez Roberts Johnson both of whom precede her in death. She is also preceded in death by brothers, David...

Jan 17, 2017

Pamela Jean Lewis Britt, 54, of Elizabethtown passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2017. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband Mitchell Britt of the home, parents Darrell and Barbara Lewis of Cedar Falls, IA; son Michael Britt and wife Christy of Durham, daughter Victoria Jean Britt of the home and one sister Cheryl Dent of Phoenix, AZ.

Jan 15, 2017

Selma Elis Seraphim, 94, of Elizabethtown, entered into eternal rest Sunday, January 15, 2017. Selma came to this country September 2, 1969. She was preceded in death by her parents: Elias and Saydee Saroufin; her sisters were Mary Baddour, Wardy Saroufin and Adma-Mary; her brothers: Abraham Saroufin, Eli Saroufin, Saroufin Saroufin; brother-in-law, S.B. Baddour; sister-in-law: Nellie Farrah and nephew...

Jan 13, 2017

Marjorie Riddle Garner, 89, of Dublin passed away Friday, January 13, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents: Timon Nicholas and Beulah Pattishall Riddle; husband: Dallas Elwood Garner; three brothers and two sisters.

She is survived by son: Woody Garner of Dublin; two daughters: Eve Garner Rogers and husband Charles of Dublin, Marjorie Marie Garner...

Jan 13, 2017

Carl Stewart McCulloch, 92, of Elizabethtown died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, January 13, 2017. Carl was born in Bladen County on March 4, 1924, the son of David Calvin McCulloch and Mary Elizabeth Dunham McCulloch. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mildred Priest McCulloch, his brothers David Alexander McCulloch...

Jan 9, 2017

John Floyd Raynor, 89, of Elizabethtown passed away Monday, January 9, 2017 to join his beloved Jewel Parker Raynor, who passed away in 1993. He was an inspiration and role model to his family, friends and the boys he led as director of Royal Rangers for more than 25 years. He was a devoted member of Dublin Pentecostal Freewill...

Jan 7, 2017

Ethelyne (Elaine) Tyler Smith Dickens, 82, of Elizabethtown passed away Saturday, January 7, 2017. She is preceded in death by husbands Laverne Smith and Robert Dickens, son: Harrell Laverne Smith Jr., sister Dorothy Dent, brothers Buddy Tyler and L.C Tyler, great grandson Kyle Ray Joyner and step-son Johnny Dickens. Elaine is survived by one son Timmy Smith (Kim) of...

Jan 4, 2017

Allen Barker Davis, 76, of Elizabethtown passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He is preceded in death by his wife Melba Bryan Davis and brother Hurbert Davis. Survived by his wife Judy B. Davis of the home, son Allen Dale Davis and wife Twyla of Bladenboro; daughter Freda Hales and husband Phillip of...

Jan 4, 2017

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC - Lisley Yandle Allen, 90, passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Bladen County Hospital with her children by her side. She is predeceased by her parents R. C. Yandle and Frances McKeithan Yandle; her husband, Charles Davis Allen, Sr; and daughter-in-law, Rosemary Bostic Allen.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Charles Davis...

Jan 3, 2017

Bruce Edward Smith,73, Airforce veteran of Bladenboro passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2017. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Tucker and husband Stephen of MA.; his son, John Smith and wife Carla of NH. Six grandchildren, Olivia and Owen; Hannah, Christofer, Hailee, and Matthew.

Jan 2, 2017

Mr. Bobby Joe Bryan, Sr., 76, of White Oak passed away in Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Wilmington on Monday, January 2, 2017. He was a lifelong resident of White Oak and was employed with the Bladen County school bus garage for 31 years, of the last 13 of those years he served as director. Mr. Bryan had served...

Dec 30, 2016

Teresa Russ Thomas, 53, of White Lake passed away Friday, December 30, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents: Matthew and Inez Russ Jr.

Teresa is survived by son: J.T. Thomas of Wilmington, daughter: Tera Thomas of White Lake; brother: Tony Russ of White Lake; sister: Sheila Atkins (Bruce) of Lisbon and granddaughter: Mattie Richardson....

Dec 27, 2016

William Edward Hester Jr., 71, veteran of Lumberton passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2016. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Gertie Hester, brother Ronnie Hester, and granddaughter Trinity. Survivors include his wife Linda Baker Hester of the home, children: William Edward Hester III and wife April of NC; Valissa Anne Hester Lowery and husband Adrian;...

Dec 22, 2016

Margie Tatum Evans, age 86 of White Oak, died Thursday, December 22, 2016 at home. She is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Aleen Tatum; brothers-in-law, Roscoe Sessoms, Robert Dunn and Howard Chason.

She is survived by her sons, Tony Evans (Carla) and Richard "Ricky" Evans (Jan); sisters, Lib Sessoms, Ann Dunn, Shirley Chason, and...

Dec 21, 2016

Dorothy Rosa Houghtaling Bostic, 96, widow of Henry Hawes Bostic, died December 21, 2016 at the Elizabethtown Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Elizabethtown. The daughter of the late Herbert Blake and the late Dinah Baskett Houghtaling of Henderson, NC, she had made her home in Elizabethtown since the end of World War II. A service to celebrate the life...

Dec 21, 2016

Arbuties Freeman, age 77 of Bladenboro, died Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Lumberton Rehabilitation Center. She is survived by a sister, Christine Freeman; nephews, Bud, Buster and Danny Freeman.

The family will receive friends at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2016. Her service will be held at 2:00 p.m....

Dec 20, 2016

Elliott Douglas Willoughby, 84, Army Veteran of Bladenboro passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2016. He is preceded in death by his wife Josie Kinlaw Willoughby, granddaughter Renee Smith Priest, infant son James Roger Willoughby, parents Paul and Lucy Willoughby, brothers: Paul "Pug" Willoughby Jr., W.C. Willoughby, Jimmy Willoughby and sisters: Emma W. Stanley, Carol W. Blackman, and Berlyne W....

Dec 20, 2016

Kayla Gray Mote, 20, of Elizabethtown passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2016. She is preceded in death by her father Buddy Mote and brother Clint Mote. Kayla is survived by her mother Janet Mote of the home. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm on Monday, December 26, 2016 at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown followed by...