Obituaries
Richard Payne Willis
Sep 10, 2025
Richard Payne Willis, 78 of Grantsboro passed away September 10, 2025. He was born on October 1, 1946, in Morehead City, to the late Ned and Estelle Willis.
A veteran of the United States Army, Richard served his country with honor and was proud of his service before being honorably discharged.
He is survived by his first wife and mother of his...
William Michael Gates
Sep 10, 2025
William “Bill” Michael Gates, 77, of Oriental, passed away Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at home.
Bill was a faithful member of Oriental First Baptist Church. He lived a full and active life, enjoying boating, fishing, riding motorcycles, and cooking. He had a special talent for baking bread, which he loved to share with family and friends. A graduate of the University...
Roland Johnny Ward
Sep 9, 2025
Roland Johnny Ward Jr., 76, of Oriental, NC, passed away at home on September 9, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born on November 15, 1948, in Charleston, S.C. to Roland Ward Sr. and Norine D. Ward, Johnny went to work at an early age to help his mother provide for his six younger siblings. He became the man of the house...
Debra Jo Thomas
Sep 9, 2025
Debra Jo Thomas, 67, of Lowland, passed away September 9, 2025, at Grantsbrook Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Debra was a devoted and loving mother who faced life’s challenges with strength and grace. She raised her children on her own, doing everything within her power to provide for them and surround them with love. Over the past year at Grantsbrook, she became...
Racinda Mary Snyder Whitworth
Sep 7, 2025
Racinda Mary Snyder Whitworth was born August 20, 1963 in Akron, OH to the late Geneva Jarvis McKee of WV and late James Preston Snyder of OH. She was the youngest of four children to Geneva. She is survived by her siblings, Pamela Yeager of Plainview, David Harold of Missouri, and Charlene Ross of Carlinville, as well as many nieces...
Debra "Debbie" Lynn Watson
Sep 7, 2025
Debbie Watson, 66, of Reelsboro passed away on September 7, 2025 peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
Debbie was married to her loving husband for 46 beautiful years. Their marriage was a true testament to unconditional love, commitment, and companionship. Known as Grammy to those she loved the most, Debbie cherished every moment with her family. Throughout her life she...
Vicky Scott Rogers
Sep 5, 2025
Vicky Scott Rogers, 63, of Grantsboro passed away at PAM Hospital in Rocky Mount on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Vicky was a devoted wife, sister, and friend whose life was filled with love and kindness. As long as her health allowed, she attended Silver Hill Christian Church, where her spirit of compassion and gentle heart touched those around her.
For 32 years,...
Henry "Hank" William Spieler
Sep 4, 2025
Henry William Spieler, 78, of Arapahoe, passed away on September 4, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.
Hank was a member of Bayboro Missionary Baptist Church. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from the Department of Defense as well as the Air Force, after many years of dedicated service.
Hank’s greatest joy in life was his family....
Lisa Ann Fleming Lachman
Sep 3, 2025
Lisa Ann Lachman (nee Fleming)
January 31, 1962 – September 3, 2025
Lisa was born in Fleming, Kentucky to Fred and Georgia Fleming. She was raised in Lorain, Ohio. Lisa graduated from Clearview High School and went on to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Akron. She worked for two years at Lorain Community Hospital. Lisa...
Mary Alice Spain
Sep 1, 2025
Mary Alice Spain, 93, of Palm Bay, Florida passed away Monday, September 1, 2025, at Orlando Health. She was born on August 22, 1931, in Hobucken, NC where she was also raised and lived her life with deep love for her family and her community.
A devoted and God-fearing woman, Mary dedicated her life to raising her children and serving the...
Michelle McKee Fodrey
Aug 26, 2025
Michelle McKee Fodrey, 71, of Oriental, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2025, with her daughters by her side.
Michelle was born in Selma, Alabama, November 17, 1953, the daughter of the late Herman and Winona McKee. In her early twenties, she moved to Oriental, where she fell in love with the beauty of the Neuse River and the charm of small-town...
Randy Loyd Simpson
Aug 26, 2025
Randy Loyd Simpson, 71, of Grantsboro passed away on August 26, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.
Randy attended Word Fellowship Church, where he loved the Lord and found joy in worship and fellowship. A devoted father and grandfather, nothing brought him more happiness than spending time with his children and grandchildren. His family was truly the center of his world, and...
William Harry Baker
Aug 25, 2025
William Harry Baker, 94, of Grantsboro, passed away surrounded by the love of his family. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Harry lived a life of faith, service, and music that touched countless lives.
Harry faithfully attended church his entire life and was a member of Rock of Zion Original Free Will Baptist Church for the past 35 years....
Lois "Suzy" Suzanne McCormack
Aug 22, 2025
McCormack, Suzy (Lois Suzanne), nee Benson (62) of Aurora, North Carolina, passed away on Friday August 22, 2025 at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern NC, from complications of recent health issues. Suzy was born August 28, 1962 in Roanoke VA. Suzy graduated from Christiansburg High School, Christiansburg VA in 1980 as an honor student and recognized by the National...
Phyllis Carol Brinson Banks
Aug 22, 2025
Phyllis Carol Brinson Banks, 76 of Grantsboro, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, August 22, 2025.
She was a lifelong and devoted member of Rock of Zion Original Free Will Baptist Church, where she faithfully served as a deaconess and as part of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Phyllis lived her life with steadfast faith and a...
Kathy Lynn Connell Yaeger
Aug 18, 2025
Kathy Lynn Connell Yaeger, 65, of Grantsboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on August 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Kathy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose kindness, faith, and love touched the lives of many. She was a faithful member of Rock of Zion Free Will Baptist Church, where she found joy in her...
Donald Elbert Hardison
Aug 18, 2025
Donald Elbert Hardison, 80, passed away on August 18, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Donald was born in Arapahoe, NC on July 29, 1945, to Duval and Mary Hardison. After attending Pamlico County High School, he completed the EMT training at Pamlico Tech and proudly served the people of Pamlico County with the Pamlico County Rescue Squad. Donald worked at Stanley...
Cynthia Kay Carpenter
Aug 10, 2025
Cynthia Kay Gehrke Carpenter, 71, passed away on August 10, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.
Cindy had a special fondness for Halloween, delighting friends and neighbors with her elaborate outdoor decorations each year. She shared her talents and love of performing as a past member of the Pelican Players Theater in Oriental, appearing in several of their productions. Cynthia also enjoyed...
Peggy Sawyer Armstrong
Aug 10, 2025
Peggy Sawyer Armstrong, age 66, of Grantsboro, passed away surrounded by love and family.
Born and raised in Pamlico County, Peggy was a proud Eastern North Carolina native who embraced the simple joys in life. She was the beloved wife of Johny Armstrong Jr., devoted mother to her daughter, Joy Bartle and her husband, Kenneth, and her son, the late Johny...
Cathey Carpenter Adolphson
Aug 6, 2025
Cathey Carpenter Adolphson, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center surrounded by family. She was 71.
Born on October 26, 1953, in Samson, Alabama, Cathey was a woman of boundless love. She proudly served her country in the United States Army, enlisting in 1974 and dedicating eight years of her...
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