Mark Douglas Vinson went to Heaven on November 15, 2020. Mark was born on August 9, 1948, the son of Huston and Virginia Vinson. He grew up in the Millcreek Community near Roseboro with his younger brother, Charles and younger sister, Melba. In 1965 he graduated from Roseboro Salemburg High and attended Pembroke State University, graduating in 1970. He was drafted into the United States Army, serving as a Medic in Germany until he was honorably discharged in 1972. Upon leaving the army he moved to Kenansville and began a thirty-year career as a Juvenile Court Counselor where he touched the lives of countless youth and earned the respect of law enforcement officers, judges and attorneys. Mark served on the Kenansville Town Board for twenty years. He was a mason and member of the American Legion. He was a member of Kenansville Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a long-time teacher of the Senior Adult Sunday School class.

Mark was an enthusiastic athlete and an admirer of athletic excellence. In his younger days he played football, basketball, baseball and softball and was an avid golfer for over sixty years. While other may have been more talented than he, no one was more competitive, more dedicated, or more demanding of himself. Mark loved the NC State Wolfpack, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Yankees. If there was a game on, and he was near a television, Mark probably watched it.

Mark loved beach music, shagging, and the Williams Lake of his youth. He also loved classic country music, bluegrass, and southern gospel music. He was a great storyteller and known for his jokes. For the last several years his morning Facebook post gathered vast following. He loved his God, his country, his family, his friends, his church, Kenansville, and life.

Mark is predeceased by his mother and father and the love of his life, Del Holt. He is survived by his son, Chris, his brother and sister, and countless friends and admirers. Due to COVID restrictions he cannot have the going home service he deserves. His cremains will be interred at 2:00 PM on Saturday November 21, 2020 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, 985 NC 11, Pink Hill, NC. Attendance will be limited to family and few of his many friends. Masks and social distancing will be required. The family apologizes for this limited service and hopes to have a larger memorial service when COVID restrictions are relaxed. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations in Mark's name be made to Kenansville Baptist Church P. O. Box 865, Kenansville, NC 28349 or the Kenansville Branch of the Duplin County Public Library.

Magnolia - Luther Thomas “Tommy” Kissner, III, 59, passed away November 17, 2020 following a lengthy illness. Mr. Kissner was born July 6, 1961 to Henrietta Tucker Kissner and the late Luther Thomas Kissner, Jr.

Anyone who knew Tommy can agree, he was a diehard Carolina fan. He also enjoyed riding his golf cart, even sometimes to family and friends homes for surprise visits. He loved his family and friends dearly and enjoyed time spent together. He also loved the beach.

Tommy is survived by his daughter, Trista Jones and husband, Johnny of Teachey, two step-daughters, Tracie Moore and husband, Jeffrey of Teachey and Mandy Rivenbark and husband, Dave of Wallace, two grandsons, Brady and Jackson Jones, three step grandchildren, Jeffrey, Kobe and Maverick Moore; mother, Henrietta Tucker Kissner, sister, Harriett T. Kissner of Magnolia and two special nieces Heather Cook and Hope Sessoms.

A funeral service will be held 2:00p.m., Monday November 23, 2020 at Magnolia Baptist Church. Burial will follow the service in Magnolia Cemetery. A visitation will begin at 1:00p.m. at the church.

Warsaw - George Durwood Barwick, 78, passed away Friday, November 13, 2020 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, NC.  Mr. Barwick was born July 29, 1942 in Duplin County, NC to the late Norman Barwick and Ruth Lambert Barwick.  

A memorial service will be held 2:00pm, Sunday, November 22, 2020 in Community Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw.   Visitation will begin at 1:00pm at the funeral home.

Mr. Barwick is survived by daughters, Sandra Wright and husband, Steven and Kim Russell and husband, Mike of Pennsylvania; two grandchildren, William and Brittany Krout; one great grandchild, Gabriel Sinal, brother Robert Barwick, and sister, Dorothy Killette. 

In addition to his parents, Mr. Barwick was preceded in death by brother, Norman Barwick, Jr.

Rose Drew Matthews, 82, passed away Sunday, November 15, 2020 at Cypress Pointe Rehabilitation Center in Wilmington, NC.  Mrs. Matthews was born March 14, 1938 in Duplin County, NC to the late Eddie Sloan Drew and Kathryn Byrant Drew.  

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects and sign the register book 9:00am - 5:00pm Thursday, November 19 and 9:00am - 11:00am Friday November 20 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.  A private graveside service will be held in Devotional Gardens. 

She is survived by sister, Jeanette Drew Wiggs of Clinton; niece and nephews, Rex S. Wiggs of Warsaw, Lisa Wiggs of Wilson, Allen Johnson and Gayla of Lumberton, and Jeff Johnson and wife, Dana of Hartsville, SC and six great nieces and nephews, Charissa Teachey and husband, Doug, Amber Johnson - Carter and husband, Eric, Rachel McLaurin, Austin Johnson and wife, Kelli, Jeff Johnson and wife, Kinsey, and Mac Johnson. 

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Matthews was preceded in death by husband, Benjamin “Benny” Matthews and sister, Rachel D. Johnson.

Magnolia - David Carroll Arnett, 75, died November 13, 2020 at his home.  David Arnett was born September 9, 1945 in Mount Olive, NC to Sammie Arnett and Edna Brock Arnett.  David was a Veteran of the US Army and served honorably in the Vietnam War. David was also member of Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club of Wayne County NC and was affectionately known as “Pops”.   

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm, Sunday, November 15, 2020 in the Pate Cemetery, Mount Olive NC. Visitation will be held at the cemetery beginning at 1:00pm. 

Mr. Arnett is survived by three daughters, Lisa Rodriguez and husband, Edward of Clinton, NC, Amy Carroll Easterly of Cumming, GA, Erin Arnett Jones and husband, Andy of Clayton, NC; 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren with two special arrivals on the way.  He is also survived by four brothers, Alfred Arnett and wife, Joyce of Atkinson, NC, Adrain Arnett and wife, Judy of Pink Hill, NC, Thomas Arnett and wife, Gail of Rose Hill, NC, and Lynn Arnett and wife, Karen of Martinez GA; a sister, Mavis Smith and husband, Glenn of Ingold, NC and a sister-in-law, Terry Arnett of Smithfield, NC, along with numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to relatives, he leaves behind his two best pet companions, Gracie & Buddy.
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In addition to his parents, Mr. Arnett was preceded in death by wife, Linda Arnett and brother, Marshall Arnett.

Warsaw - Mary Benson Brock, 93, of Warsaw passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. Mrs. Brock was born December 2, 1926 in Duplin County to the late Jesse Benson and Sarah Eliza Brock.

Mrs. Brock is survived by son, Victor Brock and wife, Brenda Kay of Raeford: grandchildren, David Brock, Adam Brock and Victor Brock; great grand children Cameron, David, Melia, Aubree, Victoria , Dylan and Lacy; special cousin, Leonard Anderson and wife, Adell.

A visitation will be held 1:00pm Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw. Funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Wednesday at Community Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Brock Family Cemetery.

Magnolia - John Tracy Brown, 76, of Magnolia passed away at his home on Wednesday evening, October 21, 2020.  Mr. Brown was born in Duplin County September 11, 1944 to the late Eldon Etheridge Brown and Annie Lorene Matthis Brown. Mr. Brown was a Ham Radio enthusiast and was the youngest licensed Ham Radio operator in the state. He was also a Mason. In his adult life John operated Marine Communications and Electronics which serviced industrial ships.

Mr. Brown leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Marjorie Pugh Brown of Rose Hill; daughters, Tracy B. Crawford and husband, Billy of Nashville, TN and Susan Brown and husband, Peter Liao of Chapel Hill; brother, Eldon Etheridge Brown, Jr. and wife, Dorothy of Beulaville; sister, Margaret Ann Rivenbark and husband, George of Wallace; grandchildren, Will, John and Ben Crawford and Jack and Sara Liao.

Services are pending and will be posted as soon as finalized.​

​​Ava Raye Pate Boone, 81, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Parish Family Care Home of Warsaw.  Mrs. Boone was born November 17, 1938 in Duplin County, NC to the late Major Franklin Pate and Mary Summerlin Pate.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 21, at Warsaw Free Will Holiness Church, with burial to follow in Pate Cemetery.  Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Mrs. Boone is survived by two daughters, Anita Johnson and husband, David of Rose Hill, Betty Sanderson and husband, Andy of Warsaw; four grandchildren, Cynthia Blackmore (JD), Amanda Burch (Alex), Tracey Johnson (Anthony) and Harley Loomis (AJ); four great grandchildren, Ryker Burch, Case Loomis, John Edward “JEB” Blackmore and Landon Kennedy; three step daughters; six step grandchildren; seven step great grandchildren; sister, Janie Tarry (Dave) of Turkey; Robert Pate (Annelle) of Smithfield and several nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by special daughter, Jennie Wallace of Clinton and special grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jennifer Daw, Joseph Daw (Brandy), James Young, Jaden Turlington, and Avaona Turlington.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Boone was preceded in death by husband, Raymond Boone, several brothers and sister, step grandson, Dallas Foss, and mother-in-law and best friend, Rachel Boone.