"​Warsaw - Mildred Estelle Benson Gurley, 91, passed away May 14, 2021 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC. Mrs. Gurley was born May 2, 1930 to the late Willie Roberts and Minnie Holland Brock Benson. She was the widow of the late Lester Earl Gurley.

Visitation will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, May 16 at First Original Free Will Baptist Church, 816 N. Pine Street, Warsaw, NC. A funeral service will begin at 3:00 pm in the church sanctuary and burial will conclude to service in Pinecrest Cemetery.

Mrs. Mildred is survived by son, Lester "Les" Earl Gurley and wife, Tammy of Warsaw; daughter, Beverly G. Whaley of Warsaw; six grandchildren, Christina G. Gonzalas and husband, Brandon, Corey Gurley and wife, Michaela, Jacob Whaley, Philip Whaley, Rebekah Brock and husband, David and Leah Whaley; two step grandchildren, Mike Jones and Jerrica and Holly Mullins and husband, Will; four great grandchildren, Juniper Brock, Len Brock, James Brock and Audrey Gurley; and six step great-grandchildren, Legend Jones, Kinsley Jones, Emmy Jones, Talon Jones, Logan Sharek and Brayden Sharek.

Marion Leo Cavenaugh, 89, of Magnolia passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC. Leo was born May 27, 1931 in Pender County to the late Carroll Isaiah Cavenaugh and Eva Albertson Cavenaugh.

Surviving is his wife of 68 years, Wanda Strickland Cavenaugh of the home; son, Carroll Leo Cavenaugh of Magnolia; daughter, Marion Jeanine Cavenaugh of Magnolia; a special niece Phyllis Carter of Wake Forest and his feline companions cece (aka Fat Cat) and Magnum (aka Tom).

Leo proudly served his country in the Army during the Korean War.

After leaving the Army, Leo began working at J P Stevens Textiles in Wallace, NC. He continued his employment for 39 years when he suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire.

His biggest hobby was working on lawn mowers. He was known as the "Lawn Mower Man" and had the reputation that "if he couldn't fix it, then it just couldn't be fixed." This hobby continued until a surgery forced him to stop at the age of 84.

Everyday of the week Leo and his wife could be seen eating lunch at BoJangle's of Warsaw. They had their own special table and the employee's always knew Mr. Leo's order.

Leo's favorite passtime was sitting on the front porch in his favorite rocking chair throwing his hand up at every passing car.

In 1994 Leo was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma which resulted in his face becoming severely disfigured. He was a very strong and brave man because he never acted like his condition bothered him and he never complained. He always looked forward to Duplin County's Relay For Life event each year where he would proudly walk the survivor's lap. He also enjoyed the Survivor's Banquet where he was known as the "Rainbow Man" because he wanted each finger painted a different color for his handprint on the Survivor's Banner. After a 27 year battle, cancer finally won.

A graveside service will be held 2:00 pm, Friday, May 14, 2021 in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.

Rose Hill-Shirley Grey Brown Wilson, 83, of Rose Hill passed away at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville on Friday, April 30, 2021.  Mrs. Wilson was born July 4, 1937 in Cumberland County to the late Craven Brown and Thelma McKee Brown. Mrs. Brown was known for her beautiful ruffled curtains and life like porcelain dolls.

A visitation will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at the Rose Hill PFWB Church. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am after visitation.  Burial will follow in the Devotional Gardens.

Mrs. Wilson is survived by sons, Ronald Wilson of Rose Hill, Kevin Wilson of Pinetops, and Keel Byron Wilson of Chinquapin; grandchildren,  Kristopher Wilson, Josh English, and Blake Wilson; great grandchildren, Hayley English and Brook Wilson; sisters, Rebecca Denis and Nancy Gloege both of Savannah, GA.

​In addition to her parents Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by her husband, Bizzell Wilson; brothers, Jimmy, DeWayne and Billy Brown; sisters, Joy Dafrone and Jackie Cashwell.

Mary Jewel Beasley, 70, of Kinston passed away April 22, 2021 at UNC-Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston. Ms. Beasley was born December 24, 1950 in Sampson County to the late Eugene Wells Beasley, Sr. and Ruby Roberts Beasley Holland.

Miss Beasley is survived by nieces and nephews, Brook Taylor of North Myrtle Beach, Matthew "Kent" Taylor of Longs, SC, Robert Eugene "Bob" Taylor of Calabash, NC and Brandy Beasley Hodges of Clinton, NC.

In addition to her parents, Miss Beasley was preceded in death by brother, Eugene Wells Beasley, Jr.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 pm Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at the Devotional Gardens or Warsaw.

​Peggy Ann Garner Powell, 74, passed away early Tuesday morning April 20, 2021 at her home.  Mrs. Powell was born November 2, 1946 in Roanoke, VA to the late George E. and Helen Marie Hudson Garner.   

A visitation will be held 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 23, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, Inc.  A funeral service will begin at 2:30 p.m., in the funeral home chapel with entombment to follow the service in Devotional Gardens Mausoleum. 

Peggy is survived by husband, Jerry Powell of the home; son, Jerry Powell, Jr. and wife, Johnnie Anne of Turkey; daughters, Heather Braswell and husband, David of Turkey and Anglia Taylor and husband, Frankie of Mount Olive; seven grandchildren, Ethan Taylor, Christopher Braswell and wife, Marbella, Jasmin Powell, Georgia Taylor, Parker Taylor, Jeremy Powell, Hannah Braswell; and two great grandchildren, Caleb Braswell and Amelia Braswell.  She is also survived by brother, Robert Garner and wife, Diane of Faison and sisters, Elizabeth G. Parker and husband, Gene of Rose Hill, Dorothy G. Lane and husband, Royce and Mary G. Page and husband, Ralph; and sister-in-law Denise Garner.

In addition to her parents, Peggy was preceded in death by grandson, Jackson Braswell; brother, George Garner; and sister, Betty G. Sutton and husband, Hood.

​Phillip Andrew Baysden, 44, passed away April 11, 2021. Mr. Baysden was born December 5, 1976 in Duplin County, NC to James Everett Baysden and Betsy Whaley Bloom.

A funeral service will be held 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Community Funeral Home in Rose Hill, visitation will follow the service. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 16, 2021 in Duplin Memorial Gardens, Teachey, NC.


Mr. Baysden is survived by longtime girlfriend, Betty Brown; sons, Cameron Baysden of Wallace, Logan Baysden of Clinton; daughters, Asha Lynn Baysden of Rose Hill, Laura Ann Baysden, Megan Nicole Baysden both of Tennessee, Sarah Brown and Kelly Brown both of Wallace; granddaughter, Danielle Baysden; parents, James Everett Baysden and wife Jane of Currie and Betsy Whaley Bloom of Wilmington; brother, James Everett Baysden, Jr. and wife, Melissa; sisters, Wanda Carol Batt and husband, Michael of Hampton Road, VA and Melissa Sue Baysden of Wallace.

Mr. Baysden was preceded in death by son, Walker Baysden.

Ernest Taylor "Ernie" Knowles II, 56, of Warsaw passed away suddenly Saturday, April 3, 2021 at his home.  Ernie was born November 13, 1964 in Cumberland County to Ernest Taylor Knowles and the late Marjorie Westbrook Knowles.

Ernie loved to fish and was a great "Mr. Fixit", he fixed everything.  He loved to talk and never met a stranger, but he felt his greatest accomplishment was being a "Pa".

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.  A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw with burial to follow in Pinecrest Cemetery.

Ernie is survived by wife, Barbara T. Knowles of Warsaw; son, Eric Taylor Knowles and fiancee' Brittany Arnold of Raleigh; daughter, Ashley Nicole Knowles and Dwight Vernon, Jr. of White Oak; father, Ernest Taylor Knowles of Warsaw; sister, Kimberly Vernon and husband, Terry of Warsaw; grandson, Dwight Wade Vernon III and Baby Vernon on the way; special daughter and granddaughter, Krystal and Alyssa Smith of Fayetteville; and many other extended family and friends.

Jimmy Allen "Dick" Kennedy, 73, of Teachey passed away suddenly Thursday, April 1, 2021 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Mr. Kennedy was born January 30, 1948 in Duplin County to the late Earl Kennedy and Winnie Holmes Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy was a Vietnam Veteran and a Purple Heart recipient. He had a great love for his family and friends.  He was also an avid card player. 

A graveside  service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, April 4, 2021 at Golden Grove Cemetery in Kenansville

Mr. Kennedy is survived by wife, Jane R. Kennedy of Teachey; daughters, Tammy K. Thornton and husband, Clint of Teachey and  Lisa Blanton and husband, Barry of Willard; brother, Billy Kennedy of Warsaw; sisters, Edna Earl Rivenbark of Warsaw, Gail K. Rivenbark of Warsaw,   Sue Jones and husband, Bruce of Albertson, Betsy K. Jones and husband, Dennis of Albertson, Kathy Rivenbark and husband, Tony of Warsaw and Debbie Strickland and husband, Bill of Warsaw; grandchildren, Lucas K. Thornton and Matthew C. Thornton.