Joseph Ray Johnson, 68, of Kenansville, NC passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2021. He was born on October 9,1952 in Durham, NC.

After graduating from James Kenan High School in Warsaw, NC, Ray began his career as a sales representative for Southeastern Electronics. Years later he had the opportunity to go into partnership with Page Audio/Video/Appliances in Warsaw. It continued to be a successful family business serving the community since 1945.
Ray remained an active supporter of the James Kenan High School football program throughout his life. In addition, he was a devoted NC State Wolfpack fan and member of the Wolfpack Club for 39 years.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Strickland Johnson; mother, Dorothy Bowden Johnson; mother-in-law, Doris Oldham Strickland; sister-in-law, Della Strickland Jones and family; a special aunt, Ann English; cousins, David (Sue) Clark, Sarah (Eddie) Pope, Charlotte (Ken) Bexley, David English and their families.

​A funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Warsaw United Methodist Church with Pastor Vito Bisogno officiating. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends in the Fireside Room located at the church from 1:00 pm until the service hour. Viewing will be held at Community Funeral Home in Warsaw, NC on Friday, September 24, 2021 from 12 pm until 5:00 pm.

Donations may be made in Ray’s memory to Duplin County Animal Services, 117 Middleton Cemetery Lane, PO Box 950, Kenansville NC 28349-0950.

Warsaw - Sara Kirby Sutton, 82,  passed away Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Wayne UNC Hospital in Goldsboro, NC.   Mrs. Sutton was born December 27, 1938 in Wayne County, NC to the late Major Jesse and Mary Denning Kirby.

A funeral service will be held 11:30pm, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Warsaw Baptist Church.  Visitation will be held 10-11:30am at Warsaw Baptist Church in Powell Hall.  Burial will conclude the service in Devotional Gardens.

Mrs. Sutton is survived by son, David Sutton and Amela of Wallace; daughter, Dwala Cappo and husband, Duane  of Raleigh;  Grandchildren, Tyler Sutton, Brayden Sutton, Avery Johnson, Nicholas Cappo, Rachel Cappo, and Brianna Cappo; brother, J. Ray Kirby and Martha of Durham; sister, Marie Quinn of Warsaw; sister-in-law, Libby Frederick and husband, Charles.

​In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Marvin A. Sutton and brother, Dwight Kirby.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to the Baptist Children's Home of NC, P. O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361.
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Eleanor "Grace" Grady Malone, 75 of Magnolia passed away September 16, 2021 at Wayne UNC Hospital in Goldsboro.  Mrs. Malone was born June 26, 1946 in Duplin County to the late Clarence Grady and Effie Murphy Grady.
A funeral service will be held 3:00pm Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Community Funeral Home Chapel of Warsaw.  Burial will follow in the Devotional Gardens of Warsaw.  A visitation will be held from 6:00pm to 8:00pm Monday, September 20, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.
Mrs. Malone is survived by sons, Tommy Malone and wife, Benji of Teachey, Daryle Scott Malone of Magnolia and Michael Paul Malone of Wallace; daughter, Ginger Hall and husband, Lee Roy of Magnolia;  daughter in law Rhonda Malone; grandchildren, Dean Chestnutt, Amy Hall Quinn, Amanda Bradshaw, Alyssa M. DeLuca, Ashley M. Blanton and Jo Dee Malone; great grandchildren, Elle Chestnutt, Weston Chestnutt, Emily Quinn, Ethan Quinn, Brooklynne Godbold, Brianna Godbold, Sebastian Quinn, Scarlett DeLuca, Syris DeLuca, Nicholas Blanton and Addison Blanton.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Malone was preceded in death by husband, Clarence Thomas Malone; son, Joe Douglas Malone; brother, Joe Grady; sisters, Margaret Washington, Mildred Whaley, Mattie Pearl Chambers and Annie Lou Lockerman. 

John Ira Fussell,  53, of Warsaw, passed away suddenly Wednesday.  John was born in Duplin County December 10, 1967 to Thomas Ray Fussell and Catherine Miller Fussell.

​John is survived by parents Thomas Ray and Catherine Fussell of Rose Hill; sons John Scott Fussell and Nicholas Fussell both of Warsaw; a special friend and companion, Jennifer Cerny and her son, Josh Cerny of Warsaw; special mother, Ann Outlaw; brother Timothy Fussell of FL; and grandson, Michael Abraham Fussell.  

John was preceded in death by grandson,  Gabriel Levi Fussell.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Devotional Gardens of Warsaw.

Rose Hill - Ervin Ishmael Johnson, 93 passed away September 8, 2021 at his home with his loving family by his side.

​Ervin was born August 30, 1928 in Duplin County; the son of the late Walter J. and Lulu Register Johnson and preceded in death by his eight older brothers and sisters, Ivey, Betty Lou Jones, Sally Gavin, Walter (Jay), Evelyne Johnson, Ollie Rackley, Nora Parker and Josephine Kennedy.  

Surviving to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Nancy Jones Johnson, also known as his “baby doll”, his children, Diane Johnson Wilson and husband Clifton, Ricky Johnson and wife Donna, Donald Johnson and Lois Thornburg, Patty Johnson Holloway and husband Brad and Andrea Jones Murzyn; eight grandchildren, Liza Wilson Helling and husband Ian, Sarah Wilson, Matthew Wilson and wife Mandy, Ashely Johnson, Lindsey Holloway, Aaron Johnson, Joseph Holloway and Ava Johnson, and two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Benjamin Wilson; his favorite nephew Scott Spencer, along with many other loving nieces, nephews and relatives, and his special family/neighbor Fernando, Veronica “Maria”, Angelica and little Fernando Juarez.

Ervin was a self-employed painting contractor and proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War.  He loved the beach and Johnny Cash and was a member of the Rose Hill Baptist Church. Ervin was kind and loving and cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren.  On November 3, 2020 Ervin and Nancy celebrated 70 years of marriage.

A special thank you to all the people at 3HC and HBPC for their loving care and support during his final days. Also, the family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude towards his caregivers, Arlethea and Michelle.

The family will have a private graveside service, due to COVID-19, to be held September 18, 2021 at the Rockfish Cemetery, Wallace, NC.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534 or the Rose Hill Baptist Church, 401 E Main St, Rose Hill, NC 28458.

Barbara Smith Hill, 77, of Warsaw, passed away Friday, September 10, 2021 at Vidant Duplin Hospital.  Mrs. Hill was born May 2, 1944 in Lenior County to the late William McKoy Smith and Tessie Smith.
 
A funeral service will be held at 10:00am Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the  Warsaw Baptist Church.  Entombment will follow at Devotional Gardens.
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Mrs. Hill is survived by son, Phil Hill and wife, Michele of Warsaw; daughters, Karen Barbee and husband, Dean of Albermarle and Jackie Brickhouse and husband, Thomas of Mt. Olive; grandchildren, Courtney Vial and husband, Robert, Brad Hill and wife, Jo, Jessica Dunn and husband, Nick, Kelsie Hartley and husband, Adam, and Copeland Brickhouse; five great grandchildren; sisters, Linda Lou Heath of Albertson and Tennelia Westbrook of Hampstead; sister in law, Linda Sue Smith.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hill was preceded in death by husband, Hubert Phillip "Jack" Hill, grandson, Hunter Brickhouse; and brother, Gregory Smith.  

​Faison - Sharon Lynn Blackburn Parish, 55, passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton, NC.  Sharon was born July 28, 1966 in Duplin County, NC to the late Gerald Glenn Blackburn and Barbara Jean Kissner Blackburn.


The rose of Sharon was a beautiful flower that bloomed with the brightness of God.  She was a true servant who loved serving others and providing care for those who were unable to care for themselves.
Most of all, she was an Angel sent from heaven to be my wife, praise God, and a great mother to her children.
Her love will remain in our hearts for all time. We'll miss you everyday but we'll see you soon in heaven.
Funeral services will be held 2:00pm Friday at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw with burial to follow at Devotional Gardens.  All visitation will be at the cemetery.

Sharon is survived by husband, Daniel K. Parish of Faison; son Adam Parish and wife, Mary of Goldsboro; daughter, Jessica Parish McLamb and Devin of Rosboro; brothers, Gerald Glenn Blackburn, Jr. and wife, Linda of Topsail Beach and Danny Carroll Blackburn and wife, LeAnn of Faison; grandchildren, Brantley Carawan and  Eli Parish; niece, Ashley Blackburn of Clayton.

Paul Alan Rackley, 54, of Warsaw passed away August 25, 2021 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro.  Mr. Rackley was born in Cook County, Illinois, December 12, 1966 to the late James Ransom Rackley and Dorothy Elizabeth Brock Rackley.
Mr. Rackley is survived by brother, Joseph Rackley and wife, Reitha of Warsaw, sisters, Janette Silva of Warsaw and Debra (Tina) Baines and husband, Randy of Faison; nieces and nephews, Rachel Rackley, Elizabeth Rackley, Jasmine Baines and Logan Baines.
As per his request no services are planned. 

​Hubert Philip "Jack" Hill, 79, passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021 in UNC Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, NC.  Mr. Hill was born November 27, 1941 in Duplin County, NC to the late John D. and Elvia Waters Hill. 

A funeral service will be held 5:00 p.m., Monday, August 30, 2021 at Warsaw Baptist Church, with visitation to follow the service.  An entombment service will be held 10:00 a. m.,  Tuesday, August 31, 2021 in Devotional Gardens Mausoleum Chapel.  

Mr. Hill is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Smith Hill of the home; son, Phil Hill and wife, Michele of Warsaw; two daughters, Karen Barbee and husband, Dean of Albemarle and Jackie Brickhouse and husband, Thomas of Mount Olive; six grandchildren, Courtney Vial and husband, Robert; Brad Hill and wife, Jo, Jessica Dunn and husband, Nick, Kelsie Hatley and husband, Adam, Copeland Brickhouse; five great grandchildren.  He is also survived by three brothers, Rommie Hill and wife, Edith, John Hill and wife, Betsy, Herman Hill and wife, Kathy all of Mount Olive.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Hill was preceded in death by an infant sister, and grandson, Hunter Brickhouse.