​Rose Hill-Elbert Johnson Wells of Rose Hill passed away Friday, January 28, 2022 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.  Mr. Wells was born in Duplin County August 12, 1959 to the late Eugene C. Wells, Sr. and Electra Johnson Wells.
Mr. Wells grew up in Rose Hill where he was a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 where he earned his Eagle Scout.  He later became Scout Leader of Troop 50 in Kenansville.  He worked for Boy Scouts of America Tuscarora Council.  Elbert served his Country in the Marine Corp for 20 years.  After retiring from the Marines he became an over the road truck driver, working many years for D. T. Grantham.  Elbert was a Godly man serving as a member of Faith Independent Baptist Church where he considered Rev. Ray Kennedy as one of his closest friends.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p. m. Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Hwy 41, Wallace.
Mr. Wells leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Lisa N. Wells of the home; son, Samuel Wells of Idaho; daughter Lillian W. Rock and husband, Bradley of Idaho; step children, Mike Hale and wife, Annelisa of Bristol, TN, Aubrey Wagner of Damascus, VA, Charlene Gobble and husband, Jeffrey of Abingdon, VA;  grandchildren, Livionna Wells, Arthas Rock and Kaylee Rock and eight step grandchildren and one step great grandchild; brothers, E. C. Wells and wife, Faye, Dekalb Wells and wife, Benita, Lloyd Wells and wife, Tracy all of Rose Hill; sister Stella Rouse and husband, Hugh of Rose Hill.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Wells was preceded in death by brother, Lucian Wells and sister, Mary Elizabeth Wells.

Lillian Allen Lee Gurley, 93, died January 19, 2022 at her home. Mrs. Gurley was born January 14, 1929 in Johnston County, NC to the late Chester Allen and Eva Florence Adams Allen.

A funeral service will be held 7:00p.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2022 in Community Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw, NC, with visitation to follow the service. A graveside service will be held 2:00p.m., Wednesday, January 26, 2022 in the Lee Family Cemetery, 2387 Thompson Rd, Four Oaks, NC.
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Mrs. Lillian is survived by sons, Vance Lee and wife, Jean of Warsaw, Gerald Lee and Rickey Lee both of the home, and Charlie Lee and wife, Tonu of Warsaw; daughters, Lois Straughn of Warsaw and Eva Cook and husband, Jeff of Warsaw; grandchildren, Vincent Lee, Ashley Sauls and husband, Jacob, Joe Kornegay and wife, Tina, Greg Lee and wife, Amanda, Gerald Lee, Jr. and wife, Edna, Brandy Lee, Lesia McKenzie and husband, Brian, Robin Harris and husband, Vincent, Bobby Straughn and wife, Jessica, Jessica Sawyer, Grant Lee and wife, Sarah, Graylie Carroll and husband, Justin, Gretta Lee, Hope Sessoms and husband, Justin, Craig Lee Kristen McDonald and husband, Daniel and Heather Cook; great grandchildren, Austin, James, Timothy, Briggs, Eli, Chloe, Jessiah, Brooklyn, Brooks, Bria, Falyn, John David, Miracle, Harleigh, Allyson, Walter, Isabell, Isabella, Jamila, Richard, Rhane, Nicholas, Stevie, Kylen, Carlie, Landon, Savanah, Jasmine, Tyler, Jaden, Hayden, Tanner, Sadie, Easton, Wyatt; and great-great-grandchildren, Jamison and Ezra.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lillian was preceded in death by husbands, Rab Lee and Ernest Gurley, sons, Sammy Lee and Nelson Lee; daughter, Sylvia Lee; grandson, Timmy Lee, son-in-law, Bob Straughn and daughter-in-law, Mary Gray Lee.

Asa Andrew Lee, 71, passed away Monday, January 17, 2022 in New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.   Asa was born September 25, 1950 in Duplin County, NC to the late Eddie James and Nancy Carolina Walton Lee.  

A funeral service will be held 6:00pm, Thursday, January 20, 2022 in Community Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw.  Visitation will follow the service.  A graveside service will be held 11:00 am, Friday, January 21, 2022 in Pinecrest Cemetery, Warsaw, NC.

Asa is survived by his beloved wife, Doris A. Lee of the home; daughter, Cyndi Probasco and husband, Leon; son, Jamie Lee and wife, Kelly; grandchildren, Matthew Lanier, Mason Lanier and wife, Haley, Lawson Probasco, Connor Probasco, Brianna Lee, McKaylin Kearney and husband, A J, and Gavin Lee; great grandchildren, Sawyer, Everlee and Dean Lanier and sister, Kathy English and husband, Watius.

In addition to his parents, Asa was preceded in death by son, Mark Lee; sister, Faye Fortner, and brother, James Lee.

Magnolia--Lawton Easdus (L. E.) Brown, Jr. 80, passed away during the early evening of Sunday, January 16, 2022. Born on April 2, 1941, he was the son of the late Lawton Easdus Brown, Sr. and Ruth Kissner Brown. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Susan Brown Stroud and Nellia Faye Brown Usher Simmons.

​After graduating from East Carolina College, he served in the North Carolina National Guard. He was employed many years by J. P. Stevens Company in Wallace. One of his greatest joys was writing. He was a staff writer for several newspapers and retired in 2007 from The Sampson Independent in Clinton, NC.

After retirement, he continued to write part time for The Duplin Times in Kenansville, NC. He especially enjoyed writing stories about World War II and Vietnam Veterans.

His greatest joy, however, was his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Rita Baker Brown of the home; two sons, Richard Lawton (Richie) Brown and wife Tina of Hampstead, NC, and Andrew Jacob (Andy) Brown of Long Beach, CA; three granddaughters, Natalie Ann Brown, Mollie Victoria Brown, and Carrie Michelle Brown, all of Hampstead, NC; three sisters Emma Catherine Brown Usher of Wallace, NC, Hilda Grey Brown Fowler and husband Donald of Zebulon, and Patsy Ruth Brown Olive of New Hill, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A service will be held to honor his memory on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 11:00 am at Magnolia Baptist Church, Magnolia, NC officiated by Rev. Ricky Nelson Wood. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 am at the church. Burial will follow the service in Golden Grove Cemetery, Kenansville, NC.

The family will receive friends at other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you consider donations to Magnolia Baptist Church. Please wear a mask if you will feel more comfortable.

Edna Gray Mathis Bass, 87, passed away Thursday, January 6, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born April 18, 1934 to the late Archie Lewis Mathis and Alice Ezzell Mathis. 

A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 9, 2022 at Mount Zion Presbyterian Church in Rose Hill.  Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the church.  Burial will follow the service in Rose Hill Cemetery. 

Edna is survived by her husband of 69 years, Alvin Joe Bass of the home;  son, Gary Bass of Rose Hill; sisters, Goldie Powell of Nashville, TN and Patricia Byerly of Archdale, NC two grandchildren, Chris Bass and CeCelia Costin; and seven great grandchildren and very best friends, Ricky and Peggy Fucili. 

​In addition to her parents, Mrs. Edna was preceded in death by son, Alvin Harold Bass;  brothers, Archie Lee Wells Mathis and Ivey Johnson Mathis; sisters, Minnie Johnson, Esther Parkhurst, Evelyn Ennis, Norma Croom, and Catherine Hines and grandson, Dylan Costin.

​Faison-Amanda Howard Hinton, 41, of Faison died suddenly December 23, 2021 at her home.  Amanda was born April 25, 1980 in Santa Anna, California to Howard Ray Hinton, Jr. and Linda Craft Hinton.

A graveside service will be held 3:00pm on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at the Rose Hill Cemetery.

Amanda leaves to cherish her memory, parents, Howard Ray Hinton Jr. and Linda Hinton of Faison; son, LaRico Hodges of Faison; daughters, Destyana Hinton of Faison, Konya Hinton and Chelsey Hodges of Warsaw ; sisters, Caroline Hinton of Swansboro, Joyce Marie Hinton of Richlands and Tanya Hinton of Faison; three grandchildren.

Amanda was preceded in death by brothers, Chadrick Hinton, Edward Veness Turner and sister, Jeannie Marie Hinton.