​Cora Jane Johnson Bostic, 93, passed away Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center in Wilmington, NC.
A Duplin County native, Mrs. Bostic was born August 16th, 1926 to the late Dr. Braxton Johnson and Jannie Carlton Johnson. Mrs. Bostic was a member of the Warsaw Baptist Church.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at the Warsaw Baptist Church with the Reverend Dr. David Gasperson officiating. Burial will be in Devotional Gardens.

Mrs. Bostic is survived by daughter, Brenda Bostic Jones and her husband Arch Jones of Wilmington, NC; grandchildren Dr. Wooten Jones with significant other Dr. Jamie Hunter both of Greenville, NC and Parker Jones with wife Heather McIlrath of Raleigh, NC; sister-in-law Geraldine Bostic Edwards of Raleigh, N.C; nephews John Edwards and Marks Lane; nieces Sharon Carter, Sarah Poole, and Beth Ross.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bostic was preceded in death by her husband, Raeford Lee Bostic, brothers, Braxton Fletcher Johnson, Jr. and Carson Carlton Johnson, and sister, Dorothy Johnson Lane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Warsaw Baptist Church, 209 E. College St., Warsaw, N.C. 28398 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center, 1414 Physicians Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401.

​Warsaw - Betty Carol Foss Ezzell, 66, died Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC.  Mrs. Ezzell was born October 12, 1953 to the late Harold Foss and Esther Winders Foss.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 24, 2020 in Community Funeral Home Chapel with burial will follow in Devotional Gardens. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. 

Mrs. Ezzell is survived by husband, Kenneth Dwight Ezzell of Warsaw; daughter, Juanita Wilkinson of Warsaw; two grandchildren, Connor and Hannah Wilkinson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward the funeral expenses at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, Inc., P. O. Box 336, Warsaw, NC 28398.

Kenansville - Jeanette Newman Jones, 90, passed away Friday, February 14, 2020 at her home.  Mrs. Jones was born November 16, 1929 in Lenoir County, NC to the late Jasper Newman and Evelyn Byrd Newman. 

A funeral service will be held 2:00p.m., Monday, February 17, 2020 in Community Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw, NC. Burial will follow the service in Devotional Gardens.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Jones is survived by son, Harley James Jones and wife, Ruth of Kenansville; two daughters, Janet Jones-Chambers and husband, Keith of Kenansville, and Janice Jones and husband, Richard Clifton of Turkey; daughter-in-law, Connie Evan and husband, Tommy of Wilmington; and grandson, Alan Jones and wife, Nola of Kenansville, NC.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by husband, Harold J. Jones and son, Julius Jones. 

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. Jeanette’s care givers, Patsy Chestnutt, Samantha Haney, and Debbie Wilson, for their loving care and attentiveness.

​Isabelle Jones Murphy, 93, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Grove Presbyterian Church in Kenansville, NC, burial will follow the service in Pinecrest Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flower memorials may be made to: Grove Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 786, Kenansville, NC 28349. First Baptist Church of Wallace, Attn: Deaf Ministry, 408 W. Main Street, Wallace, NC 28466, or NC School for the Deaf, 64 West Fleming Street, Morganton, NC 28655.

** A full obituary will be posted later.

Magnolia - Hubert Lee Howard, 84, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at his home.  Mr. Howard was born September 29, 1935 in Duplin County, NC to the late Hubert Gaston and Emma Lee Merritt Howard.

Mr. Howard is survived by wife, Mary L. Howard of the home; three daughters, Terri Howard of Woolwine, VA; Pat Matthis and husband, Gray of Ayden, NC and Becky Ross of Greenville, NC; and one sister, Geraldine Rouse of Raleigh, NC.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, Laura Lancaster and husband, David of Goldsboro, Jordan Jones and husband, Eric of New Bern, Casey Matthis of Winterville, and Dillon Ross of Valdosta, GA; and six great grandchildren, Trey Flanagan, Nick Lancaster, Jeremy Lancaster, Zack Lancaster all of Goldsboro and Kennedy Jones and Kamryn Jones of New Bern, nephew, Shannon Rouse and wife, Tamara and niece, Cathy Rouse of Raleigh.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2020 in Community Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw, NC with burial to follow in Devotional Gardens.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

 Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Bethany Pentecostal Free Will Baptist, 1068 Rackley Rd., Clinton, NC  28328.

​Warsaw - Norwood Carl Ray Harper, 66, died January 20, 2020 at Accordius Healthcare in Wilmington, NC.  Mr. Harper was born December 27, 1953 in Wayne County, NC to Sallie Harper and the late Norwood Harper.

In addition to his mother, Mr. Harper is survived by sons, Alan Harper of Warsaw and John Harper of Rose Hill, NC and daughter, Samantha Harper of Chinquapin, NC; granddaughter, Madison Harper.  He is also survived by brother Franklin Harper of California.

He was preceded in death by his father, Norwood Harper and sister, Belinda Harper.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, Inc., with visitation following the service.

 ​Hallie Wade Smith of Calypso passed away peacefully  at Kitty Askins Hospice on January 31, 2020. Wade, as he was affectionately known to his family and friends, was born  April 19, 1943 the son of Hallie and Mary Gladys Smith of Wallace. 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Ruth Roberts Smith of Calypso, a son Kiley Smith and wife Cyndy of Mocksville, NC and three grandchildren, Korbin, Kyra, and Kaden Smith. He is also survived by a sister Sue Smith Stott  and husband, Ron of Wilmington. His parents preceded him in death. Wade is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and in-laws  that he was fond of. Special recognition to Ruth’s sisters Janet, Betty Ann, and Gail and a niece Stephanie for their support through Wade’s declining health. 

Immediately after graduating from Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Wade joined the Air Force. He was proud to serve his country for 8 years. After leaving the Air Force, he spent 23 years in banking. Wade had a gift for cooking, enjoyed trying new recipes, and loved sharing food with his family and friends. He was known as “Daddy Wade” to Kiley’s friends, whom he served as an important role model to. He was a gardener and enjoyed wood-working, especially building bird houses. Wade exuded a gentle, kind and loving spirit to his family and friends. 

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at the Calypso Cemetery in Calypso by Pastor Jeff Dail of First PH. Visitation will be at the cemetery after the service. Donations can be made to the American Kidney Foundation.