Teachey - Kenneth Ray Norris, 70, passed away Monday, August 29, 2022 at ECU Heath Duplin in Kenansville, NC.  Mr. Norris was born June 2, 1952 in Pender County to the late Johnny Leslie Norris and Evelyn Virginia Piner Norris.  
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A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 2, 2022 at Cornith Baptist Church, Cornith Church Road, Rose Hill, NC.

Kenny was a devoted husband and loving father.  He was a member of Cornith Baptist Church and loved his church family dearly.  He also enjoyed meeting and spending time with he classic car club friends.  

Kenny is survived by loving wife, Sandra F. Norris of the home; sons, Kenneth Ray Norris, Jr. of Carthage, NC and Johnny Worthy Norris and wife, Susan of Carthage, NC; daughters, Angela Michelle Norris of Carthage, NC and Briana Michelle Norris of Teachey, NC; nine grandchildren, Matthew Pope, Gaberial Norris, Michael McNeal, Alex Mc Neal, Courtney McNeal, Haley Norris, Kirk Norris, Shyla Norris, and Ryland Norris; numerous great grandchildren; and sisters, Barbara Bryan and husband, Ron of Goldsboro, NC and Lynn Newton and husband, Matt of Wadesboro, NC.

In addition to his parents, Kenny was preceded in death by brother, Jeffrey Norris.

Warsaw - Kathleen McGowan Carlton, 92, died August 22, 2022 at Mary Gran Nursing Center following several months of declining health.  She was born June 23, 1930 to the late Jim and Lettie Sutton McGowan.  She was also pre-deceased by her husband, Keith Carlton, and brothers, Gerald and Elton McGowan.

​Kathleen was a graduate of Warsaw High School, attended Meredith College, and graduated from Campbell University.  She taught kindergarten in Sampson County schools for a number of years.  In earlier years she enjoyed gardening, preserving vegetables, cooking and trips to Southport with Keith. She was a member of Carlton United Methodist Church.

She is survived by a son, Gene Carlton, and wife, Cindie, of Warsaw; and  a daughter, Kathy Carlton Robbins and husband, John, also of Warsaw. Four grandchildren: Jamie Robbins Owensby and husband, Shelby, of Moncure, Bonnie Robbins Reedy, and husband, Doug, of Lumberton, Matthew Carlton and wife, Georgeanne of Warsaw, and Megan Carlton Powell and husband Charlie, of Clinton. Seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Community Funeral Home, Warsaw from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2022.                                    .

A family graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 25, 2022 at the Carlton Family Cemetery on Beasley Torrans Road, Warsaw, NC.

Magnolia - Etta Hall Grady, 90, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, August 20, 2022.  Mrs. Grady was born July 2, 1932 in Duplin County, NC to the late Lee Roy Hall and Flora Wrench Hall. 

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2022 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, the funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. and burial will conclude the service in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.

Mrs. Grady is survived by son, Jeffrey Grady and wife, Lisa of Warsaw; daughters, Diane G. Savage and husband, Kenneth of Kenansville and Patricia G. Brown and husband, Kenneth of Magnolia; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She is also survived by brother, W. B. "Billy" Hall and wife, Frances of Magnolia; and sister, Carolyn Chestnutt and husband, Johnny of Clinton.

​In addition to her parents, Mrs. Grady was preceded in death by husband, Norman Jackson "Jack" Grady; son, Earl Grady; brother, Lee Roy Hall, Jr.; and sisters, Frances Faircloth, Gracie Cavenaugh, and Ann Tharpe.

Warsaw - Dorothy Bowden Johnson, 93, passed away peacefully at Warsaw Health and Rehabilitation in Warsaw, NC.  Mrs. Johnson was born November 13, 1928 in Nash County, NC to the late Samuel Rufus Bowden, II and Sarah McGirt Bowden.
A graveside service will be held 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 23, 2022 in Pinecrest Cemetery, Warsaw, NC.

Mrs. Johnson was a lifelong member of the Warsaw Presbyterian Church, she was a member of the choir , where many envied her beautiful voice, served as treasurer of the church and also an officer of the group Women of the Church. She was a graduate of Hardbargers Business College and worked as bookeeper of Page Home Appliance from 1958-2019.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by daughter-in-law, Donna S. Johnson; nieces and nephews, David Clark and wife, Sue, Sarah Pope and husband, Eddie, Charlotte Bexley and husband, Ken and David English and wife, Elanie and several of great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by son, Ray Johnson; brother, Samuel R. Bowden, III and sisters, Ann B. English and husband, Myron, Sarah B. Scarbrough and Nell B. Clark and husband, Jimmy. 

​In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pet Friends of Duplin County, P. O. Box 152, Wallace, NC 28466.

Louise Bland Sullivan, 93, passed away August 10, 2022 in Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Center in Wilmington, NC. Mrs. Sullivan was born June 24, 1930 in Duplin County, NC to the late William Estus Bland and Mary Sullivan Bland.

A graveside service will be held 11:00am, Friday, August 12, 2022 in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.

Mrs. Sullivan is survived by sons, Donald Sullivan and wife, Marion of Atkinson and Jeff Sullivan and wife, Laurie of Garden City, Michigan; sisters Evelyn "Tootsie" Atkinson; six grandchildren, Angela, Steve, Stacey, Catherine, Brett, and Alison; and sixteen great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Sullivan was preceded in death by infant son, Ronald Sullivan and sister, Mary Gray "Tina" Faust.

Seth Ellis Smith, 46, passed away July 20, 2022.  Mr. Smith was born January 29, 1976 to the late Woodrow "Skeet" Smith and Patricia Hill Smith. 
 
A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2022 in Christ Ministries Cemetery, 2741 Turkey Highway, Clinton, NC.

Seth is survived by sons, Jonah Joseph Bigelow and Hunter H. Smith of Benson; brother, Woodrow "Woody" Smith of Mount Olive; aunt, Judith Sellars of Wilmington; uncle, Ellis G. Joseph and wife, Joan of Colorado; cousin, Anthony Sellars and wife, Tanya of Hampstead;  and several other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Seth was preceded in death by sister, Teresa Smith.

Flowers should be delivered directly to the cemetery.

Faison - Alvin Jeffrey Griffin, 66, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at his home.  Mr. Griffin was born November 12, 1955 in Lenoir County, NC to the late Herman M. Griffin and Leslie Mae Butler Griffin.

​A funeral service will be held 2:00 p. m., Friday, August 5, 2022 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 3790 Faison Hwy, Clinton, NC, with burial to follow the service in Turkey Cemetery, Turkey, NC. 

Jeffrey is survived by his loving wife, Betty M. Griffin of the home; sons, Jeffrey Shane Griffin and wife, Kaye of Faison and C D Vernon and wife, Krystal of Warsaw; daughters, Heather G. Distel and husband, Chris of Kentucky, Renee Sutton and husband, Matthew of Rose Hill and Tiffany Griffin of Faison; seven grandchildren, Caden Griffin, Cheyenne Griffin, Joanna Griffin, Allison Distel, Rylee Vernon, Cole Sutton, and Savannah Sutton.  He is also survived by brother, Johnny Griffin and wife, Sandy of Warsaw; sister, Barbara Brock of Faison; and step brother, Dale Locklear of Tabor City. 

In addition to his parents, Jeffrey was preceded in death by step mother, Sue Griffin, step brother, Ricky Locklear and step sister, Marie Raines.