Katie Mae Storms Graham, 92, formerly of Warsaw, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2019, at the Gardens of Rose Hill.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 2, 2019, at Warsaw Baptist Church with visitation at 1:00 p.m  and burial to follow in Devotional Gardens.

Katie was born in Bladenboro on October 24, 1927, to Albert and Martha Hester Storms. She married Norwood Clayton Graham on December 8, 1943.

After moving to Warsaw in 1956, Katie opened Graham’s Beauty Shop and worked there until 2014. She was loved by all who knew her and showed others Jesus not only by her words but by the way she lived, loved, and treated others. Katie used her beauty shop and later her assisted living residence as places of ministry.

Katie was a dedicated and active member of Warsaw Baptist Church where she became a deacon in 2010.

In addition to her husband and parents, Katie is predeceased by her children, Bobbie (George William) Schandel, Clayton (Jeannette) Graham; brothers, Byron Storms, RJ Storms, George Storms, Bennie Storms; sister, Tessie Bowles.

Katie is survived by her three daughters, Connie (Butch) Outlaw of Faison, Feetin (Doug) Smith of Roseboro, Kaywood (Stan) Draughon of Kenansville; seven grandchildren, Barri Ann Smith (William) Piner, Sean (Melanie) Outlaw, Palmer (Amy) Smith, Kyle Outlaw, Cady Outlaw (John) Yates, Clay Draughon, Colin Draughon; 11 great-grandchildren, Helen Wills Piner, Bracey Outlaw, McCartney Kate Piner, Abbey Mae Piner, Garrison Outlaw, Justin Outlaw, Blythe Outlaw, Graham Yates, Phoenix Outlaw, Emmie Yates, Ryder Smith; brothers, Bill Storms, Earl (Betty) Storms; sister, Beck (Tony) Sessoms; sister-in-law, Doris Storms.

The family sends special thanks to Kendall Boose, Edith Sykes, special roommate Mary Drew, Katie’s loving family of caregivers at the Gardens of Rose Hill, and the Vidant Home Health and Hospice team.

​In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Warsaw Baptist Church, Warsaw, NC, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

​Warsaw - John Kilby Byrd, 70, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2019 at his home.  He was born April 5, 1949 in Duplin County, NC to the late Thomas Kilby Byrd and Ruth Grady Byrd.

Johnny, as most knew him, was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and a friend to many.  He will be dearly missed by a host of family and friends.  He placed his faith in God and had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior.  

A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2019 in Community Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw, NC.  Burial will follow the service in Devotional Gardens.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. 

Johnny is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Best Byrd of the home; beloved children, John Byrd and wife, Denise of Warsaw, Cheryl B. Bass and husband, Timothy of Warsaw and Anna B. Avent and husband, John of Warsaw; grandchildren, Amber Craft and husband, Travis; Seth Bass and Heather, McKenzi Byrd, John Thomas Avent, Emma Haze Avent, Cal Avent, and Eli Avent; great grandchildren, Averie Craft, Hudson Craft and Emery Bass.  He is also survived by sister, Ann B. Alphin and husband, Vance of Mount Olive, Janet B. Jones and husband, Cecil of Kenansville, Joyce B. West of Kinston, sister-in-law, Ann Outlaw, his best friend, Jimmie Rich and his trusted companion, Little Bit.

In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by brothers, C. M. Outlaw, Oliver Outlaw, and Woodrow Byrd; sister, Arlene Gower and brother-in-law, Kermit West, Jr.

Memorials may be made to: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, 21301 S. Taniami Trial, Suite 320 PMB 226, Estero FL 33928.

​Rose Hill - Jessie Ruth Brown Lanier, 87, died on November 21, 2019 at her home at The Gardens of Rose Hill, 571 S. Sycamore Street, Rose Hill, NC.

She was the daughter of Otis David and Sally Spell Brown of the Dobson Chapel community near Kenansville. She married J L Lanier, Jr. On January 9, 1952 and lived her entire adult life in the Concord Baptist Church community of Rose Hill, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and seven sisters and four brothers.  She is survived by her brother, Bobby Grey Brown (Mary); children Benita L. Wells (Dekalb), Jesse Bryan Lanier (Pam), Lisa L. Page and Chris Lanier; grandchildren, Jason D. Wells (Brandy), David L. Wells, Jesse Kyle Lanier, Lindsey L Grady, Mason Page, Shannon P. Phillips (Ryan), Ashley L. McCartney (Josh), Ricky Andrews and Johnny Bryan Pope; great grandchildren, Lane Wells, Nathan Wells, Jacob Wells, Ireland Grady, Zachery Page and Presley Brown.  She is also survived by special friend Eunice Carlton as well as her family at The Gardens of Rose Hill.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 3:00pm at Devotional Gardens, 1260 NC 24 and 50 Hwy, Warsaw, NC. Rev. Jimmy Johnson and Rev. Lisa Grissom will be officiating the service.

The family respectfully requests no flowers. Donations could be given to the Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361 in her memory.

Rose Hill - Reggie Emmons Smith, 71, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2019 at Vidant Duplin Hospital.  Mr. Smith was born September 22, 1948 to the late Jonas Fennell Smith and Gladys Louise Griffith Smith.

A memorial service will be held 2:00-4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Magnolia Methodist Church, Magnolia, NC

Mr. Smith is survived by brothers, Kenneth Smith and wife, Paula of Wilmington, NC; William “Bill” Smith and wife, Kaye of Elizabeth City, NC and Rodney Smith of Magnolia, NC.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by brother, Jackie D. Smith.

​Warsaw - Elizabeth Pittman Whaley, 94, passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Warsaw Health and Rehabiliation in Warsaw, NC.  Mrs. Whaley was born September 6, 1925 in Johnston County, NC to the late Clarence Pittman and Betsy Pope Pittman. 

A visitation will be held 1:00p.m., Friday November 8, 2019 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, followed by a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. in Devotional Gardens.

Mrs. Whaley is survived by son, Michael “Mickey” Whaley and wife, Margaret of Rose Hill, daughter-in-law, Beverly Whaley of Warsaw, son-in-law, Ralph Rasmussen, six grandchildren, Michael Whaley and wife, Jean Marie, Megan Cyrus and husband, Matt, Rebekah Brock and husband, David, Phillip Whaley, Jacob Whaley and Leah Whaley; four great grandchildren, two brothers, Tom Pittman of Lucoma and Bobby Pittman of Spruce Pine.

She was preceded in death by husband, Burnice J. Whaley; son, Jeffery Whaley; daughter, Brenda Rasmussen; brothers, Jack Pittman, Ed Pittman, Herbert Pittman, and James Ray “Bunny” Pittman; and sisters, Eula Barnes and Evelyn Pittman.