​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.

Kenansville - James Franklin Arnette, 66, of Kenansville passed away Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.  Franklin was born in Wayne County to Sudie Jane Maready Arnette and the late James Lee Arnette.

Franklin spent his life dedicated to the Highway Patrol retiring with the rank of Lieutenant.

A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at the Kenansville Baptist Church.  Burial will follow in the Devotional Gardens.  A visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00pm also at the Kenansville Baptist Church.

 Franklin is survived by son, Jason Arnette and wife, Robyn of Clinton, step son David Shane Arnette of Jacksonville, FL; mother, Sudie Arnette; sister, Regina Kilpatrick of Kenansville; close friend, Lesley Starling of Clinton; grandchildren, Jake Arnette, Harbor Arnette, Ashley Arnette and Rachel Arnette; and his four legged baby, Lexy Belle.

Franklin was preceded in death by father, James Lee Arnette.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Love for Layla, Inc. 127 Circle Dr., Kenansville, NC  28349.

​Kenansville-Mary Gray Taylor Murphy, 88, of Kenansville passed away Friday, January 3, 2020 at Vidant Duplin.  Mrs. Murphy was born in Duplin County January 12, 1931 to the late Ceness Leon Taylor and Velma Mozingo Taylor.
A funeral service will be held 12:00pm Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Grove Presbyterian Church in Kenansville.  Burial will follow in the Devotional Gardens.  A visitation will be held at 11:00am prior to the service also at the Church.
Mrs. Murphy is survived by, son, H. W. Murphy and wife, Amanda of Kenansville; daughters, Gayle Bostic of Kenansville and Susan Kornegay and husband, Bill of Warsaw; grandchildren, Christy Kornegay, Amber Kornegay, Robbie Bostic and Samuel Murphy; great grandchildren, Chloe Bostic, Caroline Bostic and Cassie Bostic.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Murphy was also preceded in death by husband, Harry Murphy; brothers, Ceness L. Taylor, Jr, Samuel E. Taylor; and sister, Ghaynelle Garner.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Grove Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 786, Kenansville, NC  28349.