Christine Summerlin Gurley, 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 24, 1941 in Duplin County, NC to the late Stephen Lloyd Summerlin and Nona Anderson Summerlin.

A visitation will begin at 1:00pm, Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm, in the funeral home chapel and burial will conclude the service in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.

Christine is survived by her devoted husband, Earnest "Edgar" Gurley of the home; daughters, Teresa Holmes and husband, James of Clinton, Stephanie Brock and husband, Donovan of Clinton, Caroline Skulski and husband, Geoff of England, Brenda Ruzzier and husband, Rob of Virginia; son-in-law, Tim Gibson; grandchildren, Noah Brock, Connor Brock, Laynie Brock, Chris Skulski, Robert Ruzzier, II, Daniella Ruzzier, Dale Gibson, and Keira Gibson; great grandchildren, Oliva Skulski, Darcy Skulski, Brandon Turner, and Keira Turner. She is also survived by brothers, Donald Summerlin of Seven Springs, Rick Summerlin of Kenansville, Steve Summerlin and wife, Brenda of Kenansville and Ivey Summerlin of Alabama; sister, Nona Tippett-Honeycutt; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

She was pre-deceased by son, Terry Wayne Summerlin, daughters, Sharon Gurley and Linda Gibson, parents, Stephen L. Summerlin and Nona Anderson Summerlin, sister and brother-in-law, Francis "Frankie" and Lou Gilbert, brothers and sisters-in-law, Gordon and Lillian Summerlin, Ray and Thelma Summerlin, Kennon and Marie Summerlin, brother, Gerald Summerlin, brother-in-law, Paul Tippett, sisters-in-law, Dorothy Summerlin, Katherine Summerlin, and Bonnie Summerlin, niece, LuAnne Worley, very special nephew, Steven Summerlin III.

Warsaw - Adeline Nell Bruchhaus Middleton, 96, of Warsaw passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Warsaw Health and Rehab.  Mrs. Middleton was born December 8, 1925 in Jeff Davis Parrish, Elton, LA the daughter of Otto Henry Bruchhaus and Rita Adeline Kirby Bruchhaus. 

Mrs. Middleton had graduated with a music degree at the young age of 19.  When in college in Louisiana she had visited Chapel Hill, North Carolina on a school trip. Where she visited,  there was a sign up sheet for job opportunities.  She signed her name to the paper.  Several months later she received a call from Mr. J. P. Harmon for a job as a school music teacher.  She packed her bags and moved to Duplin County where she taught music for seventy years.  During her career she changed the lives of many children through music.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, W. J. Middleton, III of Kenansville; sister Beverly Glen Walker of Bumpass Mills, TN and many former music students that loved her.

​In addition to her parents, Mrs. Middleton was preceded in death by husband, W. J. Middleton, Jr. and six other siblings.
A private burial will be held later at her request.

Warsaw - Kenneth Ross LaCoe, 98, passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at Warsaw Health and Rehabilitation in Warsaw, NC.  Mr. LaCoe was born in Clark Summit, PA to the late Ira A. LaCoe and Sadie Kipple LaCoe. 

A funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 6, 2022 at Warsaw Baptist Church with burial to follow in Wayne Memorial Park, Goldsboro, NC. 

​Ken served his country with great pride in the US Marine Corp as a Captain, serving in both World War II and the Korean War.  He went on to  spend his working career in insurance until his retirement from Shelby Mutual Insurance Company as Senior Claims Representative in 1985.  He was a member of Warsaw Baptist Church since 1965.  Ken served his community well and in numerous ways.  Some of those include being a member of Warsaw Fire Department until his retirement after 32 years of service, he was a charter member and captain of Warsaw Rescue Squad, a member of Warsaw Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of Warsaw VFW Post 9810 and Post Commander, member of American Legion Post 127, a member of Disabled American Veterans, and delivered meals on wheels. 

Mr. LaCoe is survived by wife, Joan P. Best of the home, Donald G. LaCoe and wife, Marian of  Mount Olive, grandchildren, Christopher David LaCoe and wife, Kristen, Jeremy Ryan LaCoe, and Kimberly Jones and husband, Michael; great grandchildren, Cameron LaCoe, Nash LaCoe, Kacey Jones, and Cory Jones.

In addition to his parents and siblings Mr. LaCoe was preceded in death by wife, Mildred W. LaCoe.

WARSAW - Iska Johnson Killette, 90, died October 6, 2022, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center of Goldsboro. She was born January 9, 1932, in rural Sampson County to Amos D. Johnson and Maggie Edwards Johnson of Turkey, NC.

​Services are Monday, October 10, 2022, at Calvary Baptist Church. Family visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., the funeral service is 11:00 a.m. followed by a graveside observance at Devotional Gardens of Warsaw, NC.

Mrs. Killette is survived by her children, Letha Davis and husband Curtis of Kernersville, NC, Emily Walter and husband Doug, Sarah McCall and husband Lyndon, andTimothy Killette and wife Barbara, all Warsaw, NC.

In addition, Mrs. Killette is survived by grandchildren, Joe Davis of Greensboro, Carey McCall Greenwood, husband Ben, and their daughter Tinsley of Oxford, Mississippi; Lydia McCall Umberger, husband John of Charlotte, NC; Selena McCall and fiance Robert Clouse of Nashville, TN; Taylor Grady and Christopher (McKenzie) Grady of Roseboro, NC;Christopher Davis, wife Julie and their two children of Atlanta, GA; and Shannon Davis King, five children, and husband Chip of Matthews, NC.

Mrs. Killette is predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Russell V. Killette. Along with husband, Russell, they provided many years of dedicated leadership, as members, to the Baptist mission congregation that became Calvary Baptist Church of Warsaw. Retiring after many years in textiles, she particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to serve Calvary*s membership as a part of the hospitality team. Retirement also gave her time for collecting flowers from friends and planting them in her yard to share the blooms with others. In addition, she was a faithful Ladies Auxiliary member of the Warsaw, NC, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9810.

She was predeceased by parents Amos and Maggie Edwards, and last survivor of her siblings Doris Warren, Madeline Merritt, J.D. (James Daniel) Johnson, George Johnson, John Carlos Johnson, Worth Johnson, Jewel Taylor, and Lloyd Johnson.

The family expresses gratitude to the many friends, neighbors, relatives, and the medical providers whose care enabled Mrs. Killette to achieve her goal to live independent in her home until her final days when the staff at Kitty Askins Hospice Center aided her peaceful transition with their unique skills and personalized care.

​In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation, in her memory, to the Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534 (website: http://www.3hc.org/services/hospice-care/kitty-askins-hospice-center/).

Kenansville - Sarah West Outlaw Johnson, 88, passed away October 4, 2022 at Daysprings of Wallace.  Mrs. Johnson was born September 22, 1934 in Duplin County, NC to the late Albert Timothy Outlaw and Carolyn Peden Garrison Outlaw. 

A visitation will be begin at 9:00 am, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Kenansville United Methodist Church, with a funeral service to follow at 10:00 am and burial to conclude the service in Golden Grove Cemetery, Kenansville, NC. 

Mrs. Sarah is survived by four grandchildren, Ash Daughtry, Jessica Daughtry, Rebecca Daughtry Grey and James "Jimmy" Owen Johnson, III; six great grandchildren, Savannah, Ashlynn, Kaden, Devon, Karsyn, and Colton; and two great great grandchildren, Isaac and Sarah Drew. 

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Sarah was preceded in death by husband, James Owen Johnson; son, James Owen Johnson, Jr. and daughter, Sarah Lynn Johnson Daughtry. 

Warsaw-Evelyn T. Duff, 86 , of Warsaw passed away Friday, September 16, 2022 at ECU Duplin.  Mrs. Duff was born January 5, 1936 to the late Arola Bell Torrance and Boney D. Torrance               
A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Monday, September 19, 2022 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00pm.  Burial will follow the service at Devotional Gardens.
Mrs. Duff leaves to cherish her memory husband, Herman Lee Duff of the home; daughters, Linda D. White and husband, Raymond and Faye D. Landis of Warsaw; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Duff of Warsaw; grandchildren, Kevin  and Eric White, Johnthan and Gabriel Landis, Ashley Smith and Brock Duff; 14 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; special brother, Bobby Frederick and wife, Gretta of Castle Hayne; sister,  Georgie Ann Kennedy of Angier.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Duff was preceded in death by son, Herman Lee Duff, Jr. and son-in-law, James "Jim" Landis; brothers, Robert D. Torrance, T. K. Torrance and Fulton Torrance.

​Kenansville-Abigale Lee Henderson, 28, of Kenansville passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Abigale was born in Duplin County on December 7, 1993. Her parents are Sheila G. Johnson and Jeff Johnson.
A funeral service will be held 2 pm Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Community Funeral Home Chapel of Warsaw. Burial will follow the service at Pinecrest Cemetery in Warsaw.
She leaves to cherish her memory parents, Shelia G. and Jeff Johnson of Kenansville, daughter, Kayden Rose Carr of Wilmington; sisters Holli Henderson of Pink Hill, Kristen Donathan of Richlands; brother, Patrick Pittman of Magnolia; nieces and nephews, Katie, Emma and Grayson Donathan, Kameron Burnett and Raelyn Henderson.
Abigale was preceded in death by grandparents Margaret and Jay Garity.

Warsaw - Mary Eunice Williams Blanchard, 95, passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family.  Mary Eunice was born September 20, 1926 in Duplin County, NC to the late Johnny H. Williams and Mattie Harrell Williams. 
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Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2022 at Carlton Chapel Methodist Church, a funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm and burial will conclude the service in Devotional Gardens.

Mary Eunice is survived by daughters, Faye B. Barwick of Mount Olive and Emily B. Wilson and husband, John of Mount Olive; brother, J D Williams and wife, Sandy; daughter-in-law, Barbara R. Blanchard; grandchildren, Michael J. Weaver and wife, Sharon, Donna B. Jones, Chad G. Wilson and wife, Kelli, Bradley Wilson and wife, Britney; nine great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and step daughters, Kathy Canipe and Debbie Davenport.

In addition to her parents, Mary Eunice was preceded in death by husband, Lyston F. Blanchard, son, Kenneth Blanchard, granddaughter, Susan Blanchard; and son-in-law, D. Harold Barwick.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Marlo Thomas, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Rose Hill - Doris Boone Dixon, 73, of Rose Hill passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  Mrs. Dixon was born in Duplin County, October 20, 1948 to the late Elbert Ray Boone and Louise Stroud Boone.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm  Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Community Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill.  Burial will follow in the Fussell Cemetery in Rose Hill.

Mrs. Dixon leaves to cherish her memory, husband, John Dixon of Rose Hill;  son, John Matthew Dixon of Rose Hill; daughter, Kristi Bond of Wallace;  grandchildren, Cadence Bond and Brandon Noah Bond;  brothers, Gary Boone of Magnolia, Anthony Boone of Rose Hill; sisters, Louise Holland of Turkey, Joyce Jones and husband, Jimmy of Newton Grove and Kim Yamez of Pink Hill.

​In addition to her parents, Mrs. Dixon was preceded in death by brother, Elbert Kenneth Boone.  

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.