​Phillip Andrew Baysden, 44, passed away April 11, 2021. Mr. Baysden was born December 5, 1976 in Duplin County, NC to James Everett Baysden and Betsy Whaley Bloom.

A funeral service will be held 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Community Funeral Home in Rose Hill, visitation will follow the service. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 16, 2021 in Duplin Memorial Gardens, Teachey, NC.


Mr. Baysden is survived by longtime girlfriend, Betty Brown; sons, Cameron Baysden of Wallace, Logan Baysden of Clinton; daughters, Asha Lynn Baysden of Rose Hill, Laura Ann Baysden, Megan Nicole Baysden both of Tennessee, Sarah Brown and Kelly Brown both of Wallace; granddaughter, Danielle Baysden; parents, James Everett Baysden and wife Jane of Currie and Betsy Whaley Bloom of Wilmington; brother, James Everett Baysden, Jr. and wife, Melissa; sisters, Wanda Carol Batt and husband, Michael of Hampton Road, VA and Melissa Sue Baysden of Wallace.

Mr. Baysden was preceded in death by son, Walker Baysden.

Ernest Taylor "Ernie" Knowles II, 56, of Warsaw passed away suddenly Saturday, April 3, 2021 at his home.  Ernie was born November 13, 1964 in Cumberland County to Ernest Taylor Knowles and the late Marjorie Westbrook Knowles.

Ernie loved to fish and was a great "Mr. Fixit", he fixed everything.  He loved to talk and never met a stranger, but he felt his greatest accomplishment was being a "Pa".

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.  A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw with burial to follow in Pinecrest Cemetery.

Ernie is survived by wife, Barbara T. Knowles of Warsaw; son, Eric Taylor Knowles and fiancee' Brittany Arnold of Raleigh; daughter, Ashley Nicole Knowles and Dwight Vernon, Jr. of White Oak; father, Ernest Taylor Knowles of Warsaw; sister, Kimberly Vernon and husband, Terry of Warsaw; grandson, Dwight Wade Vernon III and Baby Vernon on the way; special daughter and granddaughter, Krystal and Alyssa Smith of Fayetteville; and many other extended family and friends.

Jimmy Allen "Dick" Kennedy, 73, of Teachey passed away suddenly Thursday, April 1, 2021 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Mr. Kennedy was born January 30, 1948 in Duplin County to the late Earl Kennedy and Winnie Holmes Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy was a Vietnam Veteran and a Purple Heart recipient. He had a great love for his family and friends.  He was also an avid card player. 

A graveside  service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, April 4, 2021 at Golden Grove Cemetery in Kenansville

Mr. Kennedy is survived by wife, Jane R. Kennedy of Teachey; daughters, Tammy K. Thornton and husband, Clint of Teachey and  Lisa Blanton and husband, Barry of Willard; brother, Billy Kennedy of Warsaw; sisters, Edna Earl Rivenbark of Warsaw, Gail K. Rivenbark of Warsaw,   Sue Jones and husband, Bruce of Albertson, Betsy K. Jones and husband, Dennis of Albertson, Kathy Rivenbark and husband, Tony of Warsaw and Debbie Strickland and husband, Bill of Warsaw; grandchildren, Lucas K. Thornton and Matthew C. Thornton. 

​Dean Edward Gilbert, 64, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at his home.  Mr. Gilbert was born September 8, 1956 in Duplin County, NC to Bertie Eunice Cavenaugh Gilbert and the late Roy William Gilbert.  

A memorial service will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, April 3, 2021 at Community Funeral Home in Rose Hill.  A visitation will begin at 11:00 a. m. at the funeral home. 

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne L. Gilbert of the home; son, William E. Gilbert of Rose Hill; daughter, Brandy Gilbert of TN; grandson, Jonathan Gilbert; brothers, Roy Alan Gilbert of Rose Hill and William Earl Gilbert of Wallace; and sisters, Mary Lou Cavenaugh and husband, Butch of Wallace and Shirley Wheeler of Rose Hill. 

Raymond Stephen Ezzell, 89, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021 at Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville.  Mr. Ezzell was born January 19, 1932 in Duplin County, NC to the late Curtis Ezzell and Lydia Hargrove Ezzell.

A visitation will begin at 11:00 a. m., Wednesday, March 31  at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw.  A graveside will be held 12:30 p. m.,  Wednesday, March 31 in Roberts Family Cemetery on Beautancus Road, Mt. Olive, NC. 

Mr. Ezzell is survived by sons, Dexter Ezzell and wife, Sue of SC, Ray Ezzell of Mt Olive, NC, Len Ezzell of Mt. Olive, NC and Jimmy Radford and wife, Donna of VA; daughters, Pat Watson and husband, Eddie of Mt. Olive, NC and Ginger Warren and husband, Rodney of Dunn; seven grandchildren, Brandy Bishop, Tonya Dixon, Clint Summerlin, Mack Summerlin, Sammie Joe Smith, Megan Carter, and Mollie Warren; and 8 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by brothers, Travis Ezzell of Roanoke Rapids, NC, Lindwood Ezzell and wife, Joyce of Magnolia, NC, and Robert Ezzell and wife, Doris of Kitty Hawk, NC, and sisters Hilda Rivenbark and husband, Jerry of SC and Linda Brogden of Magnolia, NC.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Ezzell was preceded in death by wife, Mary Louise Ezzell.

Warsaw - Myrtle Knowles Beard, 87, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at her home in Kenansville attended by her loving and caring family.
Myrtle was born in Warsaw, Duplin County, June 8, 1933, to the late Edwin Carr Knowles and Sarah Ezzell Knowles.

​She grew up in Warsaw and attended the Warsaw schools which created many fond memories. In July 1951 she married Paul Beard Sr. and moved to Fayetteville where Paul was stationed in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg. After Paul was discharged from the Army they continued to live in Fayetteville for many years before moving to Elizabeth City and later in life moved back to her home town of Warsaw for retirement. Her last four years were spent living in Kenansville with her daughter Connie, and husband Woody, and their faithful dog Ollie for whom Myrtle had a special fondness and always shared part of her breakfast biscuit.
She was a loving believer of God and showed her Christian faith by her practicing the Serenity Prayer throughout her life. She loved her family with an extra special love shown for her grandchildren, many of whom she helped care for and taught them many values of life. And of course she loved spoiling her great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her three daughters, Connie Beard Brinson (husband Woody) of Kenansville, Laura Beard Beaver (husband Mike) of Wakefield VA, and Mary Ella Beard of Fayetteville, and a son Paul Beard Jr. (wife Brenda) of Fayetteville; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a brother Ernest “Buddy” Knowles of Warsaw; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Myrtle was predeceased by her husband Paul Beard Sr. to whom she was married for 46 years prior to his death in 1997; sisters Dolly Knowles Carroll and Willie Knowles Minshew; brother Edwin Carr Knowles, Jr.; grandchildren Amy Mitchell and Darrel Wilson; great-grandson Michael Bean; and great-great-grandson Sawyer Francis.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Community Funeral Home in Warsaw on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM with burial following at Lafayette Memorial Park, 2301 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, at 3:00 PM.
Visitation with the family is welcomed at her former residence at 109 East Grove Circle, Kenansville. 

Flowers are welcome. However donations in her memory are encouraged to be made to Duplin County Senior Center, c/o Duplin County Services for the Aged, PO Box 928, Kenansville, NC 28349 or Home Health and Hospice Inc. (3HC), 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534, both of which provided services to Myrtle and her family which enabled her to remain at home during her last months, or a meaningful charity of one’s choice.

Warsaw - Mary Virginia Cottle Veach, 96, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at her home. Mrs. Veach was born November 18, 1924 in Turkey, NC to the late Clyde Johnson Cottle and Ida May Howard Cottle.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 pm, Friday, March 26, 2021 in Devotional Gardens.

Mrs. Veach is survived by son, Samuel Veach and wife, Melissa of Supply; daughter, Jane V. Cooper and husband, Gary of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren, Wes Veach, Blake Veach, Joshua Star, Racheal Star, and Troy Lockamy; and three great grandchildren, Brandon Boone, Arlo Veach and Bexley Veach.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Ralph Veach; daughter, Sandra Lockamy, grandson, Chuck Lockamy and brothers, Clyde Cottle, Jr., Billy Cottle, Jim Cottle, and Johnny Cottle.

​Rose Hill-Erma Daughtry Edwards, 94, of Rose Hill passed away Saturday, March 13, 2021 at The Gardens of Rose Hill. Mrs. Edwards was born September 5, 1926 in North Hampton County, NC to the late Lewis Cleveland Daughtry and Vassie Brewer Daughtry.
 
Mrs. Edwards was an avid gardener with a true green thumb.  She also enjoyed crafts, but her greatest pleasures revolved around her family, spending many days camping and enjoying the outdoors with those she loved.  She also gave 30 years of her life as a labor and delivery nurse.
A graveside service will be held 11:00am Monday, March 15, 2021 at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Edwards is survived by children, William Brent Edwards and wife, Carolyn and daughter, Dale Edwards Garriss and husband, Pete; grandchildren, Brian Russell Warrick and wife, Laura, Cheryl Edwards Moore and husband, Ralph and William Robert Edwards and wife, Duchess; great grandchildren, Katie Moore Limer, Sam Warrick, Noah Warrick, Brayden Edwards and Gracie Edwards; great-great grandchildren, Landon Limer and Miles Limer.  A special thank you goes out to her second family, the staff of the Gardens of Rose Hill and Jennifer and Joyce of Lower Cape Fear Hospice for their love, care and support.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Edwards was preceded in death by her husband, William Ervin Edwards and brothers and sisters, Lewis Daughtry, Vernon Daughtry, L. C. Daughtry, Elmer Daughtry, Howard Daughtry, Inell Williams, Eletha Belle Fergerson and Floyd Daughtry.
The family ask that you be covid aware and follow the guidelines.