William Ray “Billy” Pope: Angier

    William Ray “Billy” Pope of Angier, founder of Pope’s Family Centers and True Value Stores and a real estate and property developer, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 19. He was 80.
    A native of Harnett County he is the son of the late Paul and Nellie Hudson Pope. He was a 1955 graduate of Campbell College and a 1957 graduate of Bowling Green College in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
    A member of Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, he served as a deacon as well as on many other committees. He was a distinguished alumnus and served on the Presidential Board of Advisors at Campbell University.
    A member of Angier Masonic Lodge No.686, he helped establish the Triangle Bank and served on the Harnett County Forward Together Committee.
    Mr. Pope is survived by his wife of 31 years, Sybil Williams Gore Pope; daughter Lori Gore Fisher and husband, Powell of Angier; son Tom Gore and wife, Michele of Little River; grandchildren Katy Carpenter, Hugh Thomas Gore, Tristan Gore and Olivia Gore; sisters Dottie Pope and Barbara Ann Pope, both of Angier; brother-in-law J. P. Jones of Tabor City; sister-in-law, Maude Pope of Wilson.
    In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his sister, Lynda Lou Jones, and brother, W. P. Pope.
    Visitation was planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier.
    Funeral services planned for 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, in Butler Chapel at Campbell University, with burial following at Lakeside Memorial Gardens.
    Flowers are welcomed or donations may be made to Campbell University – Pope Scholarship Fund or to River of Life Baptist Church Bldg. Fund, 8620 Ocean Hwy West, Sunset Beach, NC 28468.
    A guest register is available here.