Area Obituaries

1940 – 2021      Kenneth McCellan Godwin of Cerro Gordo died Friday, Aug. 27, in Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville. He was 80.      Born Sept. 19, 1940 in Columbus County, he was the son of the late James Albert Godwin and Flora Burney Godwin.      He is survived by his wife, Alma Blackwell Godwin of the home; four…

1959 – 2021      Glenn “Deryle” Key of Tabor City died Thursday, Aug. 26, in Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, Whiteville. He was 61.      Born Sept. 5, 1959 in Richland County, South Carolina, he was the son of the late Tillman Arthur Key and Thelma Jean Niley Key Jones.      He is survived by two daughters, Melissa Ann…

1951 – 2021      Donnie Ray Dew of Tabor City died Sunday Aug. 29. He was 70.      Born July 17, 1951 in Marion, he lived his entire life in Tabor City.      Survivors include his children, Michele McPherson, Xena Dew, Gary Wayne Dew, and Gabby Dew of Tabor City, Amy Gail Dew Stanley of Troy; and a…

1947 – 2021      SGT Rossie Franklin Wright of Loris went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, Aug. 30, at McLeod Health Loris. He was 74.      Born June 14, 1947 in Whiteville, he was the son of the late Doctor Franklin “Cedo” Wright and the late Annie Blake Woodell Wright.      Mr. Wright served…

1948 – 2021      Phillip Lee Small of Nichols died Wednesday, Aug. 25, in his home. He was 72.      Born Oct. 17 1948 in Marion County, he was the son of the late Harry Lee Small and Mable Stewart Small.      He is survived by his wife Edwina (Winnie) Small of the home; children Phil Small of…

1955 – 2021      LaSandra Strickland Grimsley of Florence went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Aug. 23. She was 66.      Mrs. Grimsley was born a daughter of Gerata Grainger Strickland and the late William Dailey Strickland. She was a member of Wannamaker Baptist Church and an accomplished organist and pianist.      Mrs. Grimsley earned…

1952 – 2021      Lee Ethel Vereen of Tabor City died Saturday, Aug. 21, at Atrium Health Union in Monroe. She was 68.      Surviving are her sons, Darrick Vereen and Harry McCoy of Tabor City and Ralph Vance McCoy of Wadesboro; brothers, Charles Vereen of Elizabeth City, Franklin Vereen and Albert Vereen of Columbia, Darrell Vereen…

1951 – 2021      Steve Russ of Loris passed away Sunday, Aug. 22. He was 70.      Mr. Russ was born in Union, a son of the late Lewis Guide and Mary Ann Todd Russ. He was a member of Lawndale Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon.      In addition to his parents, he was predeceased…

1922 – 2021      Isabel M. Gibson of Loris passed away Sunday, Aug. 22, at Loris Nursing and Rehab Center after an extended illness. She was 98.      She was born Sept. 18, 1922 in Winnsboro and was the daughter of the late Ralph Hannahan McDowell and the late Lucille Gladden McDowell.      She grew up in Winnsboro…

1929 – 2021      Eloise Elenora Martin of Loris died Aug. 6, in McLeod Seacoast Hospital. She was 92.      Born Aug. 3, 1929 in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late Dewey Norris and Jettie Spivey Norris.      She is survived by one daughter, Patricia Martin and husband Robert Flynn of Houston, Texas; two sons,…