Area Obituaries

1931 – 2021      Betty Jean Harbaugh of Elizabethtown died Thursday, Aug. 5, in her home surrounded by family. She was 89.      Born Sept. 26, 1931 in Proctor, Vermont, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Lillian Johnson Robinson and the widow of Jack Harbaugh.      Betty spent her 41 year working career as a…

1931 – 2021      Lois Juanita Nealey Wheeler of Loris passed away on Saturday, Aug. 7, at McLeod Loris hospital. She was 89. Mrs. Wheeler was born Dec. 17, 1931 in Loris. She was the first child of the late William “WM” Jefferson Nealey and the late Dorothy Ruth Heniford Nealey.      Mrs. Wheeler married John Thomas…

1942 – 2021      Gordon Woodell of Tabor City died Thursday, Aug. 5, in Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center, Whiteville. He was 78.      Born Nov. 30, 1942 in Robeson County, he was the son of the late Colon Ray Woodell and Hallie Bass Woodell.      Mr. Gordon was a member of Cherry Grove Baptist Church.      He is…

1931 – 2021      Ancel “Ann” Alford of Jacksonville, Florida died peacefully on Friday July 30. She was 90.      She was born Ancel Riley on Feb. 13, 1931 in Tabor City to Virginia and Clay Riley.      She was preceded in death by her mother, father and sister Elaine Eyers. Her father Clay died at a young age…

1953 – 2021      Judy Grey Watts King of Chadbourn died Friday, July 30, in her home. She was 67.      Born Aug. 7, 1953 in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late Leon F. “Bill” Watts and Edith Grey Blackburn Watts.      She is survived by two sons, Christopher David Watts and wife Erin of…

1953 – 2021      Glenn Alan Ward of Whiteville died Sunday, Aug. 1, in Atrium Health Cabarrus, Concord. He was 68.      Born April 3, 1953 in Columbus County, he was the son of the late James Dayton and Nona Puckett Ward.      He was a Veteran of the United States Army.      He is survived by his wife,…

1948 – 2021      Daniel Errol Wright of Tabor City died Sunday, Aug. 1, in his home. He was 73.      Born Jan. 11, 1948 in Hartford County, Maryland, he was the son of the late Thomas Deleon Wright and Annie Ruth Hardee Wright.      He is survived by two daughters, Samantha Adrienne Wright Harrison and husband Matthew…

1947 – 2021      Linda Grainger Harrelson of Wilmington died Saturday, July 172021 in Wilmington. She was 73. Born Nov. 17, 1947 in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late Braxton Emory and Lucille Williams Grainger.      She is survived by her husband, Ricky Harrelson of the home; her daughter, Jamie Lynn Crist and her husband…

1949 – 2021      Stephen Gary Buffkin of Tabor City died Friday, July 30, in his home. He was 71.      Born Oct. 29, 1949 in Marion County, he was the son of Eva Marie Stephens Buffkin and the late James Roy Buffkin.      In addition to his mother, he is survived by his sister, Donna Rouse of…

1966 – 2021      Danny Vernon Norris of Loris died Friday, July 30, in the McLeod Loris hospital. He was 55. Born Jan. 26, 1966, he was the son of late Charles Thurston “Tood” Norris.      In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one brother, Randy Charles “Toss” Norris.      He is survived by…