Area Obituaries

    Willa Mae Garrell Ray of Tabor City died Monday, July 28, in Autumn Care in Shallotte. She was 87.     She was born June 26, 1927 in Columbus County to the late Hosea McCray and Olivia Hewett Garrell. She was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert Faxon Ray; and two brothers, Bruce and Willard Garrell.…

    Franklin Long, Jr. of Hanken Sack, N.J. and formerly of the Dothan community, died Friday, July 18. He was  73.     He was the son of the late Frank Long, Sr. and Purvy Long.     Mr. Long is survived by his wife, Mary Patsy Long; three children, Mary, Kenneth and Dale Long; sister, Rena…

    Cela Hinson Coats of Loris passed away Wednesday, July 23. She was 79.     Mrs. Coats was born in Loris a daughter of the late Trenton Hinson and the late Lois Cox Hinson.        She was predeceased by one brother, Deryl Hinson and one sister, Sonya Bostic.     She is survived by her…

    Brenda Darlene Smith of Loris passed away Friday, July 18 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center following an illness. She was 63.     Miss Smith was born December 25, 1950 in Covington, Va., the daughter of the late Mr. Eugene C. Smith and the late Mrs. Nellie Jane Smith.     Survivors include her sister,…

    Jiggs Waddell of Loris died Wednesday, July 23 in Tideland Community Hospice Center, Georgetown. He was 79.      He was born Aug. 21, 1934 in Columbus County to the late Rozier and Irene Soles Waddell.       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jerry Waddell and…

    Cynthia Lynn McDowell Todd of Loris lost her battle with dermatomyositis Monday, July 21 with her family by her side. She was 52.     She was predeceased by one brother, Ronnie McDowell; her grandparents, Leona and Worth McDowell, and Geneva and Sam Small; and her father-in-law, Johnnie W. Todd; and stepfather Jiggs Waddell.   …

    Retha Mae Stroud Bellamy of Loris entered into eternal rest Saturday, July 19, at the Medical University of South Carolina following a brief illness. She was 83.     Mrs. Bellamy was born Sept. 30, 1930, in Green Sea, a daughter of the late William Bertie Stroud and the late Rose Anna Strickland Stroud. She…

    Michael Dale Wright, Sr. of Tabor City died Sunday, July 20, in Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville. He was 52.     He was born March 13, 1962 in Columbus County to Minnie Gore Blackburn and the late William Eugene Wright. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sandy Lynn…

    James Ralph Tripp Sr. of Ash age 76 died Saturday, July 19, in Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville. He was 76.     Born in Brunswick County, he was the son of the late OZ and Grace Hines Tripp.     He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Leona B. Tripp of Ash; two sons,…