Area Obituaries

1933 – 2023      Gracie Arnette Watts of Tabor City passed away on April 7 in Wilmington. She was 90.      Born Jan. 17, 1933 in Horry County, she was a daughter of Otha A. Arnette, Sr. and Jessie W. Arnette.      She and her deceased husband, Carol, began their 73-year marriage on Aug. 19, 1949.      Gracie was a…

1946 – 2023      Herman “Arnold” Gerald passed away on Thursday, March 30, at his home in Little River following an illness. He was 76.      Born Nov. 6, 1946, in Longs, he was the son of the late Herman Gerald and the late Ruth Cox Gerald.      Mr. Gerald served his country with courage and honor in…

1950 – 2023      Harold Alfred Coons of Hallsboro died Thursday, March 30, in Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. He was 73.      He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, a son of the late John and Lorraine (Kilby) Coons. He had lived in Hallsboro for ten years.      He is survived by his wife, Marie A. Coons…

1940 – 2023      Phyllis Cox Todd of Loris, formerly of North Charleston, passed away on March 28 surrounded by her family. She was 83.      She was born January 5, 1940, in Loris to the late H. Brooks Cox and Velma Gause Cox.      In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, LaRue…

1940 – 2023      Lavon Pressly Thompson of Loris said goodbye to his family and friends on Monday, March 13, and was welcomed to his heavenly home by friends and family who had gone before him. He was 82.      He was born July 9, 1940, in Little River to the late King O. Thompson and Vera…

1947 – 2023      John Wesley Cartrette of the Beaverdam community, Chadbourn, died Tuesday, March 28, in the Lower Cape Fear Hospice and LifeCareCenter, Whiteville. He was 75.      Born in Chadbourn, he was a son of the late William Albert Cartrette and Agnus Mae (Hardie) Cartrette.      He was a cabinet builder with Hinson Cabinet Shop and worked…

1932 – 2023      Shirley Ann O’Dell Craigie of Loris passed away on Saturday, March 25, at McLeod Loris hospital following a brief illness. She was 90.      Born Aug. 8, 1932 in Trenton, New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth Walker O’Dell and the late Gladys Mae Stoop O’Dell.      Mrs. Craigie graduated from…

1943 – 2023      Betty Gail Smith Simmons of Chadbourn died Sunday, March 26, in the Lower Cape Hospice and LifeCareCenter, Whiteville. She was 79.      Born in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late James Paul Smith and Arnesa Faulk Smith.      She was the widow of Carl Simmons.      In addition to her parents and…

1933 – 2023      Rev. William Moody “Billy” Prince of Tabor City died Saturday evening, March 25, in his home. He was 89.      Born in Columbus County, he was the son of the late John Mion Prince and Myrtle Butler Prince. He was the widower of Dessie Viola Cartrette Prince.      He is survived by one son,…

1933 – 2023      Faye Page Hufford passed away on Tuesday, March 21, at her home in Loris. She was 89.      Born May 1, 1933 in Lakeview, she was the daughter of the late June Page and the late Rebecca Graham Page.      Mrs. Hufford was known as the “cake lady” and taught cake decorating classes at…