December 31

LEO MADISON HESTER

Leo Madison Hester, 91, of Bladenboro, entered into eternal rest Saturday, December 29, 2007.

Mr. Hester was born in Bladen County to Matthew Munn and Susan (Sudie) Hilburn Hester. He retired from the United States Navy, where he was a Chief Petty Officer. He was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. Mr. Hester also retired from the Converse Rubber Company.

Mr. Hester was a devoted Christian. He was also a devoted member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir member, and trustee. He loved his family, friends, and community. He also valued nature, agriculture, and art. Mr. Hester always loved “making things work”.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Davis Hester; a daughter, Alice Faye Hester; granddaughter, Teresa Edwards; parents, Matthew Munn and Susan Hilburn Hester; brothers, Opie Hester and Thedford Hester; and a sister, Hattie Miller.

Mr. Hester is survived by two sons: Rev. Charles Hester and wife, Dot, of Riegelwood, and Isaac Hester and wife, Carolyn, of Bladenboro; four daughters, Phyllis Lewis and husband, Seth, of Bladenboro, Sophia Edwards and husband, Cliff, of Fayetteville, Jennifer Martin and husband, Rev. Merle, of Wake Forest, and Brenda Smith and husband, Wilbur, of Bladenboro; one brother, Elden Hester of Bladenboro; five sisters, Versie Hickman of Bladenboro, Gladysteen Pait of Bladenboro, Martilla Freeman of Bladenboro, Rometta Warren of Newton Grove, and Tennessee Shipman of Ocean Isle Beach; twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Ada Pait of Bladenboro.

The visitation was held on Sunday, December 30, 2007 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Bladen Funeral Home. The funeral was Monday, December 31, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Hickory Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Brust officiating. Burial followed in Hickory Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to www.bladenfuneralhome.com.

Services entrusted to Bladen Funeral Home, Elizabethtown, NC.

JAMES MURPHY KINLAW

James Murphy Kinlaw, 63, of Bladenboro, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, at his home.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jerline Kinlaw; his father, Murphy Kinlaw; his mother, Estelle Kinlaw Dettman; his brother, Herbert Lee Kinlaw; and a granddaughter, Amanda P. Hickman. He was a Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Air Force, and retired from DuPont.

Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 11 a.m., at Hickory Grove Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 1, at Greater Vision Freewill Baptist Church from 6 until 8 p.m.

He is survived by one son, Mike Kinlaw of Bladenboro; two daughters, Teresa Lynn Hickman of Supply and Kimberly Pittman of Bladenboro; one brother, Bennie Earl Kinlaw of Barnwell, S.C.; one sister, Pam Roberts of Bladenboro; five grandchildren, Johnnie Hickman, Kayla Pittman, Trent Pittman, Jacob Kinlaw and Jarrett Kinlaw; and three great-grandchildren, Ashley Jerline Kinlaw, Amber Hickman and Abbie Hickman.

Online condolences may be made at www.bladenfuneralhome.com.

A service of Bladen Funeral Home.

PATRICIA HILL

Patricia Hill, 64, of 621 Nolan Ave., Whiteville, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare System.

Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.

Friends may visit the family at the home of Sandra Hill Chestnut, 53 Stanley Circle, Whiteville.

A service of Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.

DOROTHY YVONNE MUNN WILLIS

Dorothy Yvonne Munn Willis, 49, of 522 Mears Road, Clarkton, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007, in Bladen County Hospital.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, Dec. 30, at Faith Temple Church in Clarkton, with the Rev. Clifton Wooten officiating. Burial was in Cromartie Hill Cemetery. Viewing was held on Saturday, Dec. 29.

She is survived by two daughters, April A. Munn and Angel A. Willis; nine sisters, Mary Hatcher, Hazel Leach, Annie Whitfield, Mary Jones, Channie Bordeaux, Helen Kelly, Louise Mitchell, Bessie Leavens, and Avis H. Williams; three brothers Nathaniel Munn, Arthur Munn, and Jesse Munn; and three grandchildren.

A service of F.W. Newton and Sons Mortuary of Elizabethtown.

BILLY DEE SIMMONS

Billy Dee Simmons, 23, of Norfolk, Virginia, formerly of Tar Heel, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. He served in the U.S. Navy.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, at the Faith Tabernacle Christian Center in St. Pauls, with Pastors Earl and Denise Goins officiating. Burial was in the Tar Heel Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Chiara Miller Simmons; one son, Jamari Simmons; mother, Debra Simmons; father, Willie Richardson Jr.; one brother, Dimitri Simmons; and one sister, Arabia Simmons.

A service of F.W. Newton and Sons Mortuary of Elizabethtown.

GAIL DEVONNE CARTER

Gail Devonne Carter, 52, of 417 West Columbus St., Whiteville, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at Columbus Regional Healthcare System in Whiteville.

Arrangements will be announced by Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville.

ANTHONY (RED) T. BRISSON

Anthony (Red) T. Brisson, 80, of Charlotte, formerly of Dublin, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at his residence.

He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 29, at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, with the Rev. Leland K. Stephens and the Rev. Morris Little officiating. Interment followed in Forest Lawn West Cemetery. Visitation was from 1 until 2:30 p.m. prior to the service.

Surviving are his wife, Rebecca Spivey Brisson; sons, Jack Brisson of Rock Hill, S.C., and Stephen Brisson of Charlotte; daughters, Wendy Grayson and Barbara Brisson, both of Charlotte; brothers, Maurice Brisson of Dublin, and Virgil Brisson of Saluda, S.C.; sisters Evelyn McCormick of Virginia and Audrey Dunham of Dublin; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, N.C. 28204, or Parkinson Foundation Support Group, 1401 E. 7th St., Charlotte, N.C. 28204.

A service of Forest Lawn Funeral and Cremation Service.

RAYMOND FENNELL

Raymond Fennell, 90, of 3776 Delway Highway, Harrells, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2007, at Southwood Nursing Center in Clinton.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today, at Ward’s Chapel Baptist Church in Harrells. The Rev. Glenwood Hemmingway will officiate. Burial will follow in the Keathern Baptist Church Cemetery in Harrells.

He is survived by his wife, Maggie Fennell of Clinton; one daughter, Ernestine Boykin of New Jersey; one stepdaughter, Evelyn Chestnutt of Clinton; one sister, Mary Henry of Clinton; and two step-grandchildren.

Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home in Garland. Family and friends will be received at other times at the home of Betty Johnson located at 1535 Tomahawk Highway, Harrells. Online condoleneces may be sent through www.carterfh.com. A service of Carter Funeral Home in Garland.