Obituaries

Mar 16, 2024

James William Leake, Jr., (aka Junebug), 91, of Roanoke Rapids passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in his home.  Mr. Leake was born on March 14, 1933, in Roanoke Rapids, the son of the late Mollie Cobb and James William Leake, Sr.  He was also preceded in death by his wife Doris Fulghum Leake and his siblings, Claude...

Mar 15, 2024

Reverend Fred William Ash Sr. 87 of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at his home on Friday March 15, 2024.  Fred was born on December 11, 1936, in Steubenville, Ohio He was preceded in death by his father Harry Ray Ash and his Uncle Alvie and Aunt Lori who helped raise him, his sister Doris Ash Dobson and...

Mar 12, 2024

Ernest Benjamin Johnson, 77, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at his home.  Mr. Johnson was born on July 18, 1946, the son of the late Sarah Matthews and Charles Alexander Johnson.  He was also preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Johnson.

Mr. Johnson served our country as a member of the...

Mar 11, 2024

Steve A. Murphy, 70, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Monday, March 11, 2024, at his home.

Steve was born December 14, 1953, in Coolidge Georgia to the late Harry Augustus Murphy and Dartha Mae Phinazee Murphy.

Steve proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps.

Steve is survived by his wife...

Mar 10, 2024

James “Jim” Arthur Register, Jr. 89, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2024, at The Landings in Littleton, NC.

Jim was born June 18, 1934, in Portsmouth, VA.  He was the son of the late James Arthur Register, Sr., and Katie Mae Whitson Register.  He was also preceded in death by his brother Robert Register,...

Mar 9, 2024

Edward “Eddie” Berry Cooke Jr. 55 of Myrtle Beach, SC passed away at his home on Saturday March 9, 2024.  Eddie was born on August 20, 1968, in Roanoke Rapids. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Raymond and Annie Mae Woodruff, Bernard Cooke, Louise C. and B.W. Brown and his uncle's Ray Woodruff and Mike Woodruff.

Mar 9, 2024

William Howell Weeks III of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday March 9, 2024.  William was preceded by his parents William H. Weeks Jr and Edna D. Weeks, his first wife Deb Weeks.

William is survived by his wife Cecilia, his sons Travis (Elizabeth) Weeks and Glenn Weeks, his brother Charles (Linda)...

Mar 8, 2024

Brian Thomas Ruffin, 57, of Grifton, NC passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024 at his home.  He was born on January 24, 1967 in Wilson< NC.  He was preceded in death by his fathers Lindwood Ruffin and Butch Carlisle and his nephews:  Drew Carlisle and Dwayne Heustess.

Surviving include his mother Beverly Carlisle, his wife Lynne...

Mar 4, 2024

Samuel “Sambo” Martin West of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at ECU-North hospital on Monday March 4, 2024.  Sambo was born on March 30, 1951, in Embro NC.  He was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Bessie West, his brothers Mike West, Donnie West and sister Joyce Nowell.

Sambo is survived by his wife...

Mar 2, 2024

Shawn Travis Rose 58 of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday March 2, 2024.  Shawn was born on March 9, 1965, in Halifax County.  He was preceded in death by his father Floyd C Rose, his wife Sharon Rose, his brothers Timothy L Rose, Tommy Rose, Jerry Wayne Rose and stepbrother Timothy Deberry.

Mar 2, 2024

Suzanne Joan (Abshire) McCall peacefully passed beyond this world surrounded by friends and family on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Suzanne was born to Adeline (Rodak) Abshire and Asel Paul Abshire on October 28, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. In her youth, the Abshire family relocated to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where Suzanne spent much of her life before building and moving...

Mar 1, 2024

M. Ray Mabrey, 82, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at UNC Rex Healthcare in Raleigh.

Ray was born December 30, 1941 in Roanoke Rapids. Ray was the son of the late Millard R. Mabrey and Viola Harris Mabrey. Ray was also preceded in death by his sisters, Mittie Ann Hux and Elsie M....

Feb 29, 2024

Benjamin “Buster” Wilson Moore Jr., 73, of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away on Thursday February 29, 2024.  “Buster” was born on October 17, 1950, in Halifax.  He was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin Moore of Gaston and Gertrude Beck of Alamogordo, NM.

He was a beloved Christian, husband, father, grandfather, and decorated US Air Force...

Feb 25, 2024

Shirlian Diane Rademaker Ross 58 of Cary, NC passed away peacefully at WakeMed-Cary on Sunday February 25, 2024.  Shirlian was born on August 15, 1965, in Alabama.  She was preceded in death by her mother Mildred L. Rademaker.

Shirlian is survived by her daughter Jessica Ross (Joshua Fairbee), her son Christopher Ross (Jessica Hedgepeth), her father Charles...

Feb 21, 2024

Sheila Nowell Cooke Hardee, 76 of Roanoke Rapids passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.  Mrs. Hardee was born in Halifax County on November 9, 1947, the daughter of the late Lala Virginia Jolly and Thomas Eugene Nowell.  She was also preceded in death by her brother David Nowell.

Sheila was a long time employee of Ralph’s...

Feb 20, 2024

Rush White, 79 of Newport, NC, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at Crystal Coast Hospice House.

Mr. White was born on September 22, 1945 in Willis, Va, the son of the late Canada and Mary White.  He was also preceded in death by his brothers: Wayne, Tommy (Teresa) and Dean.

Rush worked for...

Feb 18, 2024

Gary Robert Mori, II, passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2024 in New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington, NC.

Mr. Mori was born on October 7, 1981 in Halifax County, NC.  He had a passion for cooking.

Surviving include his mother Melodi Carroll (Milton); his father Gary Mori; his sister Sumer Baldwin; his nephew Carter Kidd;...

Feb 15, 2024

Brenda Rook Mahaffey 78 of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at her residence on Thursday February 15, 2024.  Brenda was born on January 4, 1946, in Roanoke Rapids.  She was preceded in death her husband Freddie Lee Mahaffey, her parents Elmer L. and Edith K. Rook and her sister Faye Rook.

Brenda is survived by her...

Feb 12, 2024

Michael Payton Woodruff, 68, of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away Monday, February 12, 2024, at ECU North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids.  He was born July 26, 1955, in Halifax County to the late Jesse Payton Woodruff and Betty Lou Birdsong Woodruff.  He is also preceded in death by his great grandson Elijah and his niece Karen.

He...

Feb 12, 2024

Carl Ezekial Hinchey, 74, of Littleton, NC passed peacefully at his home on February 12, 2024.  Mr. Hinchey was born on January 12, 1950 in Johnston County, NC, the son of the late Elwood and Vicie Hinchey.  Carl spent most of his adult life in Wilson, NC where he worked in the electrical supply business.  Upon his retirement, he...