Obituaries

Sep 17, 2025

Wallace Ralph Johnson, 87, of Littleton, NC passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 in Wayne County, NC.  Mr. Johnson was born on September 20, 1937, the son of the late Hulda Sandberg and Ralph Johnson.  He was also preceded in death by his wife Loretta.

Mr. Johnson was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Gaston,...

Sep 17, 2025

Obituary: Rene Labrecque (1946 - 2025)

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rene Labrecque, age 78, who passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025.   He was born on December 26, 1946 in Berlin, New Hampshire to the late Rita (Robichaud) and Gerard Labrecque.  He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and...

Sep 14, 2025

Marilyn Ruth Riggan, 73 of Halifax, North Carolina passed away peacefully at Scotland Manor on Sunday September 14, 2025.  Marilyn was born on January 11, 1952, in Petersburg, Virginia. She is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Therese Riggan, her son James “Peanut” Roland Matthews Jr., and sister Judith Lousie Riggan Smith.

She is survived...

Sep 8, 2025

Gwendolyn Ann Drewett Hess, 79 of Halifax, passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025 in ECU North Hospital.  Ms. Hess was born on November 25, 1945, the daughter of the late Mary Ethel Johnson and Joseph Dillard Drewett and was the widow of the late Anthony Wade Hess Sr.  She was also preceded in death by her son Anthony...

Sep 8, 2025

Jerry Carlton Hedgepeth, 73, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Monday, September 8, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.  He was born in Halifax County on May 3, 1952, to the late Thearie Hedgepeth.  In addition to his mother, he preceded in death by his brother Dan Hedgepeth; his sisters Vivian Staley and Gail Hedgepeth.

Jerry...

Sep 6, 2025

James Edwin Newton, 75, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025.  Mr. Newton was born on December 14, 1949, the son of the late Bessie Virginia Green and Jennis Dow Newton, Jr.  He was also preceded in death by his brother William Earl Newton and Jessie Wayne Newton.

Mr. Newton was a huge NC...

Sep 5, 2025

Julia died at the age of ­­­­­­90 of natural causes at Heritage Green Senior Living Center in Mechanicsville, VA.  She was born on a Friday to Charles and Annie Acree Spence in Mecklenburg, VA.  Julia was the youngest of six children (two boys and four girls) in a warm and loving family.  She was generous, kind, creative, and an...

Sep 3, 2025

Betty DeBerry, 89 of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 in her home.  Ms. DeBerry was born in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Berta Ada Hilton and William Edward Cushing.

Surviving include her children: Noah Dean DeBerry (Cindy), Teresa Daniels of Gaston, Kathy Myrick of Roanoke Rapids, and Donna Briggs of Littleton;...

Sep 3, 2025

Edward “Ed” Eugene Johnson, 72 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his residence surrounded by family on Wednesday September 3, 2025.  Ed was born on December 22, 1952, in Danville Illinois. He was preceded in death by his dad Elbert “Jigs” Lovett and mom Alien Lovett, sisters Laura Doggett, Liddie Rogers and Connie Rogers, Eugene Johnson...

Aug 31, 2025

Dorothy Allen "Sis" Waters, 93, of Roanoke Rapids, died August 31, 2025 in Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Dorothy was born in Halifax County August 19, 1932, the daughter of the late Lee Allen and Dora Love Allen. She is also preceded in death by her husband Donald Waters and her son Lin Walker.

She...

Aug 17, 2025

Betty Louise Rose Tompkins, 86, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025 in Hampton Manor.  Ms. Tompkins was born on February 5, 1939 in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Hettie Finch Rose and James W. Rose and was the widow of the late Henry Webster Tompkins.

A Private Burial will be held...

Aug 17, 2025

Betty Lee Guldberg, 82, of Henrico, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home on Sunday August 17, 2025.  Betty was born on July 25, 1943, in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was preceded in death by parents Flemming and Dorthy Guldberg.

She is survived by her caretaker Draper Mitchell (Shelly), lifelong friend Billie Beddingfield and...

Aug 14, 2025

Angela Lorene Poarch Wilson, 58 of Gasburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Thursday August 14, 2025.  Angela was born on November 11, 1966, in Richmond. she was preceded in death by parents Richard and Sadie Jean, brothers James Taylor, Eddie Poarch, sister Jean Phillips and aunts Beckey Presson and Peggy Harrell.

...

Aug 11, 2025

Wilburn Doyce “RUSTY” Draper of Meridian, MS passed away peacefully surrounded by his children on Monday August 11, 2025.  Rusty is preceded in death by his wife Margaret Oliver Draper (whom he was married to for 66 years), his parents, T.J. Draper and Vada Lee Draper, and his brothers J.C. Draper and Tommy Draper.

Rusty is survived...

Aug 6, 2025

William Debernia Alston, 88, of Roanoke Rapids passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.  Mr. Alston was born on May 2, 1937, in Halifax County, the son of the late Mariam Best and Debernia Hooper Alston and was the widow of that late Etta Mae Alston.   He was also preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Margaret Alston.

...

Aug 5, 2025

Carlton Rupert “Gunsmoke” Shaw 87, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at ECU Health North Hospital.

Carlton was born January 13, 1938, in Halifax County to the late Rupert Shaw and Clarice Pepper Shaw. Carlton was also preceded in death by the love of his life two months ago and two weeks prior to...

Jul 31, 2025

Johnny Joyner (Big John), 71 of Gaston, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, peacefully at his home. Johnny was born on April 9, 1954, in Halifax County, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents Johnnie and Lucille Joyner.

Johnny was a loving husband, daddy, and granddaddy (Da Da). He was an avid musician,...

Jul 31, 2025

Barbara Gray Kirby, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in her home on July 31, 2025 at the age of 70. Born on February 21, 1955, to late George Thomas Gray and late Georgia Mae Sykes Gray, Barbara was the cherished “knee baby” among four closely bonded sisters: Pamela Gray Keeter, the late Dallie Elizabeth Gray-Robertson,...

Jul 27, 2025

Eddie Lee "W.D." Edwards passed away at the age of 85 peacefully at home with his daughter Donna and her fiancé Daniel by his side.

Eddie the baby boy of the family born in Ivor, VA to the late William Dennis and Annie Johnson Edwards on March 21, 1940. He was best known to everyone as "W.D."...

Jul 25, 2025

Freddy Ray Warren, 71, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025 in ECU North Hospital.  Mr. Warren was born on February 17, 1954 in Roanoke Rapids, the son of the late Emma Mae Dickens Taylor and Hassell Andrew Warren.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Ashley Warren.

Surviving include his wife Tammy...