Obituaries

Mar 26, 2025

Burnette Bryan "B.B." Morgan, Jr., 86, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Born on January 11, 1939, he was the son of the late Burnette Bryan Morgan, Sr. and Bertha Woodruff.

B.B. was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Hawkins Morgan, and his son,...

Mar 25, 2025

John Daniel Rauhe, 70 of Roanoke Rapids passed away on March 25, 2025, at The Landings of Lake Gaston, Littleton, NC.

John was born on February 26, 1955, in Roanoke Rapids, NC to the late Daniel (Danny) Rauhe and Estelle (Bobbie) Rauhe. He was also preceded in death by his sister Cherri Rauhe Steadman and his brother,...

Mar 25, 2025

Ernest Jimmie Coggins, 92, of Roanoke Rapids passed away March 25, 2025, at ECU North Hospital.  Mr. Coggins was born on June 10, 1932, to the late Jimmie Mahlon Coggins and Stella Casper Coggins.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Council Coggins; his sisters Catherine “Sis” Coggins and Frances Coggins Leake.

Mr. Coggins was...

Mar 24, 2025

Ruth Harris Wester, 91, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Monday, March 24, 2025, at her home.  She was born on August 17, 1933, in Warren County to the late T. J. Harris and Northia Wood Harris.  She is preceded in death by her husband Doctor Johnson Wester.

Ruth loved her family and loved working for Larry and...

Mar 21, 2025

Shirley Williams Baird, 86, of Gaston, NC passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, at her home.  She was born in Wilson County on May 1, 1938, to the late David Williams and Mabel Patterson Williams.  Ms. Baird was also preceded in death by her husband John L. Baird, her brother C. H. Williams, and her sister Lynette Coley.

Mar 20, 2025

Frances Howell, 94, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025 in Warren Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Mrs. Howell is surviving by her daughter Betsey Leigh Howell.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 2, 2025at the Mitchell Family Cemetery, 660 Mitchell Store Road, Youngsville, NC 27596.

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Mar 19, 2025

Cynthia Woodruff Willey, 67 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina passed away peacefully at Signature Health & Rehabilitation on Wednesday March 19, 2025.  Cynthia was born on January 16, 1958, in Halifax County. She was preceded in death by her husband Rusty Willey and her parents Percell and Christine Woodruff.

She is survived by her brothers Richard Woodruff...

Mar 19, 2025

James Rufus Patteson, 89, of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away on March 19, 2025, at ECU North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC.  He was born October 25, 1935, to the late Jesse Robet Patteson and Exie Dean Gore Patteson in Mercer County, West Virginia.  He is preceded in death by his wife Norma Jean Patteson, his brothers Crozier Patteson,...

Mar 18, 2025

Judy Page Beckelman, a beloved mother, devoted wife, and faithful follower of Christ, passed away peacefully at the age of 82, surrounded by her family on March 18, 2025.

Judy was the proud mother of six children, who were her greatest joy and life’s purpose. She dedicated her life to being a stay-at-home mom, lovingly nurturing her...

Mar 16, 2025

William Edward Lenz, 83, of Littleton passed away Sunday, March 16, 2025, at ECU North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC. Bill was born in Detroit, MI on February 20, 1942 to the late William Garrett Lenz and Mildred Yarger Lenz. He is preceded in death by his brother George Lenz and sisters Patricia Lenz and Mary Lou Lenz.

Mar 16, 2025

Annie Overton Davis, 43, of Roanoke Rapids, NC, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in UNC Medical Center.  Annie is preceded in death by her father C. Wayne Davis.

Surviving  include her mother Yvonne Stansbury Davis, her sister Ashley Berggren (Ryan) of Cary, NC, her brother Spencer Davis (Melissa) of Roanoke Rapids, and her nieces and...

Mar 13, 2025

Gary Thomas Pruden, 66, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in ECU Medical Center in Greenville. NC.  Mr. Pruden was born in Halifax County, the son of Dorothy Thacker and Thomas Martin Pruden.

Mr. Pruden was a member of Central Baptist, he loved the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Hurricanes, watching Nascar, along with cooking....

Mar 13, 2025

Wilburt Carlton Conner, 90 of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina passed away peacefully at ECU-North Hospital on Thursday March 13, 2025. Wilburt was born on January 27, 1935, in Halifax County. He was preceded in death by his parents Eddie and Velma Conner, brothers Edward Conner and Peter Conner and sister Hazel Fanney.

He is survived by his...

Mar 11, 2025

Tina Wood Meadows, 67, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at ECU Medical Center in Greenville. Mrs. Meadows was born on January 18, 1958 in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Priscilla Tickle and Samuel R. Wood Sr and was also preceded by her husband Claude Lee Meadows and her brother Samuel Richard Wood,...

Mar 7, 2025

Claude Lee Meadows, 69, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025 at his home. Mr. Meadows was born on April 11, 1955 in Halifax County, the son of the late Frances Ann Walker and Claude Easton Meadows.  Mr. Meadows worked for over 30 years in steel fab.   He loved taking road trips, camping, and spending times...

Mar 5, 2025

John Millard Birdsong, a faithful servant of the Lord completed his earthly journey and stepped in the arms of Jesus on March 5th, 2025. Johnny was born, March 3rd, 1935, in Roanoke Rapids.

Johnny was one of five children born to the late John Millard Birdsong and Virginia Birdsong. He was reunited in Heaven with his siblings...

Mar 2, 2025

Joyce Maria Murphy Johnston, 79 of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025 in her home. Mrs. Johnston was born on October 21, 1945 in Richmond, VA, the daughter of the late Elizabeth and Jerry Bailey. She was also preceded in death by her son Donald Ray Murphy, her grandson Richard Andrew Leigh Mayton, IV., her sister...

Mar 1, 2025

George John Chalmers, 59 formally of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina passed away peacefully at Waterside Health & Rehabilitation in Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday March 1, 2025. George was born on January 11, 1966, in Port Chester, New York. He was preceded in death by his father George Richard Chalmers.

He is survived by his mother Ethal Elizabeth...

Feb 27, 2025

Gary Eugene Birdsong, 81 of Knightdale, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Thursday February 27, 2025. Gary was born on May 22, 1943, in Halifax County. He was preceded in death by his parents Rufus and Margaret Birdsong and sister Vickie Birdsong Price.

He is survived by his son Shane Birdsong, daughter Angel Marie Birdsong, grandchildren Alicia,...

Feb 26, 2025

Debra “Debbie” Jean Turner, 71 of Roanoke Rapids, NC passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday February 26, 2025. Debbie was born on January 3, 1953, in Halifax County. She was preceded in death by her parents Claude Johnson and Dorothy Jenkins, her sister Kathy Brewer, her brother troy Johnson, and her “fur baby”...