All Obituaries

Gerald Franklin Jackson, 86, passed away Friday, May 17, 2019.  A Celebration of Life service will take place at First Baptist Church on Monday at 2:30 pm.   Gerald was born and raised in Lincolnton, NC. The son of Arthur and Bertie Jackson, he was a resident of Sanford for the last 49 years.     Gerald, a graduate of Lincolnton High School in 1951, joined the U.S. Army as a security agent, where he served in Massachusetts for one year and Panama for two years. ...

Herbert Clayton “H.C.” Moretz   One of Sanford’s most colorful residents, Herbert Clayton “H.C.” Moretz (86) passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 16, 2019 at Central Carolina Hospital.   He had been in failing health but was his indomitable self until hospitalized. Always with a strong opinion and not afraid to state it, he was a prolific writer of fiction with one published book, “H’s Stories,” along with three...

Glenn Ray Gunter, 86, of Sanford passed away Thursday May 16, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Sunday at Pocket Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.   Mr. Gunter was born in Lee Co a son of the late Alfred J Gunter and Flossie Jane Wicker Gunter. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Audrey G. Beachler; siblings, Mabel Holt, Farris Gunter, Woodrow Gunter, Laughlin Gunter, and Jewell Gunter. Mr. Gunter served the US Army during the Korean...

Russell Washington Townsend Jr. 69 of Sanford passed away at home with his family on Tuesday May 14, 2019. Memorial services will be held at 4:00pm Friday May 17, 2019 at Rogers Pickard Funeral Home.   Mr. Townsend was born in Cumberland County son of the late Russell Washington Townsend Sr. and Alma Croom Townsend.   He is survived by his wife Louise Bulla Townsend; daughter Nanette “Nan” Thompson (Peter); son Ryan Townsend (Marci) of Sanford; sister Becky McInnis...

Elzie Randell Whitt, 72 of Sanford, passed away Monday May 13,2019. Funeral services will be held 4:00pmThursday May 16, 2019 at Calvary Missionary Methodist Church. Burial will be private.   Mr. Whitt was born in West Virginia November 7, 1946 to the late Ernest Whitt and Dora McKoy Whitt. He is also preceded in death wife Edna Jean Whitt; brother Donald Whitt and sister Jean Steele.   He is survived by his sons Randall Whitt (Angelia Godfrey), Richard Whitt (Lisa Sheldon) of...

Milton Thomas Cole, 83, of Carthage passed away Thursday May 9, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Saturday at White Hill Presbyterian Church with Rev. Brown Patton and Dana Brewer officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.   Mr. Cole was born January 20, 1936 to the late Lealon “Red” and Mae Tillman Cole. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Shelby Cole Cooper, Carolyn Cole Jones and Gail Cole Jen.   Mr. Cole served in the United...

CWO4 Joseph Russell Phillips, US Army Retired, 90, of Sanford passed away Friday May 3, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 4pm Thursday May 9th at Calvary Missionary Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.   Mr. Phillips was born in Randolph Co, a son of the late David Yokeley and Elva Rumley Yokeley. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Correa Phillips; son Mark Phillips; daughters Merrilee Enomoto and Peggy Turner; granddaughter Megan Kruger;...

Raymond Hester, 89, of Sanford, passed away Friday May 3, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 11am Monday at Cool Springs Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.   Mr. Hester was born in Granville County on October 8, 1929 to the late Moffitt David Hester and Hazel Parrott Hester. He was also preceded in death by his brother Winston, sister-in-law Margaret Hester and brother-in-law Virgil Cole.  He worked for Sanford Construction Company for many years and...

Marie Briggs Childress, 88 of Sanford passed away Wednesday May 1, 2019. Graveside services will be held at 11:00am Saturday at Buffalo Cemetery.   Mrs. Childress was born in Lee Co, a daughter of the late Ernest Gilbert Lee Briggs and Mattie Pearl Conrad Briggs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson “Scrub” Childress Jr, and her sister, Mary B. Shuford. Mrs. Childress loved spending time at Caswell Beach and, was the longest living member of First Presbyterian...

Kaye Francis Meadows Peters, 81 of N Topsail Beach peacefully passed away Wednesday May 1, 2019.   Mrs. Peters was born in Lincoln Co, WVa, daughter of the late Ronald W. Meadows Sr and Lois Woodrum Meadows.  She was preceded in death by a son, Mike Peters and her brother, Ronnie Meadows Jr.   Mrs. Peters is survived by her husband, Norman E. Peters Sr of N Topsail Beach; son Ed Peters and wife Paula of N Topsail Beach; daughter in law, Cindy Peters of GA; sister, Carolyn...