Roy Lee Ruffin
Funeral service for Mr. Roy Lee Ruffin, 43, of 516 Wayne St., Wilson, who died Monday at Wilson Medical Center, will be conducted Saturday at 1 p.m. at Abundant Life Church Ministries, 2965 SW Forest Hills Road, Wilson. The Rev. Richard Mercer will officiate. Burial will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Survivors are two daughters, Miracle Alexandria Roberson and Kristi Bryant, both of Wilson; his mother, Ilene Ruffin Barnes, of Wilson; his maternal grandmother, Mary Ruffin, of the home; his paternal grandmother, Annie Barnes, of Saratoga; six sisters, Bettie Ruffin, Bernadine Fleming (Willie), Theretha Ruffin, Roxanne Barnes, all of Wilson, Pearlene Lucas of Sharpsburg and Thelma Givers of Paterson, N.J.; four brothers, Purcell Ruffin (Ann), Willie Earl Ruffin, Jimmie Ruffin, all of Wilson, and Billie Barnes of Pikeville; a speci
al uncle, who was like a brother, Christopher Ruffin, of the home; 10 aunts; nine other uncles; 20 nieces; eight nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A public viewing will be held Friday from 2-8:30 p.m. at Carrons Funeral Home, 325 E. Nash St., Wilson, with the family receiving friends there from 7-8 p.m. They will receive friends at all other times at the residence and will assemble there one hour prior to service in preparation for the funeral procession. Arrangements have been entrusted to Carrons Funeral Home, 325 E. Nash St., Wilson. Condolences may be directed to www.carronsfuneralhome.com.
Hazel Whitehurst Rose
Oct. 19, 1911 — March 27, 2008
NEW BERN — Hazel Whitehurst Rose, 96, formerly of Wilson, died Thursday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Wilson. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery. The Rev. Dan Jones will officiate.
Mrs. Rose was a teacher in the Roanoke Rapids, Southern Pines and Wilson City School systems, retiring in 1973. She was a charter member of the Omicron Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. While in Wilson, she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church.
Hazel greatly enjoyed traveling and toured the United States extensively by car and bus. She also traveled to Europe with her family. Her first cross-country trip was to California by bus in 1933 and included a visit with a brother and sister who lived in Arizona.
Mrs. Rose is survived by a daughter, Margaret R. Boykin, of New Bern.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert A. Rose.
The family will receive friends 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1423, Wilson,
NC 27894.
Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.
William Lexter Creech
Feb. 4, 1924 — March 26, 2008
William Lexter Creech, born Feb. 4, 1924, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. He died at his home in the Moore’s Schoolhouse community surrounded by loving family members. He will be met in heaven by his parents, Pearlie and Leonard Creech, and his brothers, Rudolph Creech, Braxton Creech, J.L. Creech and Earsell Creech.
He was born the second oldest of nine children in rural Johnston County. He graduated Glendale High School in 1940 and then began a lifelong career in farming. Throughout his years as a farmer, he grew many crops including cotton, tobacco, corn, grain soybeans and collards. He raised market hogs, cattle and chickens. He loved tending to his animals and the land, first with his mules and later with his tractors.
Lexter was a self-taught musician who began playing guitar at age 4 and traveled and played in a band at ages 12 to 16. He loved playing and singing bluegrass music every chance he could. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. As a young man, he had two of the “finest” hunting dogs in the county, Blue and Granger. He fished every water hole he could find, including the Atlantic Ocean. He taught his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the art of fishing, and his love of the outdoors lives on through them.
He was greatly appreciative of the loving care provided by his daughter, Bonnie, during the last four years as his health declined. He greatly enjoyed their many trips riding out to look at the land, crops and airplanes. He also enjoyed spending time with his great-grandchildren, and was particularly proud of the hunting and fishing skills of Alex, and the love and compassion Meghan has for her animals.
He always looked forward to his yearly trip to the
N.C. State Fair with his granddaughter. Renee’, and enjoyed their last trip this past October. Some of Lexter’s best times were beach trips with Tracey and Steve, NASCAR races with Rick and Tracey, mountain trips with Pat and Wayne, and seeing Greg set up pastures on his farmland. Visits from his youngest great-grandkids, Lexi, Tatum, Trak, Sam and Tyler, were some of his favorite times. Tatum’s hugs always made him smile. Lexi’s pictures and her special walking stick gift and treasures he held dear.
Lexter leaves to cherish his memory a loyal and steadfast daughter, Bonnie Godwin and husband, Ricky, of Selma; daughter, Pat co*ckrell and husband, Wayne, of Kenly; brother, Dr. Jan Creech and wife, Frances, of Selma; sisters, Rector Godwin and husband, Kenneth, of Kenly, Mildred Forbes and husband, Stuart, of Los Alamitos, Calif., and Diane Boyette and husband, Larry, of Middlesex; grandchildren, Greg co*ckrell and wife, Crystal, of Kenly, Dr. Renee’ Watson and husband, Jeff, of Shoeheel community, Tracey Batten and husband, Steve, of Selma, and Ricky Godwin Jr. and wife, Tracey, of Selma; great-grandchildren, Alex Batten, Meghan Watson, Tyler Hopkins, Lexi Godwin, Tatum Godwin, Sam co*ckrell, and Trak Godwin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the Parrish Funeral Home in Selma on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home on Sunday, March 30, 2008, at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Danny Creech officiating. Entombment will follow in the family cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.parrishfh.com.
Suzzette Evans Sutton
June 12, 1960 — March 27, 2008
Suzzette Evans Sutton, 47, died Thursday. Arrangements are by Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.
M
arvin Lewis
Oct. 17, 1944 — March 28, 2008
Marvin Lewis, 63, died today. Arrangements are by Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.
R. James “Jim” Rogers
R. James “Jim” Rogers, 82, passed away Thursday, March 27, 2008.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Vere and Gladys Peek Rogers. He is survived by sister, Vera Rogers Royal and husband, Peyton, of Clarkton, N.C.; niece, Sue Rogers Hill and husband, Michael, of Raleigh; nephews, James Peyton Royal Jr. of Salisbury, Md., Ashley Royal and wife, Beth, of Rockville, Va., and Allen Royal of Raleigh; three great-nieces; and five great-nephews.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 3 p.m. at Maplewood Cemetery, with the Rev. Barry Lynn Helms officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Rogers Fund for Handicapped Children, P.O. Box 3444, Wilson, NC 27895
Arrangement by Thomas-Yelverton Funerals at Evergreen Memorial Park, 2704 Nash St. N., Wilson, NC. Condolences may be sent to www.thomasyelverton.com.
THE WILSON DAILY TIMES publishes brief death notices at no charge. Full obituaries are published on a paid basis. The fax number is 243-7501. The obituary deadline is 9 a.m. weekdays and 9 p.m. Friday for the Saturday edition.
