July 2008 Obituaries





Lillie Sanders
WILLARD--Lillie Sanders, of the Tate Town Community, died Friday, July 4, 2008 
at Pender Memorial Hospital. 
Sanders was born Sept. 12, 1918 to the late Moses and Frances Pigford Sanders. 
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Adolph Sanders, Albert Sanders, Talley 
Sanders and his wife Maebelle, Berky Sanders, Wilbur Sanders and Diamond 
Sanders; and two sisters, Gertrude and husband Thomas and Frances and husband 
Clyde.
Final rites were held Wednesday, July 9, at Williams Chapel Baptist Church with 
Rev. Demaris Stevens officiating. Interment followed in the Tate Family Cemetery. 
Survivors include two sisters, Allie S. Williams of Willard and Dorothy Mae S. Tate 
of the home; a niece and two nephews whom were reared in the home with her, 
Juliet Tate Newton of Wilmington, Bobby Jaye Ugboaja of Seabrook, Md., Bobby 
Tate and wife Shirley, Harry Lee Tate and wife Jamie, all of Willard, Eddie Tate, Jr. 
and wife Clementine of Newport News, Va., Donald Tate of New Haven, Conn., 
Ronald Tate of the home and the late Lewis Tate.
Matthews Funeral Chapel of Wallace handled the arrangements.
 
 
Thetus Elliot Jones
WILLARD--Thetus Elliot Jones, age 83, died Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at Pender 
Memorial Hospital in Burgaw.
Jones was born in Columbus County, the daughter of the late Elmore and Vera 
Callahan Elliott. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marilyn Jones Spell 
and a sister Ada Elliott Wilds. Final rites were held Saturday, July 12, at First 
Baptist Church of Wallace with Dr. James Baldwin and Rev. Jeffrey Sholar officiating. 
Burial followed in Rockfish Memorial Cemetery. 

Survivors include her husband, Leadie Jones of the home; a daughter, Wanda Jones 
Powell and husband James of Wallace; a granddaughter, Lindsay Suzanne Powell 
of Wallace; three grandsons, John Kristopher Spell of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nicholas 
Andrew Spell of Tiffin, Ohio and Robert Alexander Powell of Raleigh; two brothers, 
David Elliot of Newport News, Va. and Clarence Elliot of Georgia.
Padgett Funeral Home handled the arrangements. 
Sarah Lee Wilson Murray
WILLARD--Sarah Lee Wilson Murray died Friday, July 11, 2008. Arrangements will 
be announced by Matthews Funeral Service of Wallace.



Tolson, Zella Mae Corbett, of 1435 Bethel Church Road, Currie, died Thursday, July 
24, 2008, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. 
Tuesday at Rosa Green Missionary Baptist Church, N.C. 11, Currie. Burial will be 
at Rosa Green Cemetery. Dunn Funeral Home, Burgaw.

  
Lt. Col. Virgil B. “Ace” Lindsey, USAF Retired

PRESCOTT, Ariz.--Virgil B. “Ace” Lindsey, 89, died peacefully, Sunday, July 
13, 2008. at Hospice Family Care with his wife Hazel, daughter Ann, and 
Stepdaughter Lynn at his side. He was born Oct. 12, 1918, the youngest son of 
Jacob A. and Annie B. Lindsey of Washington. He was educated in his hometown 
public schools and at Wake Forest University. 
He was commissioned as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in December 1941. 
He served his country, flying P-40s and P39s and later piloting B-17s during World 
War II in the South Pacific. He earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross 
and Purple Heart for his service. After his flying days, Lindsey completed his 31 
years of active duty as a commander of engineering and communication squadrons 
in U.S. and overseas from Maine, New York, Wyoming, and Florida to Japan, 
French Morocco, Puerto Rico, Germany and Thailand. Following his retirement in 
1972, he continued his lifelong interest and participation in sports. He enjoyed golf 
and was particularly skillful on the tennis court. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James of Maitland, Fla.; his 
first wife, Jane Highsmith Lindsey of Atkinson; and his second wife Marilynn Borwell 
Lindsey of Prescott. Survivors include his brothers, Julian of Winston Salem and 
Richard of Tarpon, Fla.; two daughters, Ann L. Sult and James of Prescott and Virginia 
L. Cole of Laramie Wyo.; a granddaughter, Jane L. Sult of Tucson Ariz.; two grandsons, 
James B. Sult, Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz. and Collin T. Sult and Leslie of Tucson Ariz.; great 
grandson Ian J. Sult of Tucson Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews. 
He was also the devoted stepfather of Lynn House of Prescott, Ariz.; Kathryn Schmidt 
of Oklahoma; Karen Simmons of California; Jason Hartjen of Connecticut; Eric Hartjen 
of Phoenix, Ariz.; and John Hartjen of Colorado. 
A memorial service was held July 19, at Prescott United Methodist Church, with a 
reception following at the church. Cremation has taken place and a burial with full military 
honors will occur at a later date. Memorials may be made to Hospice Family Care of 
Prescott, 100 E. Sheldon, Prescott Ariz. 86301 or a charity of choice. 
Ruffner Funeral Home of Arizona is handling the arrangements. 

 
Delores Louise Davis

WILMINGTON--Delores Louise Davis, age 62, died Saturday, July 26, 2008, 
at Cape Fear Hospital. She was born June 2, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Delores 
was a loving mom and granny who loved her family dearly and will be greatly 
missed.
Survivors include her husband, Howard F. Davis; two daughters, Carey Davis 
and husband Ronnie James of Hampstead and Margaret Smith and husband 
Gregory of Burgaw; a stepson, William Davis and wife Cheryl of Ohio; a 
step-daughter, Sandra DeRose and husband Anthony of Ohio; seventeen 
grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Alice Ronczkowski of Illinois and Judy Seikbert 
of Ohio; and two brothers, Harry Wilson and Robert Wilson both of Ohio. 
Graveside services were held Monday, July 28, at Riverview Memorial Park with 
Pastor Phillip Jones officiating. Condolences may be sent to 
www.quinnmcgowen.com. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Center 
of Burgaw handled the arrangements. 
 
 
Annie Odessie Clewis McKeithan

BURGAW--Annie Odessie Clewis McKeithan, age 89, died Wednesday July 
23, 2008, at Pender Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 2, 1919, in Whiteville, daughter of the late Bruce and 
Olympus Smith Clewis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. 
Pink McKeithan; a daughter, Katie M. Hutcheson; and a sister Carleen Long. 
McKeithan was a member of Bible Baptist Church.
Survivors include four grandchildren, Joey Hutcheson of Burgaw, David Hutcheson 
and wife Kim of Burgaw, Debra Lake and husband Mark of Raleigh, and Joanna 
Tanner and husband Todd of Beulaville; seven great-grandchildren, Jody, Jordan, 
Blaze, Carson, Asheton, Kent, and Seth; and a niece Hazel Clewis. 
Graveside services were held Friday July 25, at Columbus Memorial Park 
Mausoleum in Whiteville with Pastor Carl Gibbs officiating. Entombment 
followed the service. Harrell’s Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Burgaw 
handled the arrangements.
	 


Hawkins, Michael Keith, 21, of Hampstead, died Friday, July 25, 2008, at New 
Hanover Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Oak 
Grove Memorial Gardens, Durham. Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service.


Bruce Miller		
MAPLE HILL - Bruce Lee Miller, 73, of Maple Hill, died July 30, 2008, at home. 
A funeral will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, at Johnson Funeral Home in Richlands 
with the Rev. Jack Marshburn officiating. The family will receive friends following the 
service Friday night at the funeral home. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, 
2008, at the Mills Family Cemetery, Hwy. 41 in Trenton. 
He was preceded in death by parents, Wade Hampton and Johnnie Ora Bell Mills Miller; and 
brothers, Woodrow Miller, Douglas Miller, Herman Miller, Leo Miller and Dick Miller. 
Survivors include four sisters, Louise Futrell of Jacksonville, Estelle Smith of Richlands, 
Bonnie Leary of Jacksonville and Hazel Stallings of Trenton; two brothers, Buck Miller 
of Richlands and Clifton Miller of Comfort; and many nieces and nephews. 
Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home in Richlands. 



James Paul Jenkins		
HAMPSTEAD - James Paul Jenkins, 54, died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at New 
Hanover Regional in Wilmington. 
He was a printer and a Realtor. 
He is survived by his wife, Martha Holland Jenkins of Hampstead; two daughters, 
Michelle and April Jenkins of Wilmington; and three brothers, David Jenkins of 
Carpentersville, Ill., and John and Dennis Jenkins of Maysville. 
A memorial service will be held at 9:54 a.m. Thursday at Chapel by the Bay in Surf City 
with the Rev. Don Myers officiating. 
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the home of Dennis and Dawn Jenkins, 
7400 New Bern Highway, Belgrade community. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jim Jenkins Memorial Fund, Chapel 
by the Bay, 216 Michigan Ave, Surf City, N.C. 28445. 
Arrangements by Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service, Wilmington. 


Ethel Nixon		
93, of 768 St. John Church Road, Hampstead, died Friday, July 4, 2008, at Woodbury 
Wellness Center. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John AME Church, 
Hampstead. Burial will be at St. John Cemetery. Dunn Funeral Home, Burgaw. 



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