Bud Stephens

Bud Weston Stephens of Raeford died Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Autumn Care of Raeford at the age of 86.

He was born in Hoke County on August 14, 1929 to the late Younger and Minnie Russell Stephens. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Magdalene Stephens. He was retired from the civil service.

He is survived by his sons, Tracy Stephens and his wife Delila of Red Springs, and Kenneth W. Stephens of Fayetteville; his daughters, Jo Ann Allen and her husband, Jimmy of Raeford, Sharlene Jackson of Raeford, and Patty Price of Raeford; his sisters, Mattie Guillette of Fayetteville, Loretta Wood of Rockfish, Rachael Clark of Rockfish, and Betty Jean Sechrist of Dobson; 8 grandchildren, Brian Stephens and his wife Sarah, Melissa Baxley and her husband Dennis, Jason Allen and his wife Angel, Jeff Allen and his wife April, Jeremy Price and his wife Kristy, Mark Jackson and his wife Wendy, Kevin Jackson, and Maurice Price III and his wife Emily; 15 great grandchildren; and a great-great grandson.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 2-2:45 p.m. at Crumpler Funeral Home 131 Harris Ave. Raeford, NC.

A Graveside Service will be held at 3 p.m. at Antioch Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Gerald Oldham, Jr. officiating.

Memorials may be made in memory of his wife, Mary Magdalene Stephens, to Philippi Presbyterian Church,2800 Philippi Church Road, Raeford NC 28376 and Antioch Presbyterian Church ,6583 Red Springs Rd. Raeford, NC 28376.

James B. Wilkins

James B. Wilkins, Jr., 87, of Raeford, formerly of Fayetteville,  passed away on January 22, 2016. He was born on January 13, 1929 in Linden, NC.
Mr. Wilkins was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elizabeth Patterson Wilkins, by his parents James Wilkins, Sr. and Louise Heriot Wilkins, by his brother Bruce Wilkins, and by  a nephew Davison Wilkins.
A man of sterling integrity and deep kindness, Mr. Wilkins loved people, animals, nature, and wildlife, and was a long-standing supporter of numerous environmental and wildlife causes. He was an avid fisherman, and he and his wife thoroughly enjoyed their many decades visiting their coastal home on Little Folly River in Varnamtown, NC where they developed deep and abiding friendships with their neighbors.
Jim graduated from Linden High School, Class of 1947, and then graduated from Mars Hill College. Shortly thereafter he was thrust into a position of deep responsibility when his father unexpectedly died. He assumed the leadership of a large farming and dairy enterprise and successfully kept the farm thriving. Jim next entered into a lifelong career in the heating and air conditioning industry, working with Johnson Control and with the JJ Barnes Company. He was the owner and operator of Wilkins Service Company which did contracting work for Kelly Springfield. He achieved the level of Professional Engineer, and was well-respected in his field as an intelligent, resourceful, fair, and hardworking individual.
He is survived by his brother Heriot Wilkins, his nephew Meredith Wilkins, his first cousins Charles "Buddy" Wilkins of Fayetteville, Bob Wilkins of Freeport, Bahamas, Betty Anne Hightower of Arizona, and Dr. Mason Wilkins of Idaho, and by his late wife's first cousins and their families. In addition, he is survived by numerous friends who he loved as family, and who deeply loved and respected him in return.
A graveside ceremony and internment will be held at Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville, NC at 1 pm Thursday January 28, 2016. and visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Wed. January 27, 2016 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Parker United Methodist Church, Post Office Box 27, Raeford, NC, The World Wildlife Federation, the Audubon Society, or to the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Jean R. Woodcox

Jean R. Woodcox, 57, of Raeford, died Saturday, January 23, 2016.
The funeral will be held  Monday, January 25 at noon in Wagram Church of God.  Burial will be Raeford Cemetery.

 

Terrel Hines

Terrel Hines, 79, of Raeford, died Thursday, January 14, 2016.
A memorial service was held Saturday, January 23 at 2 p.m. in Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Laurinburg Road.