Lacy Koonce Jr.

Lacy Herman Koonce Jr., passed away peacefully at his home in Lumberton on Friday, May 19, 2017. 

He was born in Raeford in 1937, the son of the late Herman and Treva Koonce. He lived his entire life in North Carolina, from his childhood in Rockfish to later moving to Lumberton, where he made his home for over 50 years.

He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Civil Engineering.  After several years working for the City of Raleigh, he moved to Lumberton to become its first City Engineer.

 In 1967, he founded Koonce, Noble & Associates, a civil engineering firm that has worked for nearly every municipality in Robeson County, as well as many others across the state. After five successful decades in business, the firm continues to serve North Carolina communities today.

He was an elder and deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Lumberton and served in many local organizations, including the advisory board of First Bank. He was a strong supporter of his alma mater and was a local Wolfpack Club representative for over 30 years.

A baseball, basketball, and football star in his youth, he was also an avid hunter and fisherman for much of his life. From the beach to the Sandhills, he loved the outdoors of Southeastern North Carolina, especially the time that he spent there with his wife, sons, and their families.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lillian Scarborough Koonce, of Lumberton; his sons, Lacy H. "Lance" Koonce III and his wife Lisa of Pelham, New York and Thomas C. Koonce and his wife Jeannette of Glen Echo, Maryland; his sister, Ellen Kate Parker of Fayetteville; and six beloved grandchildren, Emma, Colin, Nolan, Nellie, Andrew, and Caroline.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Lumberton. Afterwards, the family will welcome friends and relatives at their home to celebrate Lacy's life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lacy's memory to: 

-         Presbyterian Foundation of Lumberton, PO Box 1061, Lumberton, NC  28359-1061;

-         Wolfpack Club of NC State, PO Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627-7100 (checks made payable to NC State Student Aid Association); 

or

-         Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Office of Development, by mail at P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087 or online at http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/LacyKoonc

Online condolences may be made by visiting: www.floydmortuary.net .

Jean Fish

Jean Constance Duncan Fish, 83 of Raeford passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017.

She was born in Spruce Pine on July 3, 1933 to the late Robert P. and Ruth L Putnam Duncan. She worked in various jobs in Spruce Pine, Greensboro, Syracuse, NY and Albany, GA. She worked in logistics with Civil Service in Albany, GA before retiring. She was very sweet, funny, had a great sense of humor, generous, kind, quick wit, independent, stubborn, and a ‟Tough Old Bird" that will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a member of the Raeford Methodist Church.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, George Frederick Fish; a sister, Beatrice Harrison; a brother,Wesley Duncan; and her son-in-law, Edward G. Brodey.

She is survived by her children, Deborah McNeely(David), Linda Brodey (Edward G. Brodey, deceased), Karen Burroughs (Scott), and George Fish Jr.; grandchildren, Dwayne Brodey Douglas Courter Jr., Lisa Broody Bartley, Duke Gordon, Leslie Courter, Jared Courter, Catrina Nakamoto, Jeremy Elliott, Jessica Fish, Eric Fish, Samantha Burroughs, and Tim Courter; great-grandchildren, Jordan Brodey, Claudia Bartley, Kaylee Taylor, Daniel Nakamoto, Kailen Roan, Natalie White, Hayden Fish, Destiny Elliott, Elle Jean Fish, Sarah Fish, and Jace Jerrett; a brother-in-law, Brad Fish (Dee); and sister-in-law, Donna Fish.

The funeral will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 3 p.m. at Raeford United Methodist Church with the Rev. Brian Wingo officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. 

Interment will follow in Raeford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Raeford United Methodist Church, 308 N. Main St. Raeford, NC 28376 or to the Parkison Foundation.

 

William "Bill" Jones

William Clarence (Bill) Jones of Raeford passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at the age of 71. 
He was born in Hoke County on March 9, 1946, to the late John Allen Jones and Willa Conoly Jones. He was preceded in death by six siblings. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and retired from Progressive State Bank in Raeford 
He was survived by two sons, William Chad Jones of Wilmington, and Kenneth Cliff Jones of Raeford; two daughters, Jaclyn "J.J." Jones of Raeford and Lauren L. Jones of Raeford; five grandchildren, Conoly, Ireland, Parker, Payton and Pierson; and a sister, Catherine McNeill of Raeford.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017 at the Crumpler Funeral Home Chapel, 131 Harris Ave. Raeford. The family will receive friends after the service at the funeral home.

Jean P. Powell

 Jean Paul Powell, 98, of Laurinburg, formerly of Clinton, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at Scotland Memorial Hospital. 
She was born October 4, 1918 in New Jersey to the late Robert and Mabel Paul. 
She is preceded in death by her husband Dr. Julius Benjamin Powell, DDS, a brother, Albert Paul and a sister, Ethel P. Sampson. 
She was a member of Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church in Clinton, and also associate member of Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. She attended Goucher College and graduated from Campbell University. She received her master's degree in English from Duke University. She retired as a teacher from Clinton High School and was named N.C. Teacher of the Year for the 1983/1984 school year. As Teacher of the Year, she proposed to the State Board of Education and the N.C. General Assembly the creation of the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching, which has provided enrichment training for thousands of teachers. 
She is survived by three sons, Dr. John L. Powell (Caroline) of Wrightsville Beach; Dr. Robert N. Powell (Frances) of Elizabeth City, and Peter E. Powell (Martha) of Raleigh; her daughter, Jean E. Powell of Raeford; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. 
A visitation will be held from 7-8 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017 at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Ave. Raeford. 
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Scotia Village, 2200 Elm Street, Laurinburg. 
A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Clinton City Cemetery. The family will receive friends also after the service at the gravesite. 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to NCCAT, 276 NCCAT Dr., Cullowhee, NC 28723, or www.nccat.org. 
Online condolences may be made at www.crumplerfuneralhome.com 

Alton "Ray" Burrow II

Alton "Ray" Burrow II, 42, of Raeford, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017 at his home surrounded by his wife and children.

He was a heroic man, who led a blessed life. He was born September 27, 1974 in Robeson County to Alton and Barbara Burrow. He lived and loved life to the fullest. Along the way, he made lifelong friends from all walks of life. Throughout his life he accomplished much, but his greatest accomplishments are his three children, Zaidee, Ava, and Nathan, who will no doubt carry out his legacy. On the day of his cancer diagnosis, November 3, 2014, he made a commitment to himself and his family to "Fight Durty" and inspire others through his perseverance in this journey. He made his fight an open book for the world to see that no matter what trials and tribulations are faced, love always wins, and that through this, God's work was accomplished in him. Even on his toughest days, he managed to smile and make others laugh. His family remained his top priority. His love for his family fueled his determination to fight until the very end.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Christy Burrow; daughters, Zaidee and Ava Burrow; and son Nathan Burrow; parents Alton and Barbara Burrow; sister, Belinda Davis (Keith); five nieces, Jasmine Long (Tanner), Marley Long, Amber Walker, Brooke Billinger, and Josalyn Billinger; one nephew, Trey Long;  five great-nieces, Harper Long, Teagan Baith, R'rhianna Billinger, Miya Locklear, and Mila Locklear; two great-nephews, Jordyn Billinger, and Brodie Baith; and in-laws, Jerry and Kathy Long, Chris Long and Melissa Fraser, Casey Long, and Jonathan Fraser. He was preceded in death by his sister, Cindy Billinger.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 19, 2017 at J.W. Turlington School, 116 W. Prospect Ave in Raeford from 6-9 p.m. 

The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at J.W. Turlington School. Burial will be in the Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at crumplerfuneralhome.com.