Lennel Ellerbe

Lennel Ellerbe, formerly of the Arabia community, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the age of 62.

He was born December 25, 1960.

He worked at the House of Raeford for many years and at the Hillcrest Fire Department for some years. Before leaving North Carolina, he was a member of Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Annie McGougan Ellerbe, and sisters Barbara Britton and Sandra Ellerbe.

He is survived by his daughter, Ayesha Ellerbe of Pennsylvania, granddaughter, Shaniya Ellerbe, and great-granddaughter, Brielle Temple, of Brooklyn, New York, sister, Brenda Ellerbe of Augusta, Georgia and Ronald Ellerbe of Raeford, nieces, nephews, family and dear friends. He will truly be missed.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Evelyn Blanton DuVal

Evelyn Blanton DuVal died Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the age of 85. 

She was born in Horry County, South Carolina on June 2, 1938 to Vernie and Lula Blanton of Raeford. 

After graduating from Hoke County High School, she earned an Associate's Degree from a secretarial school and attended Pembroke State College. She lived in Boston; Anderson, South Carolina; and Birmingham, Alabama, before settling in Atlanta in 1973.

Her professional life was dedicated to public health. She spent most of her working years at the CDC as an administrative assistant, and she was particularly proud of her time in the Epidemiology Program Office. Outside of her official duties, she helped publish The Epidemiology Monitor, an independent newsletter, for 14+ years.

She was an amazing mother and an inspiring role model; she was known for her kindness and compassion. She was an advocate for civil rights, human rights, and the mentally ill, volunteering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-DeKalb chapter) for many years. She was a long-time member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. She also contributed her time to Nicholas House for homeless families, Habitat for Humanity, and the Peachtree Road Race. After retirement, she loved hiking with her woman's group, and she truly enjoyed her friends at the Clairmont Place retirement community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lula and Vernie Blanton; and brothers, Paul Blanton, Bobby Blanton, and Joel Blanton. 

She is survived by her sister, Ann Cole; brothers, Jack Blanton and Jimmy Blanton; son, J. Smythe DuVal; daughters, Katherine B. DuVal and Nancy DuVal McLaughlin; grandchildren, Bowen DuVal, Cooper DuVal, Violet DuVal-Johnson, Logan McLaughlin, Ella McLaughlin, and Josh McLaughlin; and several generations of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, NAMI DeKalb, or Better Ballot Georgia.

A service will be held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Atlanta at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 10, 2023. Those who can't attend in person can watch the service on the St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church YouTube channel.

Sarah Beaty Ropp

Sarah Beaty Ropp of Raeford died Monday, August 7, in her home, at the age of 96.

She was born on June 5, 1927 in Lancaster, to the late Reverend Walter Kirkpatrick Beaty and Sarah Wilson Beaty.

She grew up in Mt. Holly. During her senior year of high school, she moved with her family to Columbia, South Carolina, where her father became pastor of Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church.

She graduated from Dreher High School in 1944. She graduated from Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina in 1948, having majored in Bible and Social Studies and serving as President of Women's Student Government her senior year.

She married John Ropp in June of that same year. They lived in Columbia until 1957 when he was called into the ministry and they moved with their four children to Atlanta where he attended Columbia Theological Seminary. She served as President of the Seminary Wives' Club during her husband's senior year.

As Dr. Ropp served pastorates in Iva and Conway, South Carolina and in Raeford, she served as a teacher and school librarian. She retired in 1989 as librarian at Hoke County High School in Raeford.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, the Reverend Doctor John Conway Ropp, her daughter, Sarah Cecelia Ropp, her granddaughter, Elizabeth Cashwell McNeill, and her brothers, Walter K. Beaty, Jr., and James Wilson Beaty.

She is survived by her children: John Conway Ropp, Jr. and his wife Linda of Columbia, South Carolina; Robert Beaty Ropp and his wife Kathy of Conway, South Carolina; and Miriam Ropp McNeill and her husband, Neal of Raeford; grandchildren: Sarah Ropp Cathcart and her husband Robert of Hickory Tavern, South Carolina; John Conway Ropp III, and his wife Caroline of Hartsville, South Carolina; Emily Ropp Terry and her husband Joe of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and Katharine Beaty McNeill of Raeford; great-grandchildren: Robert Cathcart III and his wife, Campbell, Sarah Anna "Sally", Margaret, and Charlie Cathcart; Elizabeth, John IV, David, Mari Grace, and Sarah Catherine Ropp; and Anna, Joseph III, and Will Terry; and a sister-in-law, Anita Law Beaty of Charleston, South Carolina.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 12 at Raeford Cemetery with Dr. Robert D. Cathcart Jr. and Dr. R. Shane Owens officiating.

Visitation will take place at the cemetery immediately following the service. The family wishes to thank Liberty Hospice for their kindness and excellent care.

Memorials may be made to Raeford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1570, 128 W. Edinborough Avenue, Raeford, N.C. 28376.

Marcus Long

Marcus Long died July 15, 2023 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 45.

He was born December 22, 1977.

A funeral was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Spring Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Wagram.