The Enterprise

MCKNIGHT, Earl Andrew, 91, of Richmond, VA, died March 12, 2023 at St. Mary's Hospital. He was born in Delaware on February 16, 1932 to the late Earl Armstrong and Rose McKnight. He is predeceased by his brother, Jerry McKnight. Earl attended Richmond schools and graduated from Benedictine College Preparatory in 1949. He began his career in the printing business at the age of 17 with Garrett and Massie. Following several mergers he retired from Cadmus Communications in 1994 after 45 years of service. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force having served in the Korean conflict. He was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church. Earl is survived by his wife Harriett Peel; his sister, Maryann...

Shelva Jean Bailey Halsey, 85, died Sunday, February 19, 2023 in Three Rivers Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Windsor. Mrs. Halsey was born in Martin County on February 1, 1938 and was the daughter of the late Reuben, Sr. and Viola Whitehurst Bailey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank G. Halsey, Sr.; a grandson, Steven Craig Halsey; sisters, Alice Ruth Holliday and Carolyn Hardison; and by brothers, Reuben, Jr. and George Bailey. A retired nurse, she completed her training at Parkview Hospital in Rocky Mount. Her nursing career encompassed work at Brown's Hospital in Williamston, Chowan Hospital in Edenton, providing private duty homecare, and...

Lonnie Rick Bullock, 94, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023. A memorial service was conducted on Wednesday, February 22 at 2pm at Community Christian Church in Williamston. Military honors followed in Martin Memorial Gardens. Lonnie, son of the late Albert and Mae Whitaker Bullock, was born in Martin County on June 26, 1928, and served his country proudly in the US Navy during WWII. He was the owner and operator of Bullocks Grocery in Hamilton and was a member of both the American Legion Post 131 and Community Christian Church. He was an avid turkey hunter and outdoorsman, but most of all, he loved his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife,...

Dan Shipley, Jr., 79, passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on February 9, 2023. His wife, Linda - always by his side - was with him when he passed. Dan was born on June 4, 1943, in Hazard, Kentucky to Grace (Gross) and Dan Shipley. Dan was preceded in death by three brothers: Lyman, John, and Kenny, as well as his sister, Phyllis. He is survived by his wife Linda Hardison Shipley, daughter Denise (Ron Saxton), son John, grandsons Chris, Marc, and Kory, great-granddaughter Rory, his brother Dusty, his sisters Delores and Sue, and many nieces and nephews. Dan graduated from Williamston High School in 1962 and attended East Carolina University, majoring in art. He worked for the Macke...

Mary Manning Boyer, 87, died peacefully on December 10, 2022. Mary was born on December 14, 1934, in Williamston, North Carolina, to the late Lillian Sample Manning and Francis Marion Manning. Mary was also preceded in death by her husband, Miles J Boyer, son, William J. Boyer and sister, Sarah Manning Pope. While attending Queens College, Mary met Miles at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. They married after Mary's graduation and were married for 39 years. Although Mary enjoyed photography, playing the piano, and traveling to Europe, her favorite hobby was researching local history. For approximately fifty years, she shared her findings with other historians. Mary and Miles were...

Mr. William Herman (Bill) Hopkins, 92, passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022, at ECU Health Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice. A native of the Farm Life community in Martin County, Mr. Hopkins was born to the late Howard and Louallie Stalls Hopkins. His early life centered around farming, faith, and family. Life was challenging for his sharecropping family and it shaped the steadfast work ethic Bill had all his life. Bill loved the Farm Life community, family, and friends; and treasured the life-long connections. Hunting and fishing were favorite activities and tobacco farming a center point of his early life. It was a proud day in the family history when his parents...

Myrtle Ann Nicholson Bowen, 87, of Elm City, NC passed away at her home on November 10, 2022, in the presence of her family. Ann was born in Williamston, NC on January 29, 1935, to the late Charlie Ann Coltrain Nicholson and Thurman Otis Nicholson. She enjoyed singing and playing piano at churches, and she had an eclectic career in teaching, health care, radio, and the furniture industry. She topped off her education with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Shaw University in 1993. Ann moved with her late husband from Williamston to New Bern and then settled in Kinston where they raised their family. For the last five years, she joined family in Elm City. Ann loved sports, especially...

Joshua Wayne Elllis,84, passed away June 25, 2022. He was born May 17, 1938 in Martin County to the late Samuel Lawrence and Martha Jones Ellis. He served as Pastor over 30 years at Mildred Baptist Church, Tarboro, NC, Benvenue Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC, Battleboro Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC, Kirby Memorial Baptist Church, Gaffney SC, Pisgah Baptist Church, Smithfield, NC, and (Associate Pastor) Webb's Chapel Baptist Church, Macclesfield, NC, Vocational Evangelism (2.5yrs.), Interim Pastor numerous churches in 21 years of service. He sang Gospel music in 4 Quartets; Cedar Branch Quartet, Kingsmen Quartet, Easternaires Quartet and Kingdom Voices. He received a BS Religious...

Bernard Warren (B.W.) Collier went home to his Lord and Savior on Friday, May 13, 2022, after a courageous and well-fought battle with cancer. He was born in Edgecombe County on November 21, 1940, to Rosser Edward Collier and Elsie Downing Collier. He grew up in Nashville, NC and graduated from Nashville High School in the spring of 1960 and married the love of his life, Dora Alice Batchelor, in December of 1960. He served in the United States Air Force before joining the North Carolina Highway Patrol, from where he retired as a Lieutenant after 30 years of dedicated service. He thoroughly enjoyed his retirement years by doing all the things he loved: being with his family & friends,...

Marjorie Little Everett, 90, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at her home. The funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 2 pm at Winterville Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Reedy Branch Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall. Marjorie, a Pitt County native, was a 1950 graduate of Winterville High School and graduated from Norfolk General Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She worked 20 years in nursing before beginning work in public health field. She retired with the Pitt County Health Department in 1996 after 20 years. In 1954, she married Grover Everett and...

Evelyn "Sedie" Bullock Harrison, age 81, died on Friday, April 29, 2022 peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family. Sedie was born on January 23, 1941 in Stokes, North Carolina and was the daughter of the late Ernest Oswald Bullock and the late Julia Warren Bullock. After meeting on a blind date and dating for a year and 10 months, Sedie married Robert Lee Harrison on August 22, 1958. Sedie spent the majority of her life farming. She started out as a child of a sharecropper but her and Robert Lee worked hard and eventually they had their own land and home. As a farmer's wife, she worked tirelessly by her husband's side to accomplish their goals. She was an excellent cook. She...

David R. Bullock, 59, passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. A graveside service was conducted Sunday at 2 pm in Martin Memorial Gardens. Mr. Bullock, son of the late Larry and Ruby Bullock, was a lifelong resident of Stokes. For 28 years, he worked in the engineering department with Grady White Boats, where he was a dedicated employee and loved his work there. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching movies, and was a member of Grace Family Fellowship in Robersonville. He is survived by his daughter, Stacy Bullock; grandson, Liam Bullock; step-children, Scott Nelson (Heather), Weston Nelson, and Alexiss Bullock; five step-grandchildren; sister, Betty Jo Crandell (Alan); a nephew, Chris...

Troy Lee Bowen, 61, of Williamston, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 25, 2022. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:00 am at Christian Chapel Church in Williamston. The family will receive friends and loved ones on Thursday, April 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Troy, a native of Martin County, grew up in Bear Grass and was graduate of Bear Grass High School. He then developed a career, working as a repairman in the sewing machine industry, until 1992. Afterwards, Troy spent the remainder of his life building his own farm business. Outside of his career, Troy was known for being a man that loved his family and was always willing to help his community. He was...

Barbara M. Peyton December 24, 1930 - April 24, 2022 Barbara Matheny Peyton, 91, of Plymouth NC, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Sunday morning April 24, 2022, after years of declining health. She was visiting her youngest son Alan at his home in Alabama at the time of her demise. She was born Barbara Ann Matheny on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1930, in Richwood WV to the late Hencil Justice Matheny and Elma Elizabeth Dennis Matheny. She married the love of her life, Gene Henry Peyton, in July 1950. They were happily married for forty-two years before his passing on March 7, 1993. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Gene Henry Peyton Jr, and a sister, Doris Matheny...

Mary Alice Warren Moore passed away on April 24, 2022, at the age of 87. Mary Alice was born in 1934 to Millard H. and Mary Thomas Warren in Edgecombe County, NC. On June 4, 1952, Mary Alice married the love of her life Bennie A. Moore and moved to Martin County, NC where she lived within a few hundred yards of the same place for the next 69 years and raised two daughters Jo and Mariann. Over the years Mary Alice worked at Collins Department store and Belk Tyler Department store, with Dr. David Marshburn in the 80's, and retired from BB&T after 17 years. In school, Mary Alice was a star basketball player at Robersonville High School and her passion for sports continued throughout...

Ms. Zadie Elizabeth "Libby" Pate Travis, 87, of Williamston, passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Martin General Hospital of Williamston. She was born October 6, 1934, in Martin County to Charles and Zadie Andrews Pate. Ms. Travis was a Registered Nurse and retired from 2022, Valley Hospital in Westwood, NJ. Left to cherish her memory: her sons Kenny Travis of the home and Jackie Travis and wife Grace of Wallington, NJ; stepdaughters Lovie Vaughn of Georgia and Peggy Hensil of NJ; six grandchildren and 9 nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Charles and Zadie Pate, she was preceded in death by six brothers and 2 sisters. The family will celebrate her life privately. Rouse...

Gloria Jean Bryant Hurdle Bonds Donaldson, age 71, of Stony Point, passed away on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Gloria was born October 20, 1949 in Columbia, SC, the daughter of the late Dan Bryant and Francis Cox Bryant. She had worked as a nurse and dedicated her life to the elderly, and supported older people for 45 years. She enjoyed fishing, riding and seeing the country. She loved car shows, bike shows and almost anything entertainment. She enjoyed soap operas, playing bingo and I Love Lucy. Including her parents, she was preceded in death by: her husband, Arless Donaldson; sister, Francis Sloan. Those left to cherish and honor her memory...

Pasquale "Pat" DiGiuseppe passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 19, 2021. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia, son Michael (Davia) of Newport, NC and Elizabeth (Troy) of Fort Worth, Texas, granddaughters Janie Hardison and Ashley Hardison of Beaufort, NC and great granddaughter Kinsley Hardison of Bennettsville, SC, along with his great friend and companion, Charlie the cat. Also surviving are cousins Arlene Butkosky, Dom DeFrancisco, Christina Smires, Lorraine DeFrank and Diane DiDonato of New Jersey, along with nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Irene DiGiuseppe; his eldest son, Steven DiGiuseppe and parents Mary and Guerino...

Carolyn B. Williams , 62 years old, of Robersonville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 8th surrounded by her husband and children. Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, William "Bill" Brinson, her mother, Martha Cannon Butts, and her brother-in-law, Ricky Williams. She is survived by her husband, Darrell Lee Williams, daughters, Heather Knox and husband Brian, Suzanne Holland, and sons, Greg Thompson, and Darrell "Lee" Williams and wife Melissa, along with fourteen grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Also surviving are her three sisters, Paula Davis and husband J.W., Geneva Herring and husband Egbert, Mary Alice Strickland and husband Glen, and her sister-in-laws, Anna...

Luther Clyde Jett Jr, 70, of Plymouth NC, passed away peacefully on January 24 with family by his side, after a short battle with cancer. Clyde was born on July 23, 1950 to Luther Clyde Jett, Sr and Winifred Barnes Jett in Plymouth, NC. In 1966, he was introduced to Shirley Ann Phelps and they began their 53 year journey together on December 2, 1967. Clyde and Shirley went on to have 2 children, Shirley Christina Jett and Luther Clyde Jett, III. Clyde retired from the automotive industry in 2019 after 38 years as Owner/Operator of Jett's Body Shop and Wrecker Service. While operating his business and during retirement, Clyde was a member of several classic car clubs and enjoyed restoring...