The Fayetteville Observer

Mario Isaiah Williams 16 of Fayetteville, NC passed away peacefully at UNC Hospital on Thursday April 11, 2024. Mario was born on May 8, 2007, in Fayetteville, NC. He was preceded by his grandparents Daryl and Deborah Harrison. Mario is survived by his parents Edward and Shanee Williams, his brother Malik Williams, his sisters Maliah and Mariah Williams, grandparents Steve Artis (Michelle Jones), Kevin and Karen Kupietz, uncle Stephen Doust, aunts Krysta Doust and Morganne Harrison and a host of great aunts, cousins, and honorary family members Terrell Watkins, Jason and Megan Lee. Mario was called "Yo-Yo" or "Turtle" and was a junior at Gray's Creek High School. He loved movies, music,...

Mary Evelyn Lockamy Tatum, affectionately known as "Moomer", age 91, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 11, 2024. As the baby of 9 children, Mary was raised by her loving parents, John Lovett and Lucy Jane Lockamy, on the Lockamy farm in Godwin, NC. She was educated as an electronics engineer, retired from Longwood College (now Longwood University), and served as a volunteer and officer of many organizations. Notably, Mary was the only woman to work on the first Jupiter Missile. She was also the keeper of Clairmont, the home she adored and shared with her children and her husband--the love of her life--Nash LeGrand Tatum, Jr. Mary was loving, kind, and generous, always...

Doris C. Baker. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 3:00PM at Lafayette Cemetery in Fayetteville.

Doris Carter Baker, 92, of Southern Pines, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 24, 2024 at the Terra Bella Memory Care Facility. She was born July 8, 1931 in Cumberland County, NC to the late Thomas and Clydia Strickland Carter. Doris was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She and her husband, Jack, moved to Southern Pines more than 40 years ago to be near their children and grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Huggins of Southern Pines and Sharon Clary (Greg) of Whispering Pines; grandchildren, Christina Wilson (Brian) of Hampstead, Christopher Huggins (Jessica) of Sanford and Ben Clary of Carrboro; great...

Jesse Ronald "Ronnie" McLaurin, age 74, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024 at home. Ronnie was born June 22, 1949 in Fayetteville, NC to Jesse Franklin McLaurin and Mary Brafford McLaurin. Ronnie's family moved from Fayetteville when he was young to a small community called Pittman Grove. Ronnie and his family became members of Pittman grove Baptist Church. This is where Ronnie accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized in Sparkle Berry Creek, near the church. When Ronnie was a sophomore in high school, his family moved back to an area called Eastover in West Fayetteville. Eastover was where the McLaurin family "clan" was raised and owned hundreds of acres of farmland. ...

Matilda "Tillie" Allen Jones, 86 of New Bern, passed away on March 13, 2024 at her son's home in Foxfire Village, NC. Born on October 10, 1937 in Wilson, North Carolina to the late Glen and Inez Allen, she grew up in Tar Heel, NC. Tillie graduated as valedictorian of her Tar Heel High School class in 1955 and wanted to pursue a career as either an English Teacher or a Meteorologist. She chose to put those dreams on hold and married her high school sweetheart the summer after graduation. It could be said that she became a prototype for the modern "Superwoman" - working full time, caring for her family and her home, keeping the books for her husband's business and always helping anyone in...

Lee Roy Croom, Jr. passed away March 12, 2024 at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, N. C. He was 73 years old. A memorial in his honor will be held at Boles Funeral Home, 425 W.Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines, N.C. on March 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Mr. Larry Dwight Craft, 90, of Fayetteville, and formerly of Vienna, W Va., passed away Monday, March 11, 2024, under the loving care of his daughter, Susan Wood, Lower Cape Fear Hospice and the Davis Health Care Center in Wilmington, NC. For full obituary go to www.AndrewsMortuary.com

Edith Mae Davenport Rich Obituary Edith Mae Davenport Rich, 101 years old, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Edith was born on September 22, 1922 in Homer, Louisiana. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Thomas L. Rich, Jr., a son Craig Alan Rich; her parents, David Irvin and Eula McKinney Davenport, Sr; a sister, Genevery Davenport Zachary; and brother David Irvin Davenport, Jr. She is survived by three sons and their wives, Lenwood and Anne Floyd Rich, of Winston-Salem, NC, David and Barbara Saremba Rich, and Clifton and Michelle Lee Rich, both of Fairmont, N.C., 14 Grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. She graduated from Homer Louisiana...

Philip Teasley Olbon, 73, of Southern Pines, NC, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2024. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Dorothy (Dot) Faye Hayes Kinney was born on 14 May 1926 in Greensboro, Georgia and passed away in Zephyrhills, Florida on 2 February 2024. Dorothy was an Army Wife who accompanied her husband LTC Howard D Kinney JR on both stateside assignments to Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Monroe, VA and overseas assignments to Okinawa, Japan and Bogota, Colombia. Dot was club champion on numerous occasions for the ladies golf groups in FT Bragg, NC, Bogota, Colombia and FT McPherson, GA. She had three holes in one and was a much better golfer than either her husband Howard or her son Dreher. She spoke Spanish and thoroughly enjoyed her overseas time in both Japan and Colombia. She will be...

Robert "Bob" Blue Pinkston was born 15 October, 1938. On 29 January, 2024, with family by his side, he relinquished his soul to God for safekeeping. Bob spent most of his youth in Cumberland and Moore Counties, graduating from Carthage High School. What came next was a year of studies at Presbyterian College and then a decision to enter the US Army, in which he served well and from which he was honorably discharged in 1961. He returned to his studies, graduating from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1964. The next decades would bring a first marriage, four children and positions as an accounting manager. Eventually, he started his own business, a journeyman accountant, servicing...

John Banks Clark, 74, of Laurinburg, NC, was welcomed home with much celebration by Jesus and precious loved ones who had gone on before on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. John fought the good fight by living victoriously as a child of God in his faith through all seasons of his life. Though cancer tried to offer John a challenge over these past months, John exhibited faith and hope to the very end, without complaints or concerns for himself. In perfect peace, John victoriously finished his race with family at his side. John Banks Clark, affectionally known as "Uncle John" and "Cousin John" by many family members, was born in Fayetteville, NC, on October 17, 1949, to James Howard Clark and...

Georgia Ann (Blue) Minges of Southern Pines passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the FirstHealth Hospice House at the age of 85. Georgia was born in Robeson County on December 7, 1938, to the late Frederick Lee and Georgia Bennett Blue of Aberdeen. She is preceded in death by her husband, Carroll Wayne "Sonny" Minges, and her infant daughter, Amy Louise Minges; her brother, Frederick Lee "Buddy" Blue, Jr.; and her sister, Betty Blue Briley. She leaves behind her son, Brad Minges (Lynn); two granddaughters, Caroline Minges (Luke) and Elizabeth Paschal (Robert); and four great-grandchildren, all of Raleigh. The family will have a celebration of life at a later date. Care of the...

Irina S. Anderson, 84, of Hope Mills, NC went home to be with her savior Wednesday, December 27,2023 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Irina was born in Karlsruhe, Germany on May 24,1939 to Rudolf H?elzer and Maria Schwefel. She is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Anderson, and her son, Marcus Anderson. Irina was a faithful member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and on the board of Trustees, she was active in the Widows Watch, Legion of Mary, and other organizations such as the Red Hat Society. She was a member of a German ballet company; she owned and operated a dog training/boarding facility and a member of a bowling league. She will be greatly missed by all who know...

Chesley Gassett, 40, of Morehead City, NC passed away on December 14th, 2023, at his home. Chesley was born on September 2, 1983, in Enterprise, Alabama. From an early age, Chesley had an intimate love and respect for the outdoors. This love grew as Chesley graduated from Fayetteville Christian School and moved to eastern North Carolina where he attended East Carolina University, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 2005. Upon graduation, Chesley planted his roots in Morehead City and his love for eastern North Carolina grew. Chesley pursued an expansive and rewarding career in the outdoor industry. Through this path, Chesley formed relationships with customers far and...

Ms. Dorothy Oxendine Quick, of Fayetteville, NC went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 03, 2023, at the age of 88. She was born in Pembroke, NC on September 06, 1935, to the late Lacy and Blanche Oxendine. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Lacy M. Quick, and son Lacy T. "Boy" Quick. She was a founding member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church where she held many positions including teaching Sunday school and children's church, serving in the choir, and W.M.U. She was the owner and operator of Wee Care Daycare Center in Fayetteville, NC for 10 years and a school teacher for Robeson and Hoke County for 25+ years. Dorothy loved teaching, the word of...

Delores Anne Holt, born July 20, 1937, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, peacefully passed away on December 1, 2023, in Fayetteville, North Carolina after a prolonged illness. She was the beloved daughter of Mary and Bernard Cherneski and was preceded in death by her older siblings Rosemeri and Charlie. Delores was the loving wife of Walter Rydzy, a Navy veteran and firefighter, who passed away in 2022. Their romance was a rekindling of a high school sweetheart love story which had been placed on "pause" over 30 years prior. Adventure would ensue after her marriage to a young Army officer, Bill Holt, and together they raised five children: Brian, Jon, David, Mark, and Bryne. As a military spouse...

Ms. Anne Gore Hostetler Register, of Cary, formerly of Raeford went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 12, 2023, at the age of 92. She was born in Hoke County, NC on May 16, 1931, to the late Arthur D. Gore and Annie Black McFadyen. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles A. Hostetler, Sr.; daughter, Milan Hostetler; second husband, Thomas E. Register, Sr.; and son, Charles A. Hostetler, Jr. Anne graduated from Duke University with an A.B. in English in 1953. She then went on to get her teacher's certificate in English. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pinehurst as well as Raeford where she served as a Sunday school teacher, President of Baptist...

William Lionel Owens of Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center, Lauren's, SC, a retired Baptist pastor/teacher entered his Lord's rest on October 31, 2023. He was born May 21, 1935, Ware County Georgia. He grew up in Brunswick, GA, and graduated from Glynn Academy class of 1954. He continued his education at Southern Technical Institute and Luther Rice College and Seminary. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Anne Gray Owens of forty-eight years, his parent's Harry W. Owens and Audrey Lee Riddle Owens of Brunswick, GA, also a great granddaughter Martha Dawkins Owens of Rock Hill, SC. He is survived by his son William L. Owens II (wife Kristy Dawkins Owens) of Longboat Key, FL, his...

Mr. George Thomas Williams, 106, of Clinton, North Carolina, passed away on October 28, 2023. He was born to Effie Britt Williams and John Blaney Williams in Newton Grove, North Carolina, on August 29, 1917. His family moved from Newton Grove to Clinton when he was six months old. George is survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda Rich Williams, his son George Thomas (Chip) Williams, Jr., his daughter Venetia Mann, her husband, Craig Mann, and his granddaughter Eva Barlowe. He was predeceased by his first wife, Jane Fisher Williams, his sisters Sally Williams Lucas and Jane Williams Sheffield, his brothers Robert Edward Williams, Albert Garland Williams, John Blaney Williams, Jr., Charles...