The Enterprise

Mildred Sykes Williams, 94, died on January 10 at her home in Franklin County's Pine Ridge community, surrounded by family. She was born September 29, 1928, to Amelia and Arie Sykes in Nash County near Spring Hope. Mildred was independent, graceful, decisive, and hard-working. A voracious reader, she enjoyed novels, religious literature, and current events. She took joy in quilting, gardening, cooking, and canning. An especially skilled angler, she always harvested her catch for eating. She had an optimistic and cheerful nature and was voted friendliest person in Spring Hope High School's class of 1949. Mildred married Charles Boice Williams of Pine Ridge on February 23, 1951, and they...

Patricia Bass Bunn, 75, of Butner, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. She was born to the late Willie Hillard Bass and Ella Janette Jones Bass on March 11, 1947, in Nash County, NC. Patricia is preceded in death by her husband Willis Clyde Bunn; her parents, Willie Bass and Ella Jones Bass; her brother, James Bass; and her sister, Faye Webb. She is survived by two sons, Tommy Baines and wife Teresa of Butner and Andy Baines of Creedmoor; a daughter, Darlene Baines Gooch and husband Joel of Stem; two stepchildren, Missy Whitfield and husband Tony of Hurdle Mills, and Jennifer Oakley and fianc?' Michael Veasey of Durham; seven grandchildren, Thomas Baines, Jordan...

A memorial service for William Wesley Wachtel, 78, of Spring Hope, will be held at Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. He died at home on Dec. 22, 2022 after a courageous fight against cancer. The son of Jean Lassiter Wachtel and Martin Luther Wachtel, Jr. of Spring Hope, he was born in Dallas, Tex., on Jan. 3, 1944 while his father was in service and moved to Spring Hope at age three. He attended Spring Hope Elementary School and graduated from Spring Hope High School in 1962. He then went on to get his undergraduate degree from N.C. State in 1967 and an MBA degree from the University of Georgia in 1972. He...

Faith Everett Cone October 12, 1955 - November 09, 2022 Middlesex....Faith Everett Cone passed away with family by her side at her home in Samaria. She is survived by her beloved daughter and best friend Brianna Cone Jarrell (Chris); brother, Roger Everett (Barbara); special niece and nephews, Brandy Gregory, Brian Everett, and Channing Everett; special cousins, Debbie Hicks, Terry Vick and Karen Futrell; aunts, Myrtle Vick and Jean Vick; former husband and Brianna`s father, Randall Cone, other cousins, friends and Samaria Church family. Pre-deceased by her parents, Hugh and Grace Everett; infant brother, David Earl Everett. Faith and her family wish to thank Dr. Keith Lerro,...

Arie B. Sykes Jr. ('Legs') died peacefully surrounded by family on August 31, 2022. Born near Spring Hope in Nash County, NC on September 12, 1927, Arie was known affectionately by many as 'Legs' due to his tall and thin physique. A voracious reader, Legs was a man of many talents. He was especially proud of his patent for a solar heating device. He served in the US Army and survived combat in the Korean War. Until recent years he would readily volunteer to represent the US military at funeral services for veterans. Legs was a man of faith and helped teach a Sunday school class at Shady Grove Baptist Church near his home in Boonville, NC. Legs is survived by his sister Mildred S....

SPRING HOPE - Melba Hobgood, age 81, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2022. Born in Johnston County, NC on August 23, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Moses Beasley and Elsie Young Beasley. Melba loved to golf and was a member of four different ladies golf league. She loved gardening and always had beautiful flowers in her yard. She enjoyed making the most perfect flower arrangements. Melba and Jerry loved to travel and attend classic car shows. She enjoyed playing the card game canasta. Melba loved to decorate at her home and at her church. She was a devoted member of Peachtree Baptist Church where she graciously served in many functions and loved her church family. She loved...

Thomas "Tom" Whitley Moses, Sr., age 94, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, after a brief illness. He was born on December 10, 1927, in Nash County to the late Oscar Thomas Moses and Lula Whitley Moses. Tom graduated from Edward Best High School, Louisburg, North Carolina in 1945. After graduation, he remained in Franklin County until his retirement from farming. Tom was an avid and knowledgeable fan of all things related to country music. He had seen, in person, many famous performers beginning at an early age. He never tired of telling the story of chauffeuring Roy Acuff, his all-time favorite, to see a sick child after a performance in Tarboro,...

Spring Hope....Charlie Curt Armstrong, age 90, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2022. Charlie graduated from NC State in 1954 and was a lifetime wolfpack fan. He spent four years in the Army where he served his country as Lieutenant. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty - five years, Mabel Harrison Armstrong; son, Charlie Ray Armstrong; sister, Lerose Morris; brothers, Phillip Armstrong and James Alberta Armstrong. He is survived by his daughters; Connie Coker (Charles) of Conetoe and Christy Armstrong of Rocky Mount; son, Curtis Armstrong (Carla) of Fuquay Varina; grandchildren, Charlie Armstrong, Jeremy Armstrong, and Jill Mazzie; eight great-grandchildren; two great-...

Willis Ray Dickinson, 84, passed away Sunday, May 22, 2022. He was born August 28, 1937 to the late James and Willistine Dew Dickinson. He loved his family, gardening (raising his tomatoes), camping, Allis Chalmers Tractors, and cooking his famous BBQ Chicken. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Frances Dickinson; daughter Christie; grandson Owen, and brother Larry. He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters Angie Kirk and Leigh Hicks (Scott); one brother Keith Dickinson (Phyllis); one sister Elaine Jones (Rex); grandchildren Kellie, Matthew, Marilyn, Caleb, Yancey, Mason, Noah, and Grant; great-grandchildren Ayden, Adaleigh, Avalynn, Trenton, Serenity,...

Miss Alexis Shania Harris, age 16 departed this life on May 7, 2022. A Candlelight Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 6-9 PM on the Football Field of Southern Nash High School, 6446 Southern Nash High Road, Bailey, NC. Arrangements by William Toney's Funeral Home, Spring Hope, NC.

Gloria Ellen Bass Wheeler, 84, passed away peacefully at home on April 13, 2022. She was born in Nash County November 20, 1937 to the late Arthur and Melba Sykes Bass. In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by husband, Donald "Wayne" Wheeler and brother, Arthur Ray Bass. She worked at Bass Brothers Store for 47 years until retirement. She is survived by sons Ryan Wheeler (Robin), Timothy Wheeler (June); daughter, Sheila Alford (Mark); grandchildren Kari Vann, Boone Wheeler (Kandice), Bradley Alford (Colleen), Alaina Wheeler, Austin Alford, Wren Wheeler, Evan Wheeler, Emily Wheeler; five great grandchildren and a sister, Colleen Parker (Kenneth). The family will receive...

Mrs. Irma Lee Terrell Morgan, age 96 of Spring Hope, NC, departed this earthly life on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Funeral services were held on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 1:00PM from the St. Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Spring Hope. Burial will follow in the Meeks Cemetery. Visitation was held on Monday from 11:00AM-1:00PM at the Church. Arrangements by: William Toney's Funeral Home, Spring Hope

Lula Bell Strum, age 87, of Valle Drive in Burnsville, NC passed away Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Mitchell House in Spruce Pine, NC. Born in Nash County, NC she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Minnie Creekmore Strickland. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Herman Ivy Strum, a brother; Charlie Strickland and sisters; Lillie Barnes and Vernelle Dickerson. Lula Bell attended the Church of God and loved making flower arrangements. Left to cherish her memories is her son; Herman Dennis Strum and wife Gayle of Castalia, NC, daughter; Tammy Pittman and husband Douglas of Burnsville, NC, granddaughters; Crystal S. Hull and husband Fred of Spring Hope,...

Michael Sherwood Ordess, 43, of Durham, passed away Saturday, may he rest in peace. A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022, in the Bailey Town Cemetery. Mark Armstrong will officiate. Michael is survived by his parents, Mark and Carol Ordess of Southport; daughter, Alexis Carol Ordess of Fredericksburg, Virginia; son, Aston Mark Ordess of Fredericksburg, Virginia; sister, Kelly Armstrong and husband, Mark with children, Joshua Brantley Armstrong and Alexander Mark Armstrong of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and sister, Christina Ordess and children, Andrew Mark McGilvary and Aiden Michael McGilvary of Wake Forest; Uncle, Jody Ordess and wife, Cathy, of...

Frances Jean Murray Goff, age 89, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. Born March 4, 1932, she was the daughter of Millard Guy Murray and Pattie Thompson Murray. Following marriage to her first husband of 53 years, Henry L. Bennett, they made their home in Greene County and both began working with E.I. DuPont in Kinston. However, a hobby of photography became the pathway for their establishing Bennett's Studio which quickly became renowned for perfection in portraits and photographs, especially weddings. Their love of photography brought them to Snow Hill where they built a home with a large landscaped yard including many water features and a pond;...

John Thomas (Tommy) Taylor of Allen, Texas passed away at home on February 8, 2022 at the age of 66. He was born on October 16, 1955 to John Murl Taylor and Bonnie (Walker) Taylor in Paris, Texas. Tommy married Starr Batten on July 29, 1978 in Middlesex, North Carolina. He loved spending time with family and working in the church nursery. He was a member of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Tommy leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 43 years, Starr Taylor of Allen, Texas; sons, John Thomas Taylor, II and wife, Amanda Lynn of Ft. Worth, Texas and James Thurman Taylor and wife, Ellen Grace of Allen, Texas; mother, Bonnie Taylor; brother, Jimmy Taylor and wife, Gail of...

James Robert "Cotton" Hildreth, Major General, USAF (Ret) James Robert "Cotton" Hildreth, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Spring Hope, NC Tuesday, February 1, 2022 with family by his side. A memorial service will be announced later. Cotton was born May 4, 1927 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas during the Great Mississippi River flood when the Arkansas River crested at 55 feet above flood stage. He was born in the back of an ice wagon because of the flooding and rode that crest of high water through an extraordinary life: He married Beth Baker of Spring Hope, a teacher and beauty queen, served in two wars, flew in the Air Force as a highly decorated fighter pilot, rose to the rank of...

Rhonda Howell passed away Wednesday January 26, 2022 at 2:47pm after a courageous hard fought 6-and-a-half-year battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer. Beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend to all. Rhonda was born April 14, 1979 and raised in Wake Forest, NC. She was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Economics and a minor in French. She went on to have a successful 15-year career in banking as a loan underwriter before she was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in 2015. Rhonda went on to become a diligent patient advocate for Metastatic Breast cancer including becoming a patient ambassador for Pfizer in 2016 and secretary board of...