Obituaries

Janet S. Pipkin, of Enfield, NC, died in her home on March 20, 2024.

Joyce Sutton Blizzard, resident of Dunn, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, March 28, 2024, at Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn. In prior years she had lived in the Pleasant Grove community near Mount Olive, and at Surf City.

MOREHEAD CITY — Shirley Lane Britt, 87, of Morehead City, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Lola Vitishie Wallace, 94, of 2519 Tram Road, Mount Olive, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Goldsboro Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care after an extended illness.

Hugh F. Oates, Jr., 74, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Cape Coral home surrounded by his family on December 16, 2023. Hugh was born November 20, 1949, in Mount Olive, North Carolina to Hugh F. Oates, Sr. and Doris Oates. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Chemistry and English. After graduating with his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, he worked for many years in the Office of the Chief Counsel for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and later built a successful career selling real estate in Washington, DC. Hugh used his legal and real estate expertise to invest in commercial real estate around the country, something he continued with his family after he retired to Cape Coral, Florida. Hugh was a songwriter and loved trout fishing, playing Texas hold ‘em, and traveling. He lived his life to the fullest and left nothing unchecked on his bucket list.

Mr. Gordon Thornton, 81, of Faison, NC, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2023.

Elva Doris Harrell Darden, 92, of Suttontown, NC passed away on Nov. 15, 2023, after a fall.

Ruth Holland Westbrook, 97, Mount Olive area resident, died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Lorraine Ivey Kornegay, 80, of Mount Olive, passed away Saturday Sept. 16, 2023.

Irene Sasser Harrell