All Obituaries

Franklin Jason Thompson, 77, of Kinston, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. He was preceded in death by his parents,  Ellena Taylor Thompson and Troy Edward Thompson, and sisters, Dollie Turner and Irma Heath. Frank was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, and a wonderful friend. He was a hard worker and retired from the City of Kinston after 30 years and from Howard-Carter Funeral Home after over 15 years. He is...

Donald Bruce Taylor “Donny” December 2, 1948 June 23, 2022 “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.” Donny was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday evening, June 23, 2022. He was born on December 2, 1948, to Blake Bruce and Edna Quinn Taylor in Kinston, NC and raised in the Wyse Fork community. He was a 1966 graduate of South Lenoir High School and attended Mount Olive College. His...

Cecil Carroll Jones, Sr., 85, of Vanceboro, passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Stella Jones, and son, Danny Harris. Cecil was a loving husband of 46 years and a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. He enjoyed hunting, chewing tobacco, and spending time with his family and friends. He was loved by everyone and will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife, Frances Skiles Jones, of the...

Joyce Tripp Byrd, 75, of Kinston passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Magnolia Cottage Care. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Byrd; parents, Carlton Otis Tripp, Sr. and Marie Daniels Tripp; sister, Linda Taylor, and brother-in-law, Raymond Taylor. Joyce was a registered nurse and was employed by Lenoir County Health Department for many years. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is survived by her son, Jason Byrd and wife, Paige of Kinston;...

Maurice (Taft) Stafford Parker of Kinston, 79, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at his home.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton S. and Mertie Parker; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Tommie and Junie Hawkins; brothers-in-law, Thomas (Cricket) Hawkins, Billy Hawkins, Ronald Bruce Hawkins, Tom Pitts, Charles Hill, and Eddie Tompkins and stepchildren, James Ellis and Tonya Ellis. Taft was an industrial engineer, a job he enjoyed tremendously.  He began his career...

Howard Alexander Jones, 86, of Kinston, peacefully passed away on June 21, 2022 at home.  He was born September 3, 1935 to Lonnie and Gracie Jones.  He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Jacobyna “Jackie” Jones, sisters Erdine Brandon, Frauline Vaughn, Zelma Phillips, Rachel Yancey, Ruth Sizemore, brothers Claude Jones, Edward Earl Jones, Lonnie Jones, James Jones, and Reid Jones.  He graduated from Oak Hill High School and from the University of North...

Mary Lee (Hines) Taylor, 98, of Kinston, peacefully went to be with Jesus on June 20, 2022. She was born on May 23, 1924, to Rubert (Rube) and Reba Hines. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Earl Taylor; daughters, Annette Taylor and Ginny Waggy; grandson, Keith Taylor, and brothers Joel Edward (Bud) Hines and Bert (Tuffy) Hines. She was the mother of six, grandmother of eight, great-grandmother of ten, and great-great-grandmother of six. She is survived by three...

Hilda Grace Stroud, 73, passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Lenoir Assisted Living in Pink Hill. She was born in Lenoir County on April 18, 1949, to the late Melvin and Myrtie Heath.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Stroud, and sister, Mae Deaver. She is survived by her sons, Wesley Stroud and wife Loretta of Seven Springs, Joseph Stroud and wife Lisa of Hampton Va. and daughter Monica Futral of Hampton, VA, grandchildren, Taylor Stroud Moore and...

Brandon Gladson, 45, of Wake Forest, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2022, at Duke Raleigh after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Michael Brandon Gladson, September 14th, 1976, in Kinston, NC to Rebecca Ilene Wilkins and Johnnie Donald Gladson, Jr. Brandon was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Gordon and Melba Wilkins, his paternal grandfather, “D-Daddy” JD Gladson, and father, Johnnie Gladson, Jr.  Also, his mother-in-law, Lynn Stutsman. Brandon was a...

            Billy Ray Sasser, 58, of La Grange passed away peacefully on June 15, 2022 at Vidant Medical Center in the presence of family.              Billy was a hard-working self-employed individual, skilled in many trades. He enjoyed being at the beach, drag racing and spending time at home with his family and pets. He was a great friend to all who knew him, and he will be truly missed by all who loved him.    ...