Gwendolin Vanessa (Ghee) Blain Johnson Ghee Johnson was the third of five children born to Jobe and Ruby McDowell Blain.  At the heels of two older sisters, Ghee quickly took ownership of her unique and individual personality and style.  It was simply not in her nature to follow anyone.  Her nickname, first Ghee Ghee, was her sister Vickie’s attempt at saying Gwendolin, and shortened to a single ‘Ghee’ some years later.  She became a one-name...

Mary Nobuko Matusi Odom, 89, died Wednesday October 3, 2018 at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, NC. She was born March 5, 1929 in Tokyo, Japan to the late Taige Matusi and Yama Takage Matusi. She and her late husband, Albert, owned and operated Odom & Son’s Tire Service in St. Pauls for many years. She was very good at traditional Japanese dance and maintained a close relationship with her friend’s in Fayetteville’s Japanese community. Mary was a great...

Cecil C. Inman, 90, of St. Pauls died Saturday September 29, 2018 at his home. He was born in Robeson County, North Carolina January 2, 1928 to the late L.H. and Lucy Smith Inman. He worked in the Automotive Services industry. He was an avid NASCAR fan following his favorite driver Number 43, Richard Petty. He loved mountain drives and served as a Deacon at First Baptist Church in St. Pauls. A member of the American Legion Post 5, Mr. Inman served in the Merchant Marine Service of the United...

Lori Diane Hall, of Parkton, died Friday, September 26, 2018 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. She was a loving caregiver, loved fishing, and The Carolina Tar Heels. Preceded in death by  her husband Butch Hall and her mother Cleo Gilmore Norton, she is survived by her daughter Kassie Norton and her companion Michael Carter; son Dillon Hall; granddaughter Abbygale Carter; longtime companion, Robert Allen; brother Don Norton; sisters, Karen Hawthorne, Barbara Jones and Cindy...

Mattie Kathleen McMillan, 84, died peacefully Sunday September 16, 2018 in the home she shared with her family. A lifelong resident of Parkton, she moved to Ellwood City, PA in 2012. She was a graduate of Parkton High School, Class of 1952. Mrs. Kathleen loved to garden, sew clothes for her grandkids, and bake pies and cakes for family gatherings. She had the gift of “Hospitality”, opened her home and made everyone welcome. She always remembered her grandkids with packages of...

Mildred Jane Ganus Ivey, 79, of Fayetteville, formerly of St. Pauls, died Friday September 7, 2018 at Village Green in Fayetteville. She was born in Robeson County on July 30,1939 to the late Charlie Daniel and Ruby Flowers Simmons Ganus. She was a machine operator at the Robeson Textile Plant in St. Pauls. Mildred enjoyed fishing, Carolina Tar Heels Basketball and watching NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson. Her children called her a “lovin’ Mama”.  In addition to her...

Marie Sykes Hollingsworth, 85, of St. Pauls, NC died Sunday August 26, 2018 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville. She was born in Bladen County, NC January 1, 1933 to the late John W. and Delma Jones Sykes. She was a member of The Life Center. A homemaker taking care of her family, her children called her the “Best Mom in the world” and said she was a “Mom to all.” Although she enjoyed fishing and traveling through the mountains and hills, and was good...

Franklin Delano Blackwell, 81, of Hope Mills died 8/21/2018. He was born 11/6/1936 in Bladen Co. to the late Vernon and Sadie Durden Blackwell. Preceded in death by his mother and father, Sadie and Vernon Blackwell; sisters, Virginia Phillips, Mary Ward and Christine Canady; and brother, Benson Blackwell, he is survived by his wife, Alice Seals Blackwell; children, Vicki Christian and her husband Guy, Gary Blackwell and his wife, Chris, Kenneth Blackwell, Angie Lee and her fiance Mike, and...

Ethel Delores Hollingsworth Mead, “Delores”, 76, of St. Pauls, North Carolina, died peacefully Tuesday, August 21, 2018 in St Pauls, NC. A former resident of Pensacola, Florida and Florala, Alabama, Delores returned to her hometown of St Pauls, NC in 2016 to be closer to her siblings. Delores was preceded in death by her beloved husband Eddie; her parents, Amanda and Nash; her sisters, Mary, Jean, Joan, Viola; brothers, Dennis, and Tommy.  She is survived by daughters, Carol...

Ometter H. Johnson, 92, of St. Pauls, North Carolina, entered the gates of heaven to meet her Lord and Savior, on Monday August 20, 2018. Ometter was born June 20, 1926 in Hope Mills, NC to the late Tilton and Carrie Hall Hair. Preceded in death by her husband, Julius L. Johnson and son, Larry W. Johnson, she is survived by her son, Ronald Johnson and his wife Midget of Lumber Bridge, NC; daughters, Brenda J. Russell and her husband Steve of Petersburg, VA and Melinda Harding of St. Pauls,...