Benjamin F. Cooper Jr.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dr. Benjamin Franklin Cooper Jr., Dean Emeritus of Auburn University School of Pharmacy, died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011. He is predeceased by his wife, Hazel Strickland Cooper (1925-2008).

Ben was born on Nov. 22, 1924 in Warsaw. He was the son of Benjamin F. Cooper, Sr. and Macy Jones Cooper. Surviving children are Ben (Suzie) F. Cooper III of Monroe, La.; Caran (Kenneth) Yurgelun of Penfield, N.Y.; and Cana (Keith) Farr of Madison, Ala.

Dr. Cooper earned his A.B., B.S., M.S. and PhD ('56) from UNC Chapel Hill. He held teaching and administrative positions with the Schools of Pharmacy at UNC, Oregon State University ('57-'61), University of Georgia ('61-'65), Northeast Louisiana University ('66-''73) now University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Auburn University ('73-'87).

He served as Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean War.

Dr. Cooper held memberships in Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Chi, Rho Chi, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Lambda and local, state and national professional organizations. He was a fellow/scholar of The American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, recipient of The Bowl of Hygeia, Pharmacist of the Year Award (Louisiana) and UNC Pharmacy Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Ben was a lifelong Sunday school teacher and deacon. After retirement he and Hazel moved back to North Carolina, eventually settling back in their hometown of Warsaw. He stepped back behind the counter as a Registered Pharmacist for many years, and enjoyed his passions of church, family, golf, travel, and service to veterans.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to UNC School of Pharmacy Student Scholarship fund at www.alumni.pharmacy.unc.edu.

Family can be reached at 5 St. Ebbas Drive, Penfield NY 14526. Facebook page: Ben F Cooper Jr.

Bonnie B. Eason, 38

GODWIN — Ms. Bonnie Christal Burgette Eason, 38 died Friday Aug. 5, 2011 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville.

Christal was born in Sampson County on Jan. 4,1973 to Larry and Dixie McLamb Burgette. Christal graduated in 1991 from E. E. Smith High School in Fayetteville.

The funeral will be held at 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7, at Hope Valley Funeral Chapel in Clinton with the Rev. G. W. West and the Rev. Lyn McLaurin officiating, Graveside Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 8, at Grandview Memorial Park on Hwy. 421 North of Clinton.

Christal leaves to cherish her memory; her parents, Larry and Dixie McLamb Burgette; son, Dillon S. Eason of Godwin; sister, Melissa (Missy) B. Jones of Clinton.

The family will receive friends 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday Aug. 7, at Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation 1275 Hobbton Hwy., Clinton.

In lieu of flowers memorials, may be made to Hope Valley Funeral Service to help the family off set the funeral expenses.

The Burgette Family has entrusted Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton.

Thelma M. Raynor, 86

MOUNT OLIVE — Ms. Thelma M. Raynor, 86, of 304 Silver St., died Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 at Mt. Olive Care & Rehab Center, Mt. Olive.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Brock Memorial & Worley Funeral Home of Clinton.

Ida Sherwood, 57

CAMERON — Mrs. Ida “Dutchess” Sherwood, 57, of 2637 Cypress Road, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Brown officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ida “Dutchess” Sherwood Memorial Fund, c/o Cox Memorial Funeral Home, P.O. Box 651, Vass, N C 28394.

Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.

The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory, of Vass.

James W. Naylor, 98

CLINTON — Mr. James Woodrow Naylor, 98, of 120 Southwood Drive, died on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 at Mary Gran Nursing Center in Clinton.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 8, with the Rev. Mike Shook officiating. Burial will follow in Owen's Grove Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Naylor was born in 1912 in Sampson County to the late John A. and Emma Johnson Naylor. He owned and operated Roseboro Barber Shop before retiring, was a member of Grove Park Baptist Church in Clinton and was preceded in death by his wife Lorena E. Naylor.

Mr. Naylor is survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Sunday night from 6 until 8 p.m. at Butler Funeral Home in Roseboro.

Memorials may be made to Mary Gran Nursing Center, 120 Southwood Drive, Clinton, NC 28328.

Nancy C. Simmons, 74

DURHAM — Ms. Nancy Jacqueline Chancy Simmons, 74, of 315 Avon lake Drive, died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at her home.

A going home service will be held at noon, Monday, Aug. 8, at Hope Valley Funeral Chapel, burial will follow at the Littlefield Baptist Church Cemetery in Newton Grove.

Family will be present from 10 a.m. until noon, Monday, Aug. 8, at Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton 1275 Hobbton Hwy.

The Chancy-Simmons Family has entrusted services to Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton.

Esteban Diaz, 33

NEWTON GROVE — Mr. Esteban Diaz, 33, of 2330 Suttontown Road, died Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 due to an auto accident.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton.

Keegen C. Howard, infant

FAYETTEVILLE — Master Keegen Christopher Howard, infant, 146 Eleanor Ave., died Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The funeral was held Saturday, Aug. 6, Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim White officiating. Burial was at Ft. Bragg Main Post Cemetery.

The Howard Family has entrusted services to Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton.

Wiley R. Melvin Sr.

ROSEBORO — Mr. Wiley R. Melvin, Sr., died on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 at Mary Gran Nursing Center.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Butler Funeral Home in Roseboro.

Marie L. Keene, 88

CLINTON — Mrs. Marie L. Keene, 88, of 180 Southwood Drive, died in Southwood Nursing & Retirement Center on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Alamance Memorial Park in Burlington with the Rev. Joe McWethy officiating.

Born in 1922 in McDowell County, W. Va., Mrs. Keene was the daughter of the late Lewis and Ella Cline Lockhart. She preceded in death by her first husband, Harrison Keene and second husband, Jonah Edwards; three sons, Donald, Douglas, and Thomas Keene, and one step-son, Russell Edwards.

She was a member of Colonial Heights Free Will Baptist Church and retired seamstress.

She is survived by two daughters, Pat Daughtry and husband, Lowell of Clinton, Dianne Bowen and husband, Tony of Rose Hill; two sons, Ronald Keene and wife, Vivien of Greensboro; Harrison Keene Jr. and wife, Terry of Winston Salem; daughter-in-law, Shirley Keene of Vienna, Ga.; four stepdaughters, Jean Johnson of Fayetteville, Earlene Vann, Nannie Westbrook of Newton Grove and Bonnie Giddens of Mt. Olive; three step-sons, Larry Edwards of Newton Grove, M.B. Edwards and Layton Edwards, both of Clinton; ll grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent through www.royalhallfuneralhome.com.

Services are entrusted with Royal-Hall Funreral Home.

Doris King Phipps, 83

FAISON — Mrs. Doris King Phipps, 83 , died on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, Aug. 7 at West & Dunn Funeral Home Chapel in Newton Grove with the Rev. Walter Gaskins officiating. Interment will be in the Phipps Family Cemetery.

Survivors include husband, Lacy M. Phipps; daughters, Doris Cooke of Selma and Lilly Martin of Washington State; sons, Tim Phipps of Kenansville, V. R. Phipps of Selma, Joe Phipps of Goldsboro, Herman Phipps of Columbia, S.C., and Charlie Phipps of Newton Grove; one brother William B. King of Greensboro; sister, Bernice Potter of Henderson; dozens of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by sons, Mitchell, Shaun, and William Phipps; daughters Amanda Valentine and Victoria Kornegay.

The family received friends at the funeral home on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 6-8 p.m.

A service of West & Dunn Funeral Home of Newton Grove.