In Memory of Mary Jane Whitfield Ireland

Mary Jane Whitfield Ireland, 76, passed away on November 6, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born May 10, 1938 to Stanley Hodges Sr. and Rilla Spence in Oriental, North Carolina. She worked as a loving mother and homemaker for most of her life in Lowland, North Carolina. Prior to relocating to Las Vegas earlier this year due to health issues, she attended Lowland Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Mary Jane is survived by her son, Douglas Whitfield and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Whitfield of Las Vegas; sisters, Elizabeth Mitchell of Reelsboro, North Carolina and Mary Lee Dike of Las Vegas, Nevada as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special cousin, Charlene Richards of Plymouth, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by brothers Stanley Hodges Jr. and James "Jimmy" Hodges and by her husband Bennie Ireland, her second husband Fred Waldrop, and by her first husband Fenner Whitfield.

Mary Jane was a great nature lover and found great joy in gardening and raising her pets. She loved to cook and share recipes with everyone. She leaves behind a host of extended family and friends and will be sorely missed by those who knew her. "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" Luke 1:45

Arrangements were by La Paloma Funeral Home in Henderson, Nevada. On-line condolences may be posted at www.lapalomafuneralservices.com\lapaloma.

Services and burial to be held in Lowland, North Carolina in the spring of 2015.

In Memory of Elsie Marie Bennett Flowers

Elsie Marie Bennett Flowers, 67, 5390 Lowland Rd, Lowland, died October 20, 2014 at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern.

She was a member of Wardens Grove Free Will Baptist Church and was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband Julius Flowers, Sr.; three sons, Julius Flowers, Jr., George Flowers, and Edward "Bud" Bennett; two daughters, Ginger Flowers Nimmo and Crystal B. Rivera; 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held  at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Wardens Grove Free Will Baptist Church, Lowland.

Arrangements by Rivers-Morgan Funeral Home, Inc.

In Memory of Foy Sadler Ballance Sr.

Foy Sadler Ballance Sr. passed away peacefully on September 30, 2014 in Georgia surrounded by his family.  He was born and raised in Lowland, NC, but spent the majority of his life in Everglades City, FL.  Foy was an Army veteran, where he was stationed in Alaska during the Korean War.  He was also a member of the Chokoloskee Church of God.

He did many things in his 83 years of life, from farming to shrimping and crabbing, to driving a truck and working for Gulf Oil.  He could shuck oysters as fast as anyone.  He was an awesome baseball player, too.  Foy touched many lives as a school teacher for Everglades City School where he was also an assistant basketball coach and a bus driver.  Foy was definitely "Mr. Fix It" everywhere he went!  He had an amazing gift for fixing anything he touched.  Everyone knew to call on him.  He enjoyed hunting, camping, oystering, traveling, and spending time outdoor with the people he loved.  He will be missed by many, but now he is in Heaven rejoicing!

Foy was preceded in death by his wife, Yuvonne Hazel Ballance; his mother and father, Della Sadler Ballance and Joe Ballance; and all five of his siblings Elma, Mamie, Dave Taylor, Joe and Helen.

He is survived by a son, Foy Sadler Ballance Jr. and wife Beverly; a daughter, Katy Ballance Fleming and husband Chris; four grandchildren, Bo Sadler Ballance, Kaney Andrews Ballance, Cayden Elizabeth Fleming, and Carlee Alana Fleming; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Maxine Combs for giving him special care and love the last few years of his life. He loved you too!  Thank you to The Sanctuary of Savannah for all the prayers and visits. We could not have had the strength and comfort without it.  Also, thank you to all his family and friends that called, visited, and fed us during his sickness.  We love all of you!

A viewing will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2014, with a service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Avenue North, Naples, FL 34108.

Walking Tour of Goose Creek Island Cemeteries - To See, To Remember

Photo by William Odell Spain, January 2010

     Goose Creek Island's cemeteries are our most important historic resource.  If you ask any Islander what the Island's most important historic resources would be, they will say our churches, working waterfronts (landings) and our cemeteries.  Our Island history is in our cemeteries and preservation of them will be vital to keeping our history alive.
     The cemeteries on the Island is our most sacred places, but they are also places for educating and learning.  At rest, our former neighbors and family are a source of history and our Island stories. Strolling through the cemeteries provides not only a window into our past, but the serenity and reverence of its location, the quiet wildlife amongst it, and the beautiful outdoor sculptures of the markers.
     If we desire to tell our stories to future generations and visitors, our cemeteries offer the best opportunities.  From the hallowed ground lays stories of Island characters, their triumphs, their tragedies.  They offer the opportunity to gather genealogical information and the history that is revealed.
    I am planning a Walking Tour of Goose Creek Island Cemeteries for the fall.  Several folks have mentioned they would like to visit the Brickyard Cemetery at Middle Bay.  I've never been and I would love to bear witness to the history that is there.  We can pick a day and all gather at the Hobucken Marina. We'll drive to each cemetery on the Island and share stories, record any information one would like and take pictures.   But most importantly, we will gather to learn, to record these memories, to honor our fellow Islanders. 
     If you are interested in joining me, please send me an email at tinabeacham@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook.  I will try to pick a Saturday for all of us to come together.  Your thoughts and suggestions are most welcomed. 
  

In Memory of Ray Rhoden Jr.

Raymond Harold Rhoden, Jr., 65, of Hobucken passed away Saturday, September 6, 2014, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.

He was a retired commercial fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family and deer hunting.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Rhoden; one son, Bryan Rhoden and wife, Kelly, of Lowland; two daughters, Christina Godwin and husband, Troy, of Hobucken and Maria Norman and husband, Jamey, of Merritt; two sisters, Rhonda Luckey of Stark, Fla. and Bonny West of Chocowinity; three brothers, Doran L. Sadler and Lynn Sadler, both of Hobucken and Mickey Sadler of Grantsboro; and five grandchildren, Amber Norman, Jamey Norman Jr., Leighia Godwin, Lora Rhoden and Sara Rhoden.

His funeral will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 9, at New Vision Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Ray Bonner officiating. Interment will be in Barnett Cemetery.

The family will receive friends and relatives immediately following the service at the church.

Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to Bryant Funeral Home, PO Box 99, Alliance, NC 28509 to assist the family with final expenses.

In Memory of Eula Ballance Heath

Eula Mae Ballance Heath, 93, died Thursday, August 28, 2014 at Bayview Nursing and Rehab Center. She had worked as a seamstress with Sagner Sewing Room and was a lifetime member of Warden's Grove FWB, Lowland.  She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Mamie Ballance of Lowland.

She is survived by her son Carlton Heath and wife Vicki of New Bern;  one sister, Mollie Campen of Lowland; one grandson, Daniel Heath and wife Ashley of Wilson; and one great-grandson Malachi.

Funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Pollock-Best Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at Greenleaf Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends at Pollock-Best Funeral Home Saturday 6-8 p.m.

In Memory of Tracy Andrew Popperwill

Tracy Andrew Popperwill, 48, of New Bern, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Carolina East Medical Center. He was the son of the late Varion Popperwill and Jean Popperwill Morris.

He was a commercial fisherman for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Annette Ireland Popperwill of the home; three sons, Joseph Popperwill, Jacob Popperwill and Connor Popperwill all of the home; two daughters, Skyla Popperwill of the home, Ashley Popperwill Barnard of Hobucken, one brother, Todd Popperwill of Hobucken and two grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 30, at New Vision Pentecostal Holiness Church.

The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Lowland Community Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Bryant Funeral Home, P.O. Box 99, Alliance, NC 28509.