All are invited to attend a Celebration of Life in Memory of Ricky Hord, longtime member and former Captain of Buies Creek Fire Department. Please share this with the community and all who knew Ricky so that they can be a part of this special event.

Saturday,March 21st @ 4:00PM

Buies Creek Fire Department

Donald Spencer Davis

Donald Spencer Davis, 85 of Erwin passed away at his home on March 6, 2015 after a rich and wonderful life.
Don was born in Hannibal, Missouri on January 19, 1930 to Dean and Jewell Davis. He was educated at Moberly Missouri High School, University of Maryland and Austin Peay State Teachers College, Clarksville, Tennessee.
Don retired as a US Army Major after serving in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division, 1st Calvary Division; Korea, Japan and Germany from October 3, 1946 until October 31, 1966. While serving in the Army, he received many honors and awards-Department of the Army Accommodation Ribbon with Cluster; Department of Defense Accommodation Medal; Gold Conduct Medal and Army Master Parachutist Badge.
After Don retired from the Army he was the founder of a military Food Broker/Retail Food Distribution business; Don-Ron Military Marketing President and Chairman.
He later began his political career. He was the Republican Party nominee for 1990 and 1992 Congressional election (2nd and 3rd Congressional District). He was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives where he served from 1995 until he retired in 2002. Don served in many capacities at Heritage Bible College in Dunn, NC. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees for twenty-five years and served five years as finance director under the Presidency of Dr. Dwarka Ramphal. He received a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Heritage Bible College in 1995.
Don also enjoyed farming and selling produce. He later became a volunteer Chaplin at Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dunn, NC after receiving his ministerial license from New Millennium Ministries in Dunn, NC.
Don was a life-time member of Antioch PFWB Church in Erwin where he served as the Church Administrator. He has served as deacon, trustee, teacher and Sunday School Superintendent and he also headed the 1st Impressions Team and Rest Home Ministry at Harnett Woods and Cornerstone. Don was a member of the Dunn Rotary Club and served two terms as president. He was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award for his dedicated service in the Rotary Club. He also received the Rotary Integrity award in 2012. Don was also a member of the VFW and The American Legion. He also served as a member of the board of directors for the General William C. Lee Museum in Dunn, NC. He was formerly secretary-treasurer of Armed Forces Marketing Council in Washington, DC and on the National Board of Directors with American Logistic Association in Washington, DC.
Don was married to Kellon Lucas Hamilton Davis for thirty-five years. He was predeceased by his first wife Juanita Butler Davis, his parents Dean & Jewell Davis and step-mother Louise Davis.
He is survived by a son, Ronald Dean Davis and wife Stuart Kelly Davis of Erwin and their three children Alston Davis of Raleigh, Dr. Spencer Davis of Charlotte, and Mary Davis of Charleston, SC. A daughter, Lisa Hamilton Metz and husband Kerry Metz and their son, Coleman McRay Metz of the home in Erwin. A daughter, Denise Hamilton Marshall and husband Pat Marshall of Dunn and their three children, Christopher Lucas Marshall, Caroline Hamilton Marshall and Chase Davis Marshall of the home. A sister Josephine Jones of Smithfield and two brothers, Harry Davis and wife Linda and George Davis and wife Cathy from Kansas City, Missouri.
Funeral services with be provided by West & Dunn Funeral Home of Erwin. Visitation will be held at Antioch PFWB Church of Erwin from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, March 13. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 14 at Antioch PFWB Church at 2 pm. Burial will be in Erwin Memorial Park.
Please honor Don’s request by making donations to Crusaders PFWB Youth Camp in lieu of flowers. Donations should be mailed to PFWB Church attention: Randy Carter, PO Box 1568, Dunn NC 28335.

Harnett County Loses Community Leader and Mentor to Many

The Harnett Dispatched has learned that former NC House Member Donald “Don” Davis passed away on Saturday the 7^th.  Dr. Don Davis was a well-known community leader in Harnett County; Dr. Davis was an ordained pastor and spent much of his free time spreading the gospel to his fellow brothers and sisters.  Davis served as a member of the NC House representing the seat currently held by David Lewis. Davis held the position of Vice President of Advancement at Heritage Bible College located in Dunn and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree.  Don’s life exemplified the Christ like image that people work their whole lives to achieve. He never met a stranger and was loved and well-respected by both local and statewide leaders and friends. Once we get more information about the details of the service we will release the information and have a complete article about his life and accomplishments.

Dunn man found dead in car outside hospital in Fayetteville

(from WRAL)

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Fayetteville police are investigating a Dunn man’s death after his body was found late Thursday in the back of a car parked on Robeson Street.

Officers responded to the parking lot of Value Place, at 770 W. Rowan St., at about 9:45 p.m. after receiving a tip that a man had placed an unconscious person into the back seat of a gray compact car.

The car was gone when officers arrived, but they soon located it in the rear parking lot of Highsmith Rainey Express Care, at 150 Robeson St.

Christopher Pope, 23, of 215 Jackson Trail, was found in the back seat of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu.

Investigators said that an unidentified man had been seen walking away from the car shortly after it had been parked.

The Malibu is registered to an address in Dunn, although it wasn’t clear if it belonged to Pope. Pope’s body will be sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

An investigation is ongoing, and authorities were seeking the public’s help for clues early Friday.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-237-9391 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8466.

Mr. Christopher Ryan Pope, 23 of Plain View died Thursday, July 10, 2014. He was born in Cumberland County on February 14, 1991, and was a 2009 graduate of Midway High School.

He was preceded in death by his father Charles Adam Pope, paternal grandmother Lois Pope, and maternal grandfather Hoover McLamb.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Anthony Peterson. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

He is survived by his mother and step-father Sandy and Mark Shaw, brother Josh Pope of Benson, sister Jasmine Pope of the home, step-brothers Ferris and Timothy Shaw of the home, paternal grandfather Rev. Sherrill Pope of Dunn, and maternal grandmother Margaret McLamb of Dunn.

The family will receive friends Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home.

Former State Senator Harris Blake Dies

Pinehurst, NC

Former Republican state Senator and Pinehurst resident Harris Blake has died.

Blake, a Pinehurst business owner who represented District 22 for a decade before he retired in 2012, died today at his home. He was 84.

District 22 included constituents in Harnett, Lee and Moore counties. He was elected to the state Senate in 2002 after several failed bids for public office.

Prior to his election, Blake made two unsuccessful runs for Congress, one for county commissioner and one for secretary of state. He also served as a member of the Moore County Board of Education.

Blake grew up an orphan after both sharecropper parents died when he was only 5 years old. Jackson Springs saw to it that the Blake’s’ children were cared for. Following military service, he worked in the hardware business, then in real estate. He owned Pinehurst South Realty.

During his political career and after, Blake worked to forge friendly relations between China and North Carolina through his work with the Carolina China Council.

Blake was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2013. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the state’s highest honor.

Since its creation in 1963, the honor has gone to persons who have a proven record of service to the state or some other special achievement. It is presented by order of the governor of North Carolina.

During his induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Blake was described as a “self-made man” who was praised for his dedication to his community. He was called an “unfailing advocate for limited government, responsible state spending, and for his constituents,” and a “forceful advocate for those he represented.”

Kellie Dair Godwin Hinshaw, 37, of Plain View Community passed away in her home April 7, following an extended illness. Kellie was born February 3, 1977 to Kenneth and Pattie Godwin of Dunn.

Kellie graduated from Fayetteville State University in 1999 with an Associate degree in Education. She married husband Richard in October 2001. She has used her degree in education to home school her children.

Kellie has fought a courageous battle against Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma since 2001 – dealing with several recurrences and physical setbacks. Determined to empower herself and others against the disease, she started a 5k run in 2009 aimed at bringing together survivors of the rare cancer, and raising money to support research. In 2013 she broadened her vision to include a patient financial assistance program and community outreach in addition to funding research by forming Kellie’s Krew, Ltd, a not-for-profit. In 2009 she started her fundraising efforts; which has been responsible for donating over $100,000 in research funding, $12,000 in financial support for head and neck cancer patients, and $5,000 in community outreach and scholarships. The Kellie’s Krew Scholarship program, started in 2013, funds educational scholarships based on community service and volunteerism.

Kellie has been an inspirational speaker since 2008 and has been the guest speaker at many churches and group meetings, sharing her story and using her battles to motivate and inspire others.

Kellie has been an active member and Ambassador of the Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce and was named Ambassador of the Year in 2011 and Dunn’s Woman of the Year in 2013. She is also a wish granter with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and also was a member of Central Baptist Church.

A funeral service will be held Thursday at 4 p.m. at Central Baptist Church by Rev. Tom Wagoner. Burial will follow in Lee’s Chapel/Williford’s Cemetery.

Kellie is survived by husband Richard Hinshaw, two sons, Kenneth, 11 and Kannon, 9. She is also survived by her parents, Kenny and Pattie Godwin of Dunn, two sisters, Kim Godwin Schmidlin and husband Jim of Dunn, Kristie Godwin Apperson and husband Trey of Dunn, nine nieces; Allie, Avery, Anna, and Addison Apperson, Reagan and Ashlyn Warren, Elizabeth, Morgan, and Quinn Schmidlin, all of Dunn. Kellie also leaves behind two sister-in-laws, Janice Talbert, of Springfield, Louisiana and Patricia Hinshaw of Burlington. She is also survived by brother-in-laws, James Hinshaw, Gilmer Hinshaw, and Robert Hinshaw, of Burlington and is survived by several nieces and nephews from Burlington, NC.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Central Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Kellie’s Krew, Ltd., 111 South Railroad Avenue, NC 28334. Arrangements are by Skinner & Smith Funeral Home of Dunn. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.skinnerandsmith.com.

Mr. Michael Bryant Sills, 56, of Dunn died Friday afternoon at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. He was born in Frankfort, Germany on July 26, 1957 to the late Ellis and Lois Sills.

A funeral service will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home by Rev. Sherrill Pope. Burial will follow in the Sills Family Cemetery.

He is survived by two daughters, Felicia Sills of Roseboro, Leslie S. Raynor and husband George of Shallotte, a brother, Franklin Sills of Dunn, two sisters, Pam S. Tew and husband Marty, Ruby S. Stancil and husband Richard all of Dunn and four grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Earl Davis Jackson, 87, of Route Four Dunn died Thursday, January 30th, at
HHS-Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital. He was born May 19, 1926 in Cumberland
County to the late Lester and Loucinda Jackson. Mr. Jackson was also preceded in
death by his wife of 62 years Louise, a sister Bernice Collier, brothers Elwood,
Gerald and J.D. Jackson.

Earl was a prominent member of Black’s Chapel
United Methodist Church and served as Superintendent of Sunday School, was a
trustee and very active member of the Black’s Chapel Thrift Store. He worked
with Godwin Building Supply Company of Dunn for many years, and worked for
Chicopee Company of Benson where he retired.

After retirement he worked
part time with Winn-Dixie Store and IGA. Earl served our country in the US Army
during WWII.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather as well as a
good friend and neighbor.
He is survived by a daughter Vanessa Hardee and
husband Johnny of Dunn; a son Kelly Jackson and wife Elaine of Apopka, Florida;
four grandsons: Michael and David Hardee and Davis and Braeden Jackson and
several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held Sunday,
February 2, 2014, 2p.m., at Black’s Chapel UMC with Rev. Rich Cooper
officiating. Burial will follow in Devotional Gardens.

The family will
receive friends Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 6-8pm at Skinner & Smith
Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Black’s Chapel Thrift
Store, PO Box 235 Godwin, NC 28344.

Eugene Jackson Buffaloe, Jr.

May 26, 1929 – November 21, 2013

Mr. Eugene Jackson Buffaloe, Jr., 84, of Dunn died Thursday afternoon at his residence. He was born in Wake County on May 26, 1929 to the late Eugene J. and Elma C. Buffaloe. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary M. Buffaloe.

Eugene served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He also upholstered furniture for over thirty years.

A memorial service will be held Sunday 3 p.m. at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home by Rev. Rick Kelly.

He is survived by two daughters, Crissie Beasley and husband Chris of Dunn, Julia Kay Yoder and husband Roy of Durham, two sons, David E. Buffaloe and wife Sherry of Tennessee, Mark J. Buffaloe and wife Alice of Harker’s Island, and nine grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Sunday following the service at Skinner & Smith Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Disabled Veterans of America P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Scott Randolph Epperson

Born: May. 16, 1956
Died: Nov. 23, 2013

Benson, NC:  Mr. Scott Randolph Epperson, age 57, of 1046 North Lincoln Street died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn.  Funeral arrangements will be announced by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson.

Mr. Epperson was a well-known fixture in the community, a retired law enforcement officer and a nationally renowned impersonator of Mayberry’s own Deputy Barney Fife

Benson, NC:  Mr. Scott Randolph Epperson, age 57, of 1046 North Lincoln Street died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn.  Funeral arrangements will be announced by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson.