Peggy Ann Smyer was born on March 23, 1948, in Scotland Neck, N.C., to Max and Betty Smyer. The family moved to New Bern, N.C., where Peggy attended school and graduated from New Bern High School in 1966. She married prior to graduation and had two children, Deborah and Ronnie.
Though she lived in several southern states, Peggy made her home in Jacksonville, Fla., for many years. She later settled in Temple, Ga., near her children and grandchildren. She passed away quietly in her home surrounded by family and friends.
She is survived by her mother, Betty Smyer; her sisters and brothers, Maxine Anderson and her husband, Andy, of Anacortes, Wash., Raymond Smyer and his wife, Joan, of Vanceboro, N.C., Carol Johnson and her husband, Bruce, of New Bern, N.C., and David Smyer of Orange Park, Fla.; her children, Deborah Colson, Ronnie Roebuck and his fiancee, Sue Leese, of Ellijay, Ga.; her grandchildren, Marie Puckett and her husband, Brad, of Bremen, Ga., Adam, Daniel and Michelle Godwin of Ellijay, Ga., Billy Roebuck of Ellijay, Ga.; her great-grandchild, Haili Puckett of Bremen, Ga.; ten nieces and nephews; six great-nieces and nephews; and her good friend, Kenneth Reeve.
Though she is loved and will be missed, her family and friends take great comfort in the assurance that she is now safe at home with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Arrangements by Cremation Society of the South, Smyrna, Ga.
Paid obituary
Frances "Nancy" J. Graff, 78, of New Bern, N.C., died Monday, January 21, 2002 at Craven Regional Medical Center.
She was a member of the St. Paul Catholic Church and part of the Catholic Daughters. She also assisted with the Fairfield Harbour Satellite Group (Hospital and Auxiliary) and was a past president of the Fairfield Garden Club.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Catholic Church with Father Ernest Ruede officiating.
She is survived by one daughter, Susan Contos and husband, Steven Contos of Wayne, N.J.; and one granddaughter, Kaitlyn Contos of Wayne, N.J.
The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday night with a Rosary at 8 p.m. at Cotten Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Lupus Foundation, Cedar Grove, N.J.
Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home.
Paid obituary
NEW BERN - Frank A. Burton, of 1405 Helen Avenue died at Craven Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at the age of 79.
Mr. Burton, a U.S. Army veteran, retired after 30 years of Civil Service at Cherry Point and was a member of Temple Baptist Church.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 24, 2002 at Greenleaf Memorial Park with Dr. Steve Cobb officiating.
Mr. Burton is survived by his wife, Doris E. Burton of the home; daughter, Dianne Ezell and her husband, Dave of New Bern, NC; sister, Nell Bullard of Holden Beach, NC; grandson, Brian Ezell and his wife, Susan of Garner, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Temple Baptist Church Building Fund, 2201 Henderson Avenue, New Bern, NC 28560.
Arrangements by Pollock-Best Funerals & Cremations.
Paid obituary
ORIENTAL - Coy R. Dixon, 70, of 5868 Kershaw Road, died Monday at Craven Regional Medical Center.
He was a member of the North Carolina Law Enforcement Association, Gold Wing Road Riders Association and Rainbow Masonic Lodge No. 479 in Arapahoe.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home with the Rev. David Brown and the Rev. Diane Watson officiating.
Burial will be in Lee Cemetery in Arapahoe with Masonic rites by Rainbow Lodge No. 479.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Lee Dixon; his children, Dolores Dixon Adams of Raleigh, Donnie Dixon and his wife, Terry of Reelsboro, N.C. and Dalton Dixon and his wife, Janet of Batesburg, S.C.; his stepchildren, Joseph Lee and his wife, Joanne of Wilmington, N.C., and Susie Lee Boyd and husband, Gene of Arapahoe, N.C.; his brother, J. P. Dixon and his wife, Bobbie of Reelsboro; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Parson and Rebecca Dixon and a brother, Alvis Dixon.
The family received friends Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to a favorite charity.
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home, Alliance.
Paid obituary
ORIENTAL - Clara Bell Hicks Green, 71, of 403 Styron Beach Road died Thursday at Craven Regional Medical Center.
She was a nurse assistant at Britthaven of Pamlico and a member of Holt's Chapel Usher Board.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Holt's Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with the Rev. Ervin Hickman officiating.
Burial will be in the Dozier Family Cemetery.
She is survived by two brothers, Wilbert Hicks and John Hicks of New Haven, Conn.; two sisters, Mariah Hicks and Hannah Gaskins of Oriental.
The family will receive friends at the residence of her sister, Hannah Gaskins, 1431 Silverbrook Rd., Oriental.
Viewing will be from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday at Oscar's Mortuary.
Arrangements by Oscar's Mortuary, Inc.
ARAPAHOE - Junior "Skip" Dexter Carpenter, 64, died Monday at Craven Regional Medical Center after an extended illness.
He was a member of Alliance Pentecostal Holiness Church, VFW, Navy Fleet Reserve, a town commissioner of Arapahoe, past chief of Arapahoe VFD. He worked for 20 years with civil service at Cherry Point. He retired from the U.S. Navy.
His first duty station with the U.S. Navy was in 1955 in Key West, FL, where he worked the flight line. From 1956-58 he was stationed on the USS Forrestall where he served as director of the flight deck. From 1959-61 he served at NAS Norfolk in the Overhaul and Repair Department. He served on the USS Kitty Hawk from 1962-65 on the flight deck. In 1966 he was stationed at Milton, FL at Whiting Field, a training field for cadets. From 1970-73 he served in Norfolk, VA as special shipboard fire fighting instructor. In September 1973 he went to fleet reserve from active duty at NAS Bermuda. In 2001 he was the recipient of a medal for his duty in the Battle of Taiwan Straits.
He was preceded in death by his son, Dwayne Carpenter, in 1979, and his parents, Hanse D. and Ada Goff Carpenter.
He is survived by his wife, Martha L. Carpenter; one son, Stuart Carpenter and his wife, Mindy, of Arapahoe; one daughter, Sandi Prescott and her husband, Mark, of Grantsboro; one brother, Delbert Carpenter of Painesville, OH; one sister, Joy Carpenter of Painesville, OH; one grandson, Luke Carpenter Prescott; cousins, Charlie and Cathy Goff and son, C. J.; and two nieces, Carolina Seal and Joy Louise Carpenter.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lee Toler officiating.
Burial will be in the Flowers Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, just prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Arapahoe VFD, P.O. Box 3, Arapahoe, NC 28510.
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home, Alliance.
Paid obituary
LOWLAND - Dave Taylor Ballance, 81, of 5404 Lowland Road died Monday at Craven Regional Medical Center.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lowland Community Cemetery with Jessie Foreman officiating.
He is survived by one son, Calvin Ballance of Chesapeake, Va.; three daughters, Janice Ireland of Aurora, Gloria Nanney of Chesapeake, Va., and Patsy Leary of Chesapeake, Va.; one brother, Foy Ballance of Everglades, Fla.; two sisters, Helen Fields of Portsmouth, Va., and Mamie Twiford of Lowland; 16 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the David Ballance Fund, c/o Bryant Funeral Home, P.O. Box 99, NC 28509.
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home, Alliance.
James Frederick McCoy, 84, of New Bern died Monday at his residence.
He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Tuscaloosa in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He also served on the USS Nicholson in the Pacific. Mr. McCoy was decorated with four Bronze Stars for participation in the European, African and Middle Eastern area as well as the Asiatic Pacific area and the Phillipine Sea Campaign. He was a member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the New Bern National Cemetery with military honors.
He is survived by one son, James F. McCoy Jr. of Winchester, Mass.; one daughter, Elaine Roversi of Charleston, S.C.; two sisters, Mary Mohn of New Bern, N.C., and Margaret Hargett of Emerald Isle, N.C.; and five grandchildren, Adam Parrish Rovers, Dabney Parrish Hegg, James M. McCoy, Robert McCoy and Jodi McCoy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Craven County Home Health Hospice, P.O. Drawer 12610, New Bern, NC 28561 or the American Cancer Society Craven County Unit Memorial, P.O. Box 12805, New Bern, NC 28561.
Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home.
Paid obituary
