RITA K. AYSCUE July 13, 1959 - May 10, 2013 LOUISBURG -Rita Kay Ayscue, 53, of Louisburg, died Friday night at the William Dunlap Hospice Home in Raleigh. Born in Paris, France; daughter of the late Nathaniel Jordan Ayscue “Jay” and Joyce Ann Burnette Ayscue. Rita was also preceded in death by her brother, Dwight David Ayscue. She graduated from Gold Sand High School and East Carolina University. She was a medical social worker & discharge planner for Franklin Regional Medical, Pitt Memorial, Johnston Memorial and was Director of patient & Family Resources at Northern Hospital of Surry County, Mt. Airy, NC. She loved all creatures big & small, especially her cat, Taz and three dogs, Obi, Chewie & Magic. She cherished her family and many friends. She loved life, people, spreading joy, laughter and fun wherever she went. Rita had the uncanny ability to light up a room and draw everyone around her into fun. She will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, & compassion and for the love she shared so freely with others. Surviving sister & brother-in-law, Sharon and Jimmy Bowers of Louisburg; brother & sister-in-law, Danny & Kathy Ayscue of Wendell; “God Children” niece & nephew, Marti Bowers of Cary and Sean Bowers of Williamsburg, VA; sister-in-law, Georgia Ayscue of Williamsburg, VA; aunts, Carolyn Faulkner of Franklin, VA; Mary Lou Gordon of Archer Lodge; Betty Ayscue of Louisburg; uncle, Richard “Dickie” Burnette of Louisburg. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Cr. Raleigh, NC 27607. Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Entombment will follow at Lancaster Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 7 - 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Strickland Funeral Home, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=5258288698DYANNA LYNN HOFFMAN February 21, 1962 - May 9, 2013 Dyanna Lynn Hoffman, 51, of Louisburg, died Thursday night. A memorial service will be held 3:00 pm Saturday in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home. She is survived by her husband, Leobardo Rufino Zavala; mother and stepfather, Lynn and Gene Jenkins of Clover, SC; father and stepmother, Fred and Sandie Hoffman, Boynton Beach, FL.; sister and brother-in-law, Kelly and Jon Weiss of Florence, SC; brothers and sister-in-law, Fred and Beth Hoffman of Clover , SC; Ty Hoffman of Louisburg. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=0998288580“PETE” COLLEEN P. STALLINGS August 7, 1929 - May 1, 2013 LOUISBURG - Colleen “Pete” Pearce Stallings, 83, of Louisburg, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday morning. Pete was a daughter of the late Julius Cleveland and Amie Medlin Pearce. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor M. Stallings; sisters, Pattie P. Wrenn, Lillian S. Moody, Dorothy P. Parrish and brother, J.C. Pearce. Pete was a faithful and supportive member of Rock Spring Baptist Church. Pete was a retired nursing assistant at Dorthea Dix Hospital. Funeral service will be held 6 pm Friday at Rock Spring Baptist Church with Rev. Melton Tyson and Rev. Tom Brown officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the church cemetery. Pete is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Coleen W. Pearce of Louisburg; and many special nieces and nephews. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Rock Springs Baptist Church “Choir Robe Fund” or “Building Fund”, 34 Rock Springs Church Road, Louisburg, NC 27549. Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=576f287538KEVIN D. WHITLEY MIDDLESEX �" Kevin D. Whitley, 44, of Middlesex went home to be with our Lord on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on April 17, 1969 to JoAnne Whitley and the late Ronnie F. Whitley. He was a member of the Middlesex Church of God where he enjoyed being a servant of the Lord, serving as greeter and usher, and helped with maintenance. He was very helpful to the Seniors with their fundraisers. He also volunteered many hours and helped with the construction of several churches in the Dominican Republic. Although other organs failed, his HEART OF GOLD did not! This was evident by the overwhelming love shown to him. He is survived by his only son, Tyler Kevin Whitley; Tyler’s mother, Wendy B. Whitley; mother, JoAnne Whitley; sisters, Rhonda Mace and husband Wayne of Middlesex; Sherri Waddell and husband Wayne of Rock Ridge; nieces, Lauren & Logan Waddell; grandmothers, Betty S. Hopkins and Joyce Whitley; who know what a special place they held in his heart; beloved Friend, Paige Pace Rogers, who kept her promise to never leave his side; her daughter, Ashtyn; and special friend, Andi Carroll. Kevin was loved by countless aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his granddaddys, Doliver Hopkins and Floyd Whitley, who provided endless support after the death of his father. A Celebration of Kevin’s life will be held at the Middlesex Church of God on Saturday, May 4th, 2013, at 3:00 P.M. The family will receive friends immediately following the service, and other times at Kevin’s home, 10792 Burgess Road, Middlesex, NC. Per Kevin’s request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for the college fund of his only son, Tyler Kevin Whitley. Checks should be made payable to The Tyler Whitley College Fund,% Middlesex Church of God, 5407 S. NC Highway 231, Middlesex, NC 27557. Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=edcd287649ELIZABETH C. PERRY April 8, 1922 - April 22, 2013 RALEIGH - Elizabeth “Betty” Carder Perry, 91, of Raleigh, died Monday morning. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Maude Carder. She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Leonard Perry, her sister, Alma Albright; and brothers, Eston and Calvin Carder. Betty is survived by her, daughters and sons in-law, Ellen Perry; Sarah and Marty Mozingo; Anne and Randal Knight; son and daughter in-law, Bill and Alena Perry; grand-daughter, Sarah Perry; sister, Allene Carpenter. A memorial graveside service will be held 11am Saturday at Maple Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Louisburg. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Easter Seals United Cerebral Palsy NC, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27612-3266. Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=e532286678JOHN K. WHITE December 4, 1934 - April 19, 2013 LOUISBURG - John Kelly White, 78, of Louisburg, died Friday afternoon at his home after a long illness. John was the son of the late William Hayward White and Lillian Cone White. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, James Daniel White and William Hayward White, Jr. He attended W.R. Mills School in Louisburg and Louisburg College. John served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and retired from the State of NC. He was very active in the American Legion Post 105 and was a charter member of the Louisburg Jaycees. He loved his church and he was an active dedicated member of Louisburg Baptist Church serving in many capacities. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy Gordon White; daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca White Kuhn and Douglas of Alexandria, VA; brother-in-law, Charles Gordon and his wife Rachel of Kittrell; sister-in-law, Agnes Gordon Leonard of Raleigh and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Louisburg Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Louisburg Baptist Church or the Philathea Sunday School Class Neighbors Fund, P.O. Box 730,Louisburg, NC 27549. The family wishes to thank Dr. Lavinia Reyes and all her staff for their dedicated service and the devoted caregivers. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday at Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg,www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=1667286209Willard Samuel “Sam” Perry, Jr. February 8, 1947 - April 12, 2013 RALEIGH - Willard S. “Sam” Perry, Jr. (Sam), 66, died peacefully in his sleep Friday April 12, 2013, following several months of declining health. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Oakwood Cemetery, Louisburg. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 103 W. Franklin St., Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net. Sam was born on February 8, 1947, in Henderson, NC, and grew up in Raleigh, NC. He was the beloved first child of Willard S. Perry and Marie Astor Fox Perry. Sam’s childhood in a close, loving family was further enriched by many cherished times spent with family and friends on his Great Uncle Frank (“Doc”) Alford’s farm in Franklin County. He also enjoyed working in Surf City, NC, at his family’s laundry mat/ice cream shop, “The Kooler”, during the mid 1960’s. Following graduation from Broughton High School and a stint in the Marine Corps Reserves, Sam earned an undergraduate degree in history from Campbell University, minoring in business. He then married and started his own family and began a long, successful career in the electric cooperative field which led him from Nashville, NC, to Richmond, VA, and finally to Clarksville, VA. During that time, he earned an MBA, became vice-president of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, lobbied state government on behalf of electric cooperatives and became an honorable member of the Mecklenburg School Board. Throughout his life, Sam demonstrated a deep love of history and a sincere interest in the lives of his ancestors. He will be warmly remembered for his great intelligence, keen sense of humor and blue-eyed good looks. Sam was preceded in death by his father. Surviving to cherish his memory are his mother, his sons Willard S. “Sam” Perry, III, and Justin E. Perry and their mother Joanna E. Perry; his siblings Susan P. Rouse (Charles), David A. Perry (Cheryl), Leatha P. Ritchie (Bob), and Mark A. Perry. Sam request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Cr., Raleigh, NC 27607.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=ca8b285237DONNA M. WINSTEAD August 3, 1942 - April 9, 2013 BUNN - Donna Marie Winstead, 70, of Bunn, died Tuesday morning at Duke Hospice. Donna was a daughter of the late Glenn and Evelyn Davis Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Winstead. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home with Rev. Dave Bundy officiating. Burial will follow in Bunn Memorial Gardens. Donna is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and Bill Eldridge; sons and daughter-in-law, Kent and Beth Winstead; Craig Winstead all of Bunn; 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7 - 8:30 p.m. Friday at Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=3b2f284632Early Cope Gupton, III September 2, 1953- April 5, 2013 LOUISBURG - Early C. “Earl” Gupton, III, 59, of Louisburg, died peacefully Friday morning at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of E.C. and Margaret P. Gupton. Earl worked in the auto sales business. He enjoyed his family, friends, and life. Along with his parents, Earl is survived by his daughters Lindsay L. Gupton and Jennifer “Jenny” J. Gupton, his grandson Johnny L. Williams, II all of Louisburg; sister and brother in law, Patsy G. and Bob Gardner of Castalia. His family will receive friends Sunday, April 7 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at Strickland Funeral Home, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net. A graveside service will be held on Monday, April 8, at 2 pm at Lancaster Memorial Park, with Rev, Henry Stamper officiating.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=cd2d284127“PETE” R. W. SHEARIN November 14, 1934 - March 29, 2013 CASTALIA - Rhodes Wayne “Pete” Shearin, 78, of Castalia, died Friday morning at his home. Pete was a son of the late Garnet Lee and Hannah Connor Shearin. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nanny West and brother, George L. Shearin. He was a retired boiler technician from the Navy and was a member of Red Bud Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at Red Bud Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Shugart officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Pete is survived by his former wife, Kimi Shearin; daughter, Terresa Shearin Harr; son, Freddy Shearin all of Charlotte; brothers, Cecil Shearin of Charlotte; David Lee Shearin of Fort Mill, SC; grandchildren, Jason, Terry and A.J.; sister-in-law, Barbara Mayhall; niece, Tonja Philbeck; nephews, Frank Steed and Harlen Steed all of Castalia. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4200 Morganton Road, Suite 300, Fayetteville, NC 28314. Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory,Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=639e283199