Duplin Journal Vol. 10, Issue 2 by North State Journal

Duplin Journal

the BRIEF this week

Duplin County Emergency Services warns of hazardous burning conditions

Duplin County Duplin County Emergency Services has issued a warning about hazardous burning conditions following a weekend of intense fires across the region. According to DCES social media, approximately 23 fires broke out in wooded areas, brush, fields and grass, with emergency responders successfully containing all of them. However, the National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement indicating increased fire risk due to low humidity, dry vegetation and the heightened potential for fire to spread quickly. As a result, Duplin County Emergency Services strongly advises against any outdoor burning. If burning is absolutely necessary, officials urge people to have fire suppression equipment on hand to prevent fires from escaping control. The conditions are so dry that even a small spark could lead to a devastating wildfire, making it critical to stay prepared and vigilant when dealing with fire in these conditions.

Man arrested at Relax Inn

Warsaw Tyrone Watford, 43, was arrested Feb. 28 after a search warrant was executed at the Relax Inn in Warsaw as part of an investigation into drug sales and possession. During the search, officers discovered methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and large amounts of cash, which indicated involvement in illegal drug activity. As a result of the search, Watford was charged with several drug offenses and is on a $80,000 secured bond.

Two arrested in Magnolia, one faces multiple drug charges

Magnolia Andrew Major McGlocking and Darius Jamal Houston have been arrested and are at Duplin County Jail. According to law enforcement, Houston was arrested on an outstanding Order for Arrest from New Hanover County and McGlocking was taken into custody after authorities discovered more than 500 grams of marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia during a drug investigation search at their residence on Larry Hooks Lane in Magnolia on Feb. 21. McGlocking was given a secured bond of $50,000 and charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

$2.00

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is a great honor, and I am very proud to receive it.”

Dexter Edwards, county commissioner

NC Pork Hall of Fame inducts Edwards

The

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — A tearful

Dexter Edwards smiled broadly as he was surprised by family and colleagues with a special recognition at the County Com-

Beulaville

Construction for the town’s sewer project is expected to begin in two years

By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

missioners meeting on March 3. The longtime county commissioner and chairman was honored for his recent induction into the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame.

During the meeting, Vicechair Elwood Garner welcomed the Edwards family to share in the recognition. After a brief motion to approve the resolution, the commissioners officially presented the honor to Edwards, and Garner read the

resolution acknowledging his long-standing contributions to the pork industry.

“The North Carolina Pork Council Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the organization. It recognizes individuals with long and outstanding service to the North Carolina Pork Industry and to the North Carolina Pork Council,” said Garner as he read the document.

The resolution emphasized the North Carolina Pork Coun-

awarded $2.7M in grants

of Commissioners meeting. Josh Outlaw with the Adams Company congratulated the town on securing funding but emphasized that the process would take time.

BEULAVILLE — The Town of Beulaville has been awarded a grant in the amount of $2.7 million for sewer replacement and lift station rehabilitation, Town Manager Lori Williams announced Monday at the town’s monthly Board

“That is going to be a big catapult to really get us headed in the right direction. I’m not gonna lie; I got a little teary‑eyed. It is pheno menal that we got that.”

Charles Banks, town manager

“This is the beginning of a long process,” said Outlaw, saying it would be approximately two years before construction begins. “We got a bunch of paperwork between here and there.”

As part of the meeting’s new business, the board unanimously approved hiring The Adams Company to provide engineering

The projects will enhancing the town’s systems quality, efficiency, and reliability

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MAGNOLIA — The Magnolia town board reconvened for a special meeting last week in preparation for the board’s budget retreat scheduled for March 17, during which they will discuss the fiscal year 2025-26 budget.

One of the highlights of the meeting was an announcement made by Town Manager Charles Banks, who shared that Magnolia was awarded $6.9 million for water and infrastructure projects.

“That is going to be a big catapult to really get us headed in the right direction,” said Banks. “I’m not gonna lie; I got

services for a Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) project. The $950,000 grant was the last received from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and will support the rehabilitation or replacement of four Beulaville houses. Williams noted that requirements have increased as far as training and paperwork regarding the new grants; town representatives will be required to attend two separate compliance and environmental training sessions.

a little teary-eyed. It is phenomenal that we got that.”

The five projects awarded grants totaling $6,964,570 include: $1,968,050 for sewer rehabilitation; $999,890 for the Newberry sewer pump station replacement; $980,000 for Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements; $634,855, for the automatic meter infrastructure project; and $2,381,775 for the water supply well replacement project. Each of these projects contributes to enhancing the quality, efficiency, and reliability of the town’s water and wastewater systems.

Banks also announced that the town was able to recover a grant they thought was lost for the library, which will provide between $14,000 and $15,000 for improvements.

“We can do some flooring, put a new roof, do some things

cil’s significance as the oldest state pork producer organization in the nation. It also outlined the criteria for induction into the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame, which includes lasting contributions to the pork industry, community involvement, recognitions, certification in industry standards and a record of environmental compliance.

See HOF, page A2

“This the beginning of a long process.”

Josh Outlaw, The Adams Company

The board also voted to finalize an agreement with the Department of Transportation to reimburse the town up to $8,700 annually for quarterly street sweeping services along Main and Jackson streets on N.C. 24 and N.C. 41/111, respectively. The funding will enable the town to resume street

longtime county commissioner’s journey in the industry began on 1962

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

County Commissioner Dexter Edwards, right, smiles at his daughter Brittainy Kildow, center front. Surrounded by family and friends, Edwards was honored for his induction into the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame on Monday at the County Commissioners meeting.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

DUPLIN CALENDAR

Happening Monthly

The Beulaville town board meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 508 East Main St. in Beulaville. For more information, call 910-298-4647.

• The Town of Calypso meets at the council chambers the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at 103 W. Trade St. For information, call 919-658-9221.

The Faison town board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at 110 NE Center St. in Faison. For more information, call 910-267-2721.

The Economic Development Board meets the first Friday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Duplin County Airport Conference Room.

• The Greenevers town board meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at 314 E. Charity Road. For information, call 910-289-3078.

The Teachey town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at 116 East 2nd St. For information, call 910-285-7564.

• The Warsaw town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at 121 S. Front St. For information, call 910-293-7814.

The Magnolia town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at 108 Taylor St. in Magnolia. For information, call 910-289-3205.

• The Rose Hill town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at 103 Southeast Railroad St. For more information, call 910-289-3159.

The Duplin County Health Department is offering Diabetes Self Management Classes from 1-5 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 340 Seminary St. in Kenansville. For information, call 910-372-9178.

• The Wallace town council meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at 316 East Murray St. in Wallace. For more information, call 910-285-4136. Duplin County Beekeepers meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Duplin Extension Center. Friends of Horticulture meet the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Duplin Extension Center.

• The Duplin County Airport Commission Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Duplin County Airport.

“Daddy always had hogs, and I ran some hogs with him,” he said, explaining that he worked alongside his father but kept his involvement to a minimum until he turned 16.

Once he reached that age, his dad allowed him to buy half of his hogs. This marked a significant turning point, as it initiated their partnership in the hog business.

Edwards shared that he earned his associate’s degree in science with the intention of returning home to expand their hog operation. However, in 1976, he was recommended for a farm manager trainee position at Carroll’s Foods. He embraced the opportu-

nity to learn and grow within the industry, even though it wasn’t part of the original plan to stay with them for nearly five decades.

“I decided that I would go to work for Carroll’s to learn,” said Edwards. “I could further my education and get paid for it. And so that was my intent still to come home and become an independent producer, it just didn’t work out that way. I stayed there for 48 years. I retired on Aug. 30, 2024.”

Edwards has been an active member of the community through civic activities, youth programs and religious commitments, and he served as

Smithfield Foods general manager of the central region.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Edwards, who was inducted last week.” It is a great honor, and I am very proud to receive it. But you’re not supposed to surprise me like this.

“We’ve got a great county, and we have been very blessed in agriculture. I think it’s been good for a lot of us — it definitely has been good to me,” he said, adding that receiving this award while he is here to see it happen made this moment even more special.

HOF from page A1

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Pictured left to right, front row: Nicholas Edwards, Allie Edwards, Arden Kildow, Pam Edwards, Dexter Edwards, Gage Kildow, Brittainy Kildow and Kurt Kildow. Back row: Commissioners Jesse Dowe, Justin Edwards, Wayne Branch and Elwood Garner.

Mount Olive awarded $7.3M for sewer improvements

The repairs will help reduce the risk of overflows downstream and at the wastewater treatment facility

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — The town of Mount Olive is among the recipients of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Community Development Block – Infrastructure (CDBG-I) grants announced last week by Gov. Josh Stain and DEQ, receiving more than $7.3 million for sewer improvements.

The first grant, in the amount of just under $3 million will finance improvements to the sewer infrastructure to meet community and housing needs. This includes the rehabilitation or replacement of approximately 14,400 linear feet of existing 8-inch sewer lines and 40 manholes.

According to town documents, the project will address the replacement of approximately 265 existing service lat-

erals within the public rightof-way to connect existing customers to the upgraded infrastructure.

The work will either replace the old sewer lines with new pipes or rehabilitate them using cured-in-place pipes to serve around 220 occupied households. If 6-inch gravity sewers are discovered, they will be upgraded to 8 inches to comply with current regulations. According to the town’s Asset Inventory Assessment, the existing pipes are in poor condition, mostly made of vitrified clay and brick manholes, both of which are outdated.

“Street flooding is a common issue in the project area and the poor condition of these sewers allows them to be a source of infiltration and inflow,” said David Harris with Harris and Associates during a public hearing addressing the funding application

for the grant last September. These repairs will help reduce infiltration and inflow from this section of the sewer system, subsequently decreasing the risk of overflows downstream on the main sewer interceptor and at the wastewater treatment facility. Although these overflows occur at locations far from the project area, flow monitoring has shown elevated flows from the project area during rain events. Overflows have reached surface waters multiple times, as documented by violation notices.

Streets in which sewer line rehabilitation or replacement will take place include.

East Nelson Street from 325 E. Nelson St. to Oliver Street

• Cobb Street from E. Nelson Street to Silver Street

• Silver Street from Cobb Street to Oliver Street

Wallace reverend honored by Vatican

Vandiver was awarded the Benemerenti Medal for exceptional service to the Catholic Church

By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Deacon Mike Vandiver of the Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church spends much of his time in prison — so much so, in fact, that the Pope himself has taken notice.

Over the last decade, Vandiver has traveled across the Diocese of Raleigh area (comprised of 54 counties and spanning 33,088 square miles) to expand the pastoral ministry to the incarcerated in 15 prisons and has facilitated Catholic services at even more institutions.

On Feb. 12, the Rev. Luis Rafael Zarama, bishop of Raleigh, presented Vandiver and eight others with the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Vatican: The Benemerenti Medal, for exceptional service to the Catholic Church.

Zarama called to notify Vandiver of the honor while the deacon was en route to a North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections facility.

“I was completely caught off guard,” said Vandiver. “When I got off the phone, I called my wife and asked her to go on the internet and research papal honors. I never expected something like this.”

“I called my wife and asked her to go on the Internet and research Papal Honors. I never expected something like this.”

Deacon Mike Vandiver, Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church

Prior to retiring from the Gillette Company in Massachusetts (now Proctor & Gamble), Vandiver was part of a group that visited the women’s prison once a month to sing in the choir for mass. The experience was significant for Vandiver, who saw the profound impact the group had on the inmates’ lives. After relocating to River Landing in 2008 with his wife, Tish, Vandiver was encouraged by his best friend to look into the Diaconate Formation Program with the Diocese of Raleigh. “It’s a long story, but I end-

ed up in the program, and six years later was ordained a deacon by Bishop Michael Burbidge,” Vandiver said.

Upon arriving at Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church in Wallace, Vandiver discovered Deacon Bob Price was leading a team at Pender Correctional.

“Deacon Bob got me involved when I got into formation,” Vandiver said. “I found out there were no Catholic services at Duplin Correctional and Sampson Correctional. I got services started in both.”

As a result of his familiarity with the system, in 2016, Burbidge asked Vandiver to coordinate prison ministries for the diocese.

In addition to serving North Carolina’s incarcerated, Vandiver is also heavily involved with the Bill Lord Memorial Golf Tournament held at River Landing, which has donated

Arrest made after missing man found dead inside car in Wallace

The suspect was arrested last week and is in jail under no bond

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Travis Sean Walker, 24, from Willard, was arrested last Friday in connection with the murder of Antwan Joseph Strickland.

According to authorities, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Wallace Police Department responded to a report of a possible deceased individual in a car at 250 Mail Route Road in Wallace on Feb. 27. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim’s body, who was later identified as a man reported missing in Pender County.

Detectives from DCSO’s Criminal Investigation Division identified Walker as a suspect in connection with the murder of Strickland. After further investigation and

collaboration with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and Wallace Police, law enforcement arrested Walker on an open count of murder. He is currently being held in the Duplin County Jail without bond and is due in court on April 4. The inves-

East Hillsboro Street from Oliver Street to South Beems Street

• Oliver Street from Franklin Street to East Nelson Street Oliver Street from Silver Street to South Johnson Street

• East Slocumb Street from South Center Street to Connor Street

• E. Kornegay Street from South Center Street to Milford Street

Milford Street from East Kornegay Street to end

• South Church Street from East Maple Street to East Pollock Street

• East Pollock Street from South Center Street to South Church Street East Pollock Street from South Johnson Street to South Jefferson Street

• East Williamson Street from South Church Street to South

more than $15,000 for exceptional student programs in Duplin County.

While the Benemerenti is indeed an incredible honor for Vandiver, the work, he says, is honor enough. “The reward is seeing the joy

the men and women experience when they receive the Eucharist and can talk about their faith,” said Vandiver. “Jesus says in Matthew chapter 25, when we visit those in prison, we are visiting Him. I can see Him in every face at the services.”

tigation remains ongoing. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910 -296 -2150 or the Duplin County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 910-372-9202.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama presents Deacon Mike Vandiver with the Benemerenti Medal during a ceremony at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh on Feb. 12.

Travis Walker

Wearing white ribbons, seven of the nine recipients of the Benemerenti Medal stand with Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. Deacon Mike Vandiver is pictured in the second row, last on the right. The Benemerenti Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Vatican.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises

The last administration weakened America by almost everything they did.

MY THOUGHTS and expressions in this article are grounded in my Christian belief that the Bible contains the Word of God and that He expects us to govern ourselves by electing good men and women to public office.

With that thought in mind, consider the recent “peaceful” transition of executive power and the mandate we, the people, gave to President Donald Trump in the elections of 2024. By every reasonable consideration of the scope of victory, we have instructed Trump to truly ake America great again.

My thoughts presuppose that the last administration weakened America by almost everything they did. Or, maybe more importantly, by what they didn’t do.

Sometimes, all we need to do is use plain ol’ simple common sense! A nation has borders. The Biden-Harris administration opened our borders to everyone from everywhere anytime they wanted to illegally cross into our country. We overwhelmingly gave Trump instructions to close our boarders and not allow people to cross them illegally. He promised us he would do that. He is now doing what he said he would do and all the left are going crazy.

He told us he believed there were only two genders: male and female. He is now instructing government agencies and the military to abide by a two-gender-only classification system. That is just plain ol’ common sense, and some are screaming

like their hair is on fire.

The Biden-Harris team turned a blind eye and a mute voice to biological men transitioning, so they think, to a female and then wanting to participate in women’s sports. Talk about common sense. Trump will do all he can to prevent men from playing in women’s sports.

With the above thoughts consider the final glorious capstone that completed the creative process and gave purpose to the creation of this Earth.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Gen. 1:27. Thus, Adam, a man, and Eve, a woman, became the first inhabitants of this earth.

The great creative purpose of this Earth was, and still is, to join male and female in marriage, to populate and subdue this beautiful Earth for the benefit of all of Heavenly Father’s children.

To provide order for God’s children to subdue and have dominion over this Earth, government of the people, by the people and for the people is ordained and was approved by God. History clearly reveals that when man’s laws are consistent with God’s laws, society is more stable.

For that great and grand purpose, this land of America was reserved by God for these latter days. Our noble forefathers answered a divine call to come to America and establish a government with the necessary foundation of freedom and liberty under which men and women could

be free to follow the commandments of a loving heavenly Father and His Son. Our state Constitution declares that we “are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights.” It further states that “All political power is vested in and derived from the people. Thus government in America originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.”

Left wing radical Democrats controlled the last four years.

Consider this timeless advice from Noah Webster: “The preservation of (our) government depends on the faithful discharge of our right to vote. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded.”

Sounds like the Biden-Harris presidency, doesn’t it?

We the people should be well pleased that we have elected Trump and JD Vance, who are simply doing exactly what they said they would do. Common sense is alive and well.

Jimmy Dixon (R-NC04) represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.

COLUMN

| SEN. TODD JOHNSON

Protecting North Carolina jobs by protecting manufacturing

We now have more than 9,000 manufacturers that employ nearly 475,000 people.

IT’S A NEW day in Washington, D.C.

With President Donald Trump’s return and a Republican-controlled Congress, there is real hope for change that will strengthen our economy and make the nation more secure. Before this new Congress, one of the first tasks is to make Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent. Some of these cuts were enacted in 2017 but have already expired. If Congress does not act, more will disappear at the end of this year.

A new report from the National Association of Manufacturers shows why preserving these tax cuts is critical for North Carolina. Without action to extend the tax breaks, North Carolina could lose nearly 200,000 jobs and billions in economic activity. Those are steep costs that communities across North Carolina would pay. The good news is that Republicans in Congress, including members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, are working hard on a tax bill. A quick look at the history of these tax cuts explains why this issue is a congressional priority. The 2017 Trump tax cuts included tax breaks for individuals and businesses across the economy. Manufacturers, big and small, were among the bill’s principal beneficiaries. Lower domestic and international tax rates, new deductions for small business owners, and incentives for innovation and investment spurred unprecedented

manufacturing growth.

In 2018, the first year the tax cuts were in place, manufacturers created jobs at the highest rate in decades. Capital spending also spiked as manufacturers took advantage of tax reform to purchase new equipment, raise wages and expand facilities.

We in North Carolina benefited from this manufacturing resurgence. Across the state, we now have more than 9,000 manufacturers that employ nearly 475,000 people. The industry accounts for almost 15% of our gross domestic product, adding $98.5 billion to our economy.

Today, some of the world’s leading manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, food and chemistry call the Tarheel State home. Last year, Site Selection Group named us the best state in the U.S. for manufacturing due to our strong, educated workforce, pro-business climate and geography.

In 2025, Congress can keep the momentum going and protect North Carolina’s manufacturing sector by restoring Trump’s pro-manufacturing tax code.

Among the most vital tax provisions that Congress must renew are those that lower costs for research and innovation by allowing businesses to expense and deduct certain costs. Also, lawmakers’ priorities are keeping exclusions that protect small, family-owned manufacturers from the

estate tax and maintaining individual and corporate tax rates that have helped business owners keep more of their hard-earned money and compete on an international scale.

Beyond getting the policy right, Congress’s timing is critical.

Currently, manufacturers across our state are making hiring and production plans for the years ahead. Other manufacturers outside our state consider North Carolina a possible place to relocate or expand. The sooner Congress provides certainty that the U.S. tax code will continue to support manufacturers, the sooner business leaders can lock in their decisions and make additional investments in our state.

As a North Carolina legislator, I am proud of our work in Raleigh to make our state a place where businesses can thrive. We have cut the corporate tax rate, invested in our infrastructure, and streamlined state regulations. Thankfully, North Carolina legislators again have strong partners in the nation’s capital. Eight years ago, Trump and Republicans in Congress helped North Carolina launch a manufacturing boom. In 2025, it is time for Congress to do it again by sending a bill to Trump’s desk that permanently makes all of 2017’s pro -manufacturing tax policies.

Sen. Todd Johnson represents District 35 in the N.C. Senate and is majority whip.

COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON

Driving growth and resilience

Meet Deputy County Manager Carrie Shields

By Ena Sellers and K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

EACH WEEK, Duplin Journal highlights a community member whose hard work and dedication exemplify the spirit of Duplin County. This week, Duplin Journal invited Deputy County Manager Carrie Shields for a Q&A session.

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, local governments play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and shaping the future of our communities.

As someone who has served in key leadership roles, Shields is a testament to effective leadership. Her experience underscores the importance of strategic leadership and the vital role of local government in driving economic success. For Shields, the support and vision provided by the Duplin County Board of Commissioners has been vital in advancing the county’s development.

In this Q&A, Shields discusses the evolving role of local government, the essential factors in attracting businesses and the importance of collaboration in enhancing Duplin’s economic resilience. You will also get to know the mom behind the scenes and discover a few of her Duplin favorites.

Having served as the economic development director and now as deputy county manager, how do you see the role of local government evolving in supporting economic growth?

Duplin County Board of County Commissioners have been supportive in the economic developments across our county. They have taken a proactive and strategic approach to the development in our county. By adopting a master development plan for Duplin Commons, as well as for the county’s three industrial parks (AirPark, South Park and West Park), our county has a vision and a plan for growth. We continue to work closely with our state leaders and granting agencies to stay ahead of our county’s infrastructure needs, access to high-speed data, reliable health care and educating our future

sweeping services and ensure that storm drains and gutters remain free from pine straw, dirt and debris that could lead to more expensive issues down the road. As Beulaville doesn’t own a street sweeper, the town will contract out for services for which the Department of Transportation will reimburse.

“We did reach out to Wallace and try to contract with them, but due to staffing issues we just couldn’t get a schedule worked out,” said Williams.

Commissioner Gene Wickline suggested looking to whether another local municipality would be interested in purchasing a sweeper

workforce. Having a Board of Commissioners that finds value in leveraging our local strengths and encourages collaboration is critical in driving economic growth and resiliency for our county.

In your view, what are the key factors that attract businesses to Duplin, and how does the county help facilitate that process?

The key factors in attracting businesses to Duplin County are product development, infrastructure and a strong workforce. Duplin County has strong partnerships with organizations across the state. Some of these partnerships are North Carolina’s Southeast, Economic Partnership of North Carolina, N.C. Department of Commerce, Duke Energy and our Electric Cooperatives. These partnerships are critical in presenting Duplin County as the place to relocate your existing business or start a new business. The Duplin County Economic Development Commission Board is comprised of 10 leaders in our community that are dedicated to the growth, development and success of our county. With support from our county commissioners, Duplin County has the right team to attract new businesses and industries.

What are some ways the county is encouraging women’s leadership and participation in local government and business?

I do not consider myself as a woman in a leadership role. I view myself as a leader in the county. Every employee and applicant in our county is viewed and measured on their own merit. In my role, I take pride in knowing my voice has value.

You’ve held various leadership roles. How has that varied experience shaped your approach as deputy county manager? And how did your previous roles influence your approach to these challenges?

Having different leadership roles prior to my time in Duplin County has provided me the opportunity to develop a diverse skill set and afforded me expe-

for shared use, but Director of Public Works Ricky Raynor advised against it.

“You have to have one person run that piece of equipment. If you put two or three head on it, you’ll spend more money fixing it than you will sweeping,” said Raynor.

Chief of Police Karl Mobley began his report by welcoming Officer Bryan Sexton to the Beulaville Police Department. Mobley also provided updates on recent law enforcement actions:

• Authorities have taken Justin Pittman into custody as a suspect in a credit card fraud case involving the theft of over $1,400.

• Natesha Cheeks was ap -

riences that have enhanced my professional development. Engaging in these leadership positions has helped me build a strong business network, exposed me to different working environments, given me a broader perspective and allowed me to grow as a leader. My previous leadership positions have also exposed me to different leadership styles and challenges. This has allowed me to adapt and refine my own approach which I feel makes me a more effective leader.

You’ve worked closely with JSCC’s customized training department. How do you think workforce development programs can better meet the needs of both local businesses and residents?

The workforce development programs at JSCC are doing tremendous job by offering training and education with industry-specific skills and working directly with our existing businesses to provide hands-on experience through customized training classes, internships and apprenticeships. Additionally, JSCC offers flexible learning options in person and online to support different schedules allowing the ability to acquire necessary skills and successfully transition into the workforce. JSCC will be breaking ground on a new workforce development center in April. This state-of-the-art building will equip students with

prehended after allegedly spreading over $2,100 in counterfeit bills between two businesses in Duplin County, mainly in fake $50 bills. The department has been working hand in hand with other agencies, including the Secret Service, which oversees counterfeit investigations. The suspect used fake bills to purchase gift cards and has been active from Virginia all the way down to Leland, according to Mobley.

The town recorded its highest-ever sales tax return in the amount of just over $48,000, an increase of $8,000 from last year, according to Williams. In other news, the location for the town’s annual Hog

the necessary tools, skills and training to meet our current and future job requirements. Duplin County is fortunate to have the leadership of Dr. Jay Carraway and his staff at JSCC.

How did you get started in local government?

I started working in local government when I became the economic development director for the county. Previously, I worked in the private sector. There are several differences in the public sector versus private sector. Learning to navigate these differences has been rewarding, and I’ve truly enjoyed giving back to the community where I was raised.

What do you do in your spare time?

I have a 10-year-old daughter that keeps me busy and on the go. She enjoys playing softball, so I spend a lot of time at the ball field. We enjoy being active in her school, our church and our community.

What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was “It Worked For Me – In Life and Leadership” by Colin Powell. This book was suggested in a professional development academy course. It is a great read, and I suggest this book to all current and future leaders.

Where’s your favorite place to eat in Duplin County?

This is a hard one! If I had to pick one restaurant, I would say the Country Squire. The atmosphere, unique charm and the stories shared about this restaurant always offers a memorable dining experience.

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about Duplin County?

The people. Duplin County has many hardworking and delightful people. The dedication and efforts by all of our citizens have made Duplin County everything it is today. It is inspiring to see a strong and resilient community come together for one mission — to make Duplin County a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Wild festival, set for April 15, has been moved to the Superior Metals building on N.C. 41 to accommodate in-door activities in the event of inclement weather.

Beulaville residents will soon have the option to make utility and tax payments online as the town works to locate a reliable vendor for online payments. Though residents are presently able to utilize online automatic draft payments for utilities, the new system should allow residents to make individual payments for both utility and tax bills online.

“With good luck, we should be going live hopefully in April,” said Williams.

4 health care professionals win patient choice awards

Kenansville

Four Duplin County medical providers were celebrated Tuesday morning as recipients of ECU Health Duplin’s 2024 Provider Patient Choice Awards, according to a post on the organization’s Facebook page. The award, considered the most prestigious at ECU Health, recognizes providers rated as top performing by their patients for “creating a caring environment that helps heal.” The following providers were recipients of the 2024 Provider Patient Choice Award: Sri Jasthy, M.D., ECU Health Oncology, Kenansville; Emmanuel Pafos, M.D., ECU Health Women’s Care, Kenansville; Jennifer Pool, FNP, ECU Health Family Medicine, Wallace; Barbara Renchen, PNP, ECU Health Pediatrics, Kenansville. These recipients join teams honored in November 2024 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital and ECU Health Home Health — Kenansville as part of the organization’s third annual Patient Choice Awards.

Duplin County Five new assumed business names, including an amendment, were recorded with the Duplin County Register of Deeds Office for the month ending Feb. 28. The assumed names and real names of the persons or entities engaging in business are: Batter & Bread Bake Shop, Kimberly Walck; Miller Construction/David Miller, Herman David Miller Jr.; Carolina Storm All Stars, Carolina Hoops/Carolina Storm All Stars/Carolina Hoops/Ross Gymnastics, LLC, Misty Ross; JB Home Improvements/J B HomeImprovements, Jason Beddingfield; and in amendment: Sol Beauty & Spa/Sol Beauty & Spa LLC, Juana Maria Avila Flores/ Juana Flores.

Connors appointed to North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature

Duplin County Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors was recently appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as a delegate to the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature representing Duplin County for a two year term. His term will expire in December 2027.

BEULAVILLE from page A1

COURTESY PHOTO

Carrie Shields is the deputy county manager.

Warsaw gathering unites residents, leaders

The event was geared to open up discussions with the public

By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

WARSAW — The Warsaw Parks and Recreation Center was filled with light, laughter and lively conversation last Thursday evening as residents and local officials came together to discuss the town’s growth, upcoming developments and current challenges in an open format hosted by the Town of Warsaw, its Chamber of Commerce and several local area businesses. The event allowed the public a rare opportunity to connect with their community leaders and bridge the gap between the municipality and those it serves.

Mayor A.J. Connors, who championed the community-wide gathering, emphasized the importance of an open dialogue.

“I believe every once in a while folks should be able to come out and ask questions in an informal manner,” said Connors.

Town board meetings often limit residents to just three minutes to ask questions or make comments, often with no opportunity to receive a response. The nature of these meetings leaves little room for the kind of in-depth conversations needed to nurture essential community relationships — a shortcoming this event sought to circumvent.

“Our objective is that people get an opportunity to mingle and pose questions on an independent level,” Connors explained. “It’s just good community relationships is what it boils down to.”

In his opening address, the mayor thanked those instrumental to the event’s orchestration, including Chamber of Commerce President Frank

GRANT from page A1

that we can make that space usable. And that is something that we can actually do pretty quickly,” said Banks.

He expressed optimism about the town’s future, especially with these new funding opportunities. Banks shared that while the town won’t have brand-new infrastructure immediately, these improvements will get the town much closer to where it needs to be.

During the public input session, resident Jess Melton shared her ideas with the board on how they could make the town better.

“The first thing that stood out to me is continuing to support the Christmas tree lighting in the same way that we did last year,” said Melton. “It felt like a really important event for the community, and I think it makes a lot of sense to continue to fund that. It really brought a lot of people together.”

Melton also suggested providing a dedicated space for activities at the community center, and spoke about how certain ordinances have raised questions among residents, indicating that they may require updates. She suggested the possibility of hiring someone to help identify which ordinances need updating.

Rhodes, Town Manager Lea Turner, members of the Warsaw Board of Commissioners, as well as all of the local businesses and organizations that

Additionally, she recommended integrating more structured outreach efforts or activities for seniors into the town’s budget to ensure their voices are heard. She also advocated for initiating small improvements at the park by inviting community contributions while seeking larger funding.

“I know we’re hoping for funding someday for the park, but I think having that park space updated, even if it’s in small ways, where we look for donations of time or bushes … just to show that we’re starting to do something to that space and even just using that opportunity to bring people together to kind of put in some of the sweat equity into that space until we’re able to get greater funding,” said Melton. “The park plan that we have is beautiful, and it’d be wonderful to get to someday, but it would be nice if we could start to do some of that … maybe a little bit of funding could get us started in that direction.”

The meeting concluded with Mayor Dawn Ward publicly thanking everyone who assisted with the grant applications and reminding the public that the budget planning retreat will be an all-day event in the conference room at the Duplin County Airport.

contributed to the evening. Other local leaders in attendance included Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes, County Commissioner Wayne Branch,

as well as Warsaw Chief of Police Patrick Giddeons.

Event-goers entered the gymnasium in a steady flow and were free to visit booths for various local groups, businesses,and organizations, such as DNA Community Youth Center, local business Forgotten Treasures, Warsaw Baptist Church, the Eastern Carolina Council (ECC), Warsaw Parks and Rec, James Sprunt Community College, Public Works, Boyscout Troop 44, Girlscout Troop 4304 and the Warsaw Police Department among others. Representatives from ECC educated and surveyed attendees on phase two of proposed renovations to the recreation center, including a walking trail and two multipurpose fields suggested by residents of Warsaw in a previous survey, as they work to obtain a grant to finalize the community’s vision for the center. In addition to the booths arranged for local businesses and organizations to interact with attendees, a table with light re-

freshments was provided by Rhodes, who helped arrange the event.

“We were talking with the mayor and chatting about what would allow the citizens and businesses to get an opportunity to meet and greet their elected officials,” said Rhodes. “Nothing brings people together more than food.” Among the many topics discussed was the town’s growth in recent years and its expected growth in the years to come.

“We’re in a productive state,” Connors said, indicating approximately 70 homes are to be built in the area as well as an overnight RV parking lot just off of I-40. “Warsaw has received over $20 million in the last seven and a half years. That’s a lot for a small town like we have, and every penny has been accounted for by our auditors. We got a lot to be proud of here in Warsaw.”

Officials were pleased with the turnout for the event, which saw members of the community connect with local leadership in a way that’s become all too rare in the present age.

“For this being a first opportunity, it’s been great,” said Rhodes. “Really, most of the issues arise because people don’t have the answers as to ‘Why?’ This gives them the opportunity to walk up and ask, ‘Why?’”

As for whether the Warsaw community can expect another such gathering in the future, the mayor is optimistic.

“I think I’ll hear that they want to do this again,” said Connors. “I’m grateful for all that came out.”

Wallace Rotary Club hosts annual pancake supper

Wayne Casteen prepared a delicious stack of pancakes at the Wallace Rotary Club’s annual pancake supper held at Wallace Elementary last Friday. The fundraiser brought community members together to enjoy tasty pancakes while supporting WRC local charities.

PHOTOS BY K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Area leadership and residents gathered at the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Center on Feb. 27 to engage in open dialogue. The event provided a valuable space for the public to meet and talk with community leaders.

K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

“We got a lot to be proud of here in Warsaw.”

A.J. Connors, Warsaw mayor

Mayor A.J. Connors stresses the importance of open dialogue at the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Center on Feb. 27. Connors emphasized that typical town board meetings often restrict residents to three minutes for questions, limiting in‑depth discussions.

DUPLIN SPORTS

Hunter to enter NCHSAA Hall of Fame

The former ED coach is best remembered for winning, straight talk, influencing students and a scholarship in his name

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — East Duplin volleyball coach Susan Raynor remembers “acting out” her senior season on the basketball court in 1996.

Her actions were met with a stern warning from her coach, Jerry Hunter.

“He said, ‘You’ll never play for East Duplin again if you do that

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Panthers hold on in second round after Stallions’ rally

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Long bombs were going down like lemonade at a summer picnic for the East Duplin basketball team.

When that changed via the defensive efforts of the Stallions, the Panthers showed they could gut out a 44-39 win over Southwest Onslow last Friday on Jerry Hunter Court in the second round of the NCHSAA’s 2A playoffs.

A win Tuesday over No. 6 Northeastern could send No. 3 East Duplin on a road trip to face No. 3 Seaforth (26-3) on Friday, should the Hawks survive No. 23 Hertford County (13-13), a Cinderella team that upset No. 10 North Carolina School of Science and Math in the opening round.

The East field was trimmed to an elite eight when East Du-

plin (24-2) won for the 15th straight time. The Panthers advanced to the third-round last winter before a heartbreaking 47-45 loss to West Craven.

Panthers respond to push by Stallions

East Duplin, which whipped SWO twice during the regular season (27-21 on Jan. 30 and 42-39 on Feb. 13) may have played its best quarter and half of the season as the Panthers had leads of 18-4 and 27-12 at the first two breaks via five 3-point bombs and some dandy play in both transition and the half-court set.

Things literally couldn’t have gone any better for head coach Mark Lane’s club.

But the Stallions (13-9), who won the ECC the previous three seasons, mounted a comeback behind the shooting of Ori-

yanna Galloway and Khimari Dorsey. East Duplin’s only struggle to this point came as both point guard Kinsey Cave and power forward Ja’Myah Pickett were in foul trouble. Pickett picked up her third personal foul midway through the quarter and as SWO was rallying. Cave was whistled for her third found a minute later. Both came after Cave sank a pair of 3-pointers to give EWD a 33-21 lead.

Galloway, who scored a game-high 33 points, got her third foul with two minutes left in the third quarter, but not until she pulled SWO within 41-36 via a 15-6 third-quarter run in which the senior pumped in eight markers.

Galloway scored nine points during a 9-4 streak that got SWO to within a point — 37-36 — of the lead with 2:30 to play.

But Pickett (eight points) responded with a big basket in the

one more time,” Raynor recalls. Raynor, who got her act together quickly, has coached alongside Hunter for eight years and has since put in 24 years coaching at the school and four more at Wallace-Rose Hill.

Her coach, meanwhile, went from a local icon to a statewide figure.

Hunter, who died of cancer in 2011 at the age of 60 and already lives immortally in the Panthers Hall of Fame, will be one of eight new inductees into the NCHSAA’s Hall of Fame on Aug. 16 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. A small informal reception will be held on April 23 at the NCHSAA’s office in Chapel Hill.

Hunter helped East Duplin claim its first state championship as part of a historic coaching career during which his girls’ basketball teams won more than 500 basketball games.

He also coached softball and volleyball, was a football assistant coach, the first adviser to the school’s FCA club and the athletics director until shortly before his unexpected death.

“He and his family literally lived at the high school,” said Raynor, longtime Panther volleyball coach, who played for Hunter in volleyball and basketball for four seasons.

“He’s my mentor, my second

Rebel gunners shoot down Red Barons to return to third round

North Duplin blasted off Gate County with a full arsenal of scorers as the Rebels improved to 87-16 in the last four seasons

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Not all basketball teams that win more than 20 games feature a balanced attack.

The norm is to have a big scorer and a couple of capable sidekicks. And while that will win 70% of girls’ basketball games, it won’t hold up under the pressure a deep run in the state playoffs.

It’s that backdrop No. 6 North Duplin (23-4) enters in the third round on Tues -

day with a trip to face No. 3 Northside-Pinetown (27-1). Most of the pretenders were separated from the contenders in the second round, leaving 16 teams left in the four classifications.

North Duplin followed the trend in rocketing past 23-win Gates County 58-45 on Friday. The win followed Tuesday’s 59-20 clobbering of No. 27 Weldon in the opening round.

A balanced mass attack on the Red Barons

North Duplin had more attack planes shooting down the Red Barons than Snoopy could ever imagine, leaving them wounded from all spots of the court.

See ND, page B2

ED’s Kinsey Cave hit a pair of 3-pointers during a second-round win over Southwest Onslow, the Panthers’ third triumph this season over the Stallions, who won the ECC the previous two seasons.

COURTESY

Jerry Hunter led ED to its first state title and won 509 basketball games in 27 seasons and 249 as the school’s first softball coach.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Addy Higginbotham hit a pair of key 3-pointer during a second-round win over Gates County last Friday.

East Duplin hosts Northeastern in its second consecutive visit to third round of the 2A playoffs

Duplin boys’ basketball teams end season of puzzlement

IT MIGHT HAVE been a rather peaceful surrender for boys’ basketball teams in Duplin County in 2025.

East Duplin, Wallace-Rose Hill, James Kenan and North Duplin combined to fashion a collective mark of 41-43, a number that would be lower if Duplin County games were not included.

The struggle was real as only the Bulldogs and Rebels got state tournament invites, and both schools lost opening-round games.

No one in the county had a player over 6-foot, and there were no shooting stars lighting up the skies most nights.

Some nights it was just plain ugly, and all four schools had their share of tough stretches and losing streaks.

These boys frequently missed cupcake layups and free throws as frequently as the girls. They also forgot to get back on defense after shooting an extraordinary amount of ill-advised of 3-pointers.

Some nights it was just plain ugly and all four schools had their share of tough stretches and losing streaks

Sure, Duplin County is football country, but these four schools learned one lesson: You can’t pick up a basketball for the first time in the calendar year in late November or early December.

I almost feel sorry for the area coaches over that one.

Troubles in Tiger land

James Kenan had the biggest potential entering a season where little went right.

Taylor Jones didn’t forget how to coach.

His players let him down.

Sorry. In real life, real answers are not warm and fuzzy.

The Tigers stunk up the gym in going 8-12 and landing in fifth place in the ECC. A good year and JK is in third place and battling Southwest Onslow and Kinston for the title.

A few players came to life. But not enough on the same night to form a cohesive unit.

JK had at least three and possibly four scoring threats. Rarely did even two show up.

A senior-orientated team won just four ECC games, dropping their final three games and five of their last six. JK won consecutive games just once, which was a four-game winning streak in which they beat North Duplin, Southern Wayne, South Lenoir and East Duplin.

TJ Oats, Zamarion Smith and senior reserved Chris Soule had bright moments. Yet there was never enough light to get the Tigers out of the tunnel.

Bulldogs bark worse than their bite

Wallace-Rose Hill went from contender to pretender during a late string of four losses in five games, which included a setback to the Panthers in what might have been considered an upset.

And yet, the Bulldogs had a chance to separate themselves from the field midway through its ECC slate. They were 5-2 on Jan. 8 after beating North Lenoir 63-55 and 20 days later stood 8-3 after stumping South Lenoir 63-53.

Then it all fell apart.

One win in their next four games was followed by a victory over JK in the regular season and then were whipped their rival in the first round of the ECC Tournament.

Last Tuesday, the Bulldogs’ season came to a crashing stop via a 60-44 loss to Fairmont (16-8).

WRH’s 11-8 mark was the most in Duplin, though both East Duplin and North Duplin had 11-win campaigns.

The Bulldogs had some fun players to watch — Jamarae Lamb, Matthew Wells and Aspen Brown — but never found the team chemistry it needed and

finished fifth in the ECC.

And head coach Ervin Murray never forgot how to coach. He was just dealing with the inconsistencies of teenagers on and around a basketball court.

Wells’ 11 points paced WRH in its season finale. But WRH scored just seven points in the second quarter and five in the third — a 16-minute middle that will almost certainly lead to a loss.

Panthers show most improvement

East Duplin won just three ECC games, yet they made the biggest jump. The Panthers were 2-22 a season ago and finished 11-11.

How good they could have been was evident in a win over WRH. They nearly whipped JK before falling 46-42 to James Kenan.

But losing six of their final eight games doomed their playoff aspirations, even with Calvin Harper (16.1 points per game) and improved play from Ryan Jenkins, Jordan Hall, Mason Whaley and Zachary Ball in the final half of the season.

Yet this is hardly a team that would put fear in foes.

East Duplin, though, has only won more than 11 games one time in the past five seasons.

Rebels show most resiliency

Kudos to head coach Jeff Byrd and his North Duplin squad for an 11-12 finish.

Why the applause?

Because ND started off 0-7, facing larger 2A schools.

The Rebels’ leader, Donavan Armwood, was the trigger man for all things of prosper.

But Malachi Moore, who scored more than 1,000 points in three years, hit for 25 markers to lead Northside-Pinetown to an 82-67 first-round playoff win over the Rebels, who lost nine players from a team that went to the third round of the 1A playoffs in 2024.

Branson Martin (9.0 points per game), Duquan Stevens (6.5) and Luke Kelly (4.8) had solid second-half seasons to give Armwood (17.4) some relief.

Crusaders have record-setting season

Harrells Christian Academy, a Sampson County-based school playing in the NCISAA, had a record-breaking 30-3 season, which included a conference title and 2A semifinal appearance in the state playoffs.

Antonio McKoy (25.8 points per game), cousin Dashaun (14.1) and senior Zicareian McNeil (14.2) were the lead Crusaders, although WRH transfer Amir Moore (9.4 points, 5.9 rebouns) made quality contributions.

McNeil is the lone senior for coach Clayton Hall’s club, which won more than 20 games for the third consecutive season, going 22-12 in 2024 and 20-6 in 2023.

I’m pretty sure the four Duplin teams wouldn’t want to schedule the Crusaders in 2026.

And for the record, HCA beat a lot of good teams and some very good teams, too.

HCA won 16 in a row before falling to The Burlington School 53-48 in its worst showing of the season in the 2A semifinals.

And anyone who believes a team is as good as its record shows is on target this season for the five coverage schools of the Duplin Journal-area.

This season, two numbers — wins and losses — tell the entire story.

Senior center and four-year starter Tateyawna Fasion had 15 points and 21 rebounds. Classmate and court leader Addy Higginbotham tossed in 13 with a pair of 3-pointers, three assists and countless situations where she beat the pressure of Gates County. Freshman shooting guard Abby Rose connected for 13. Forwards Lilly Fulghum, a junior, and Maggie Brown, a freshman, hit for nine and seven markers, respectively. Every starter had at least two assists and four rebounds. Across the board, it made Gates County look like a .500 team most of the night. It will take that kind of effort to beat Olivia Jane Cahoon and the Panthers.

Cahoon, a senior who has scored more than 1,000 points during her career, is averaging a team-high 21.3 points.

Madison Scheffler (10.1) and Tatianna Moore (8.2) are the second-level scorers for the Coastal Plains 2A/1A champs, whose only loss was to Bear Grass Charter team that went 20-6 and faces No. 1 Perquimans (26-2) in the third round.

The other two matchups in the East feature No. 2 Wilson Prep (25-1) hosting No. 7 East Bladen (23-2) and No. 2 Wake Prep Academy (22-3) entertaining No. 12 Pamlico County (23-5).

Rebels start fast and finish efficiently

North Duplin showed it was going to play defense by forcing the Red Barons to miss their first 12 shots.

Fulghum, Rose, Higginbotham and Faison each scored during an opening rush of 13-2.

Higginbotham’s first 3 made it 18-2 after one quarter.

Gates County trimmed it to 21-16, but Rose connected on back-to-back scores, and Fulghum connected for a pair from the line to forge a 30-18 lead at halftime. Each time Gates County made a move in the second half, the Rebels were there to respond.

Higginbotham started the third quarter with a 3-pointer, Faison sank four charity tosses and Rose had a layup to keep the Red Barons at a distance at 42-23 with 2:20 to play in the stanza.

Gates County’s best play came in the fourth, though at no time was the game in doubt.

Down 49-39, Brown, Higginbotham and a Rose layup made it 53-42 with 2:14 to play.

Faison and Brown hit four charity tosses in the final minute.

Hoops notebook

North Duplin first playoff win followed the same formu-

ND’s Maggie Brown has made significant contributions as a freshman forward, which include scoring.

la: multiple scorers and contributors in Faison (13 points, 11 boards, two blocks), Rose (14 points), Brown (10 points), Higginbotham (11 markers, five assists, four steals) and Fulghum (eight assists).

Forwards Abigeal Norris and Eva Quintanilla combined for eight points off the Rebels’ bench, marking the fourth-straight season North Duplin has played in the second round.

ND is two wins from tying the 2023 team with 24 wins. The Rebels are 87-16 since Higginbotham and Faison became starters four years ago.

The other key figure in that equation was Reece Outlaw, who was an all-Duplin first-team player for three years before graduating last June. She’s playing softball at UNC this spring. Yet the real hope this season was developing players around rebound queen Faison and the all-hoops skilled Higginbotham. It was mission accomplished by first-year coach, former Rebels player and longtime community doctor Jon Kornegay.

Fulghum stepped up, and Rose and Brown made monumental leaps from junior high basketball. And Kornegay used both Norris and Quintanilla strategically and for specific purposes.

In the end, nearly every Rebel played to their ability and just as importantly didn’t try to do things that were not in their respective games. Do what you do and don’t make mistakes was the mode of operation. And that in the face of game pressure isn’t easy to do, especially for inexperienced players.

If Tuesday night is the season finale, the Rebels leave as big winners.

This team isn’t likely to win a 1A title, but simply hearing they are in the mix after a few decades of frustration finishes is refreshing.

The small school with big hearts and skinned-up knees from diving for loose balls hustled its way to becoming a front-runner.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Town of Teachey, North Carolina has scheduled a Public Hearing to be held at 6:00 p.m. at Teachey Town Hall, 116 E Second St. Teachey on the 10th day of March 2025 on the intent to annex the property into the town limits of parcel #094534 Deed: 1941 Pg: 658, which includes 11.64 acres in Teachey NC. Owner of record is Oscar Bautista. This parcel is adjoining to parcel #09-2059, #09-867, #09-36, #09-3059, and #09-1371. A map of the property is below.

Residents may submit written comments to the Town Commissioners with attention marked to the Town Clerk Morgan K. Jacobs P.O. Box 145 Teachey, NC 28464 or by email at morgan@ teacheytown.com. Please use subject “closing of public way” and include your first and last name, your address, and your phone number in your written statements. Written comments will be accepted until 3:00 PM on Friday, January 10, 2025. Questions should be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office at 910-285-7564.

Morgan K. Jacobs Teachey Town Clerk

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Sliding into the season

Wallace-Rose Hill’s Devon Sloan goes hard into the plate during the Bulldogs’ season opener against American Leadership Academy-Johnston. The Bulldogs went 2-1 in the first week of the season. Read the Duplin Journal the next two weeks for reviews of all four Duplin County baseball schools.

Making contact in a new season

Wallace-Rose Hill’s Peyton Tyndall takes a healthy cut at a pitch during the Bulldogs’ home opener against American Leadership Academy-Johnston. WRH fell 12-11. See previews on all Duplin County softball teams in the next two editions of the Duplin Journal.

daddy, and I wouldn’t be here coaching without him. I don’t feel like he and his family ever went home at night.”

Hunter graduated from East Duplin in 1969 and returned to coach at Chinquapin Elementary in 1973. Three years later, he started a 30-year career at East Duplin.

He became the girls’ softball coach in 1987 and coached junior varsity football from 1984 -1987.

His fame grew in 1982 when his first girls’ basketball team went 20-5.

The Panthers were 201-26 from 1990-98 with seven conference titles, six sectional crowns, two regional flags and a 2A title in 1998 when East Duplin was 29-0.

It was East Duplin’s only state title until Battle Holley’s football team won a 2A championship in 2022.

Hunter won 509 games in 27 seasons practicing and playing off the floor that eventually became Jerry Wade Hunter Court.

And yet his legacy lives on in the form of the Jerry Hunter Scholarship Foundation, which last season raised $49,000 for Panthers athletes and more than $281,000 since 2017. The foundation’s biggest fundraiser is a golf outing on April 11 at River Landing.

“Jerry was a big golf fan, so we always have it on the Masters weekend and have homemade lemonade and pimento cheese sandwiches,” said Hunt-

CONTRIBUTED

Jerry Hunter, a 1969 graduate of ED in 1969, led the Panthers to a 201-26 mark from 1990-98, with seven conference titles, six sectional crowns, two regional flags and a 2A title in 1998 with a unbeaten 29-0 mark.

er’s wife, Judy Smith Hunter, who worked at ED but is now employed at her son Justin’s law firm in Kenansville.

Former James Kenan basketball coach Wendy Lanier was likewise influenced by Hunter.

“He’s the Dean Smith of his era in that his players were always fundamentally sound,” said Lanier, who graduated from ED in 1987. “He didn’t always have most talented players, but everyone did what he said, and it always worked out.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE

Bill Carone

Beating him was one of the epit-

ome moments of my career. I wanted to cry hugging him at center court in the Kenansville Auditorium. He was so happy for me.”

Hunter coached the Panthers’ softball team to 249 wins in softball, a mark that was only eclipsed in 2023 by Greg Jenkins, who was recently voted into the N.C. Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Current Panthers coach Mark Lane surpassed the 300-win plateau in December yet likely won’t be around long enough to catch Hunter, who both Lanier and Raynor called “a fair coach who didn’t play favorites.”

“I think one of the best things he did was develop players,” Raynor said. “He pushed you, but he also cared for you. We learned every aspect of playing, and I learned how to coach and treat people through him.”

Hunter was soft spoken and quiet through success.

“You learned so much just being around him,” Lanier said. “It’s a special person who can lead like he did and be humble about it.”

Raynor said she wasn’t a perfect copy of Hunter but found her way because of him.

“I’d probably be sitting at home right now if it were not for him,” said Raynor, who quit coaching three times to have a baby but returned each time.

The love affair of players and Hunter was rampant. Former reporter, East Duplin PA announcer and longtime Panther Fred Lanier said the out-

THANK A FARMER 3 TIMES A DAY

Wallace, N.C.

Jourdan Joe

James Kenan, softball

Jourdan Joe started her softball season where she finished off last spring.

James Kenan’s junior outfielder hit two home runs and drove in three during a season-opening 16-6 loss to Pender and then had a single, double and RBI to lift the Tigers to a 17-6 win over Clinton.

Joe hit .627 last season with 16 doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs to make the all-Duplin County first team.

pouring of love for Hunter after his death was nothing short of incredible.

“Scrolling through the pages of Facebook since Hunter’s death, I’ve been brought to tears by the tremendous outpouring of love from his former players,” Lanier said. “They all truly were and will always be ‘Jerry’s Girls.’

“I’m amazed at the numbers of lives this man touched during his lifetime, and how time and time again, he brought people together. Through his death, I’ve learned a lot about coach Hunter’s spiritual life; he loved the Lord and set a great example for young people to follow.”

Hunter, who graduated from ECU in 1973, took over as AD when his former basketball coach and mentor Jerry Thigpen retired.

Lanier also said many of the sports facilities at East Duplin were the direct result of action taken by Hunter.

“He was a special, special man,” said Raynor, fighting off her tears amid an emotional moment recalling Hunter. “He was my sports idol. He loved his (players) but also stood on his beliefs. I would never be a coach without that man. If he stopped getting on you or yelling at you, he had given up.

“And Coach never gave up on us.”

Judy Smith Hunter said her husband’s notebooks on individual players are “still hanging around.”

“We (with son Justin) look at them from time to time and are still amazed at the detail and

how he cared for every player he coached,” she said.

The other seven nominees include:

Doyle Whitfield, who threw five no-hitters at Mount Olive High and then became an even better baseball coach, going 407-256 and capturing a 4A state title at Southern Wayne.

• Brad Allen, sports official who has been on the field since 1991. He officiated in the NCHSAA, NCAA and NFL.

Tommy Cole, won two baseball titles and was a runner-up as a high school coach at both Graham and Williams High School.

• Tim Kelly won almost 600 basketball games, two regional titles and a state crown at Trinity High in 1989.

Richard Prince, track and field coach at Myers Park, Piedmont, East Mecklenburg from 1970 to 2009, who was instrumental in advancing his sport across the state.

• Raleigh coach Steve Spivey won more than 1,000 matches as a coach during his 50-year career, including 22 NCHSAA state titles. Richard Woodward, a coach who led Grimsley to five state championships between 1981 and 1988.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

HUNTER from page B1

Bell makes late charge, holds off Byron for win

A late pass on Kyle Busch produced his second straight NASCAR victory

By Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Christopher Bell is making the most of his late-race chances to seize victories.

Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road course race of the season Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas.

The late-race drama produced Bell’s second consecutive victory after his overtime win in Atlanta a week earlier.

Once Bell cleared Busch, the Oklahoma driver had to make a desperate bid to keep his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in front of the hard-charging Byron in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, and the Toyota of 2023 race winner Tyler Reddick of 23X1 Racing.

Bell raced to his 11th career victory and is a multiple race winner for the fourth consecutive season. Busch, who led 43 of 95 laps in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, faded to fifth as his winless streak stretched to 60 races dating to 2023.

“These road courses races are just so much fun,” Bell said. “(Busch) was doing such a good job running his race. He bobbled and allowed me to get out front. When he did, I just said, ‘Don’t beat yourself.’”

The furious nip-and-tuck finish could have ended in a crash that ruined someone’s race and jumbled the field with a late caution flag. Busch and Bell have a heated history of collisions in Austin, notably last year when Busch confronted the younger driver over contact in a race where Bell finished second.

This time, everyone kept it clean all the way to the end.

from page B1

paint and Makya Kornegay set up Carrie Carr for a layup to put ED on top 41-36.

Cave, who zoomed in 17 points, canned three free throws in the final 46 seconds.

She upped the lead to two possessions with a charity toss, and Pickett fouled out on the next play.

SWO’s defense picked up the pace, and East Duplin wasn’t able to maintain its incredible shooting for the entire game. Panthers bombs swishing through the nets

East Duplin started out hotter than July as Cave hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the game.

Then senior reserve Ra’ziaha Hall, who entered the game with 31 points the entire season, canned 3-pointers on back-to -back possessions

A put-back hoop by Pickett and score in the paint via an assist from Andraia Scarborough made Stallion fans slump in their seats with an 18-4 deficit after eight minutes of play.

Cave knocked down another 3 and then banked one off the glass from the lane.

Zoe Cavanaugh fed Carr for a basket as the lead ballooned to 27-4.

SWO showed signs of life by scoring seven of the final eight

“Amazing to have such respectful clean, hard racing. It was a beautiful way to end a race.”

Christopher Bell

“Amazing to have such respectful clean, hard racing. It was a beautiful way to end a race,” Bell said. That didn’t mean Byron wasn’t pushing him hard. And Byron had his own battle with Reddick, who was looking for an opening to attack the front.

“I couldn’t never get beside (Bell). We’ve always raced well together, I didn’t want to move him blatantly,” Byron said.

Even Busch complimented Bell’s driving.

“I’ll give Christopher credit,” Busch said. “He ran me re -

points in the last 2:36 of the quarter to trail 27-12.

The win assured East Duplin of a better record than last winter’s 24-5 finish while playing an upgraded schedule that included games against 3As Jacksonville and Charles B. Aycock. First-round rout of Bulldogs a typical ECC outcome

The Panthers easily handled every team in the ECC, sans SWO, by huge point margins.

A microcosm of that was evident when East Duplin throttled Wallace-Rose Hill 49-31 in the first round last Tuesday.

Cave and Pickett each tossed in 13. Pickett had 13 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She had four assists and four steals.

Kornegay had six markers and six, while Hall canned a pair of 3-pointers. Cierra Pickett chimed in with four points and eight boards.

Nevaeh Dobson paced WRH (6-15). Leading scorer Savannah Smith was limited to seven points, while Sophia Sloan netted six as the Panthers’ decade of dominance over the Bulldogs continued with another three -win season over their Duplin County rival.

Hoops talk

The rest of the elite eight in-

clude contests between No. 1 Fairmont (23-1) against No. 8 Nash Central (18-8) and No. 4 Goldsboro (24-2) against No. 12 Southeast Alamance.

Northeastern scoring centers around freshman point guard Mia John. (13.9 points per game), senior Jada Simpson (10.2) and sophomore Zania Gregory (8.3).

The Eagles pushed back Franklin Academy 64-38 and Whiteville 59-32 in their first two tournament affairs.

While Northeastern (16 - 6) has eight losses, none were against weak competition. Four setbacks were to Currituck (23 - 6) and 2A First Flight (19 -5). Another loss came to 1A Perquimans (26-7), which is in the third round as the No. 1 seed.

Seaforth, which won’t be anywhere near East Duplin in terms of classifications next fall, is in Pittsboro, about 113 miles from the Beulaville campus. The first high school built in Chatham County since the 1970s, is two years old.

Seaforth, with 1,123 students in grades nine through 12, will be a 5A in the fall after the NCHSAA’s realignment increases the classification from four to eight. East Duplin at 854 is in 4A.

The anticipated excitement has fans pandering to see the No. 2 vs. No. 3 teams collide on Friday.

ally hard.”

Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, said the consecutive wins on a superspeedway oval and a road course show the team can fight for wins every week, starting with the next two races in Phoenix and Las Vegas. “We don’t think there’s a track that we go to that we don’t have a chance to win,” Stevens said. “We have everything we need to win every single weekend.”

Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott started third and quickly dropped to the back when he spun by Trackhouse

Racing’s Ross Chastain in the first turn, but he fought his way back through the field to fourth. Connor Zilisch had a wild day in his Cup Series debut for Trackhouse. The 18-year-old started 14th and dropped back with contact in the first lap. He recovered to get back within in the top 15 by the start of the third stage.

That’s when his day ended. Zilisch couldn’t avoid a spin by teammate Daniel Suarez in lap 50, smashed into the wall, and had to scramble out of his car when it caught fire.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

ED’s Ja’Myah Pickett is tough to handle in the paint, even with two defenders on the Panthers’ post player.

STEPHEN SPILLMAN / AP PHOTO

Christopher Bell pulls into Turn 19 on his way to a NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Edwin Taylor Merritt

Oct. 18, 1928 – Feb. 26, 2025

Edwin Taylor Merritt entered his eternal home on Feb. 26, 2025. Ed was born and raised in the Waycross community of Sampson County on Oct. 18, 1928, to the late Herndon L. and Katie Merritt. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and wife, Lettie Lou Davis Merritt, and brothers T.C., Dewey and “Pitt” Merritt.

After graduating from Taylor Bridge-Ingold High School, Ed joined the U.S. Army and was ordered to overseas duty in Korea, where he served with the Second Infantry Division. After serving in the Army for three years, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and retired in 1972 as a master sergeant. During his years in the USAF, Ed was posted to various military bases in the United States and Labrador, Canada. Ed had unique experiences in the Air Force, such as serving in Alaska when it became a state and later escorting the president, vice president, cabinet members, congressmen, and foreign dignitaries to the plane as they arrived or were leaving Andrews AFB. He watched as President John F. Kennedy boarded Air Force One to travel to Dallas, Texas and was there when his body was returned. He became the aide to General C.T. Ireland, who invited him to travel with him to inspect Air Force bases around the world. This trip took Ed to bases in Spain, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Hawaii and San Francisco and included being shot at as they flew over Vietnam.

Ed is survived by his wife, Brenda; children, Toni and wife Sharon, Terri and husband Joel; grandchildren, Matthew Merritt and wife Jennifer, Tracy M. Johanson and husband Captain P.J.; great-grandchildren, Haylee and Piper Johanson and McKenzie Merritt; stepsons, Martin Futrell and husband Victor, Chad Futrell and wife FangFang and daughter Emerson; and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was a kind, loving, generous gentleman with a strong Christian faith. For many years, he read through the King James Version of the Bible at least once. In his youth, he excelled at basketball, baseball, bowling and playing horseshoes. He was always active in church, where he sang solos in choirs and served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and greeter. His example of “walking the walk” was very evident to everyone who met and knew him.

Services were held following visitation at Padgett Funeral Home in Wallace on Sunday, Mar. 2, with Pastor Chris Jarman officiating. Graveside services were conducted at Pleasant Hill Free Will Baptist Church in Pikeville with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to your favorite charity.

Thomas Wayne Stevens

Aug. 3, 1955 – Feb. 25, 2025

Thomas Wayne Stevens, 69, died on Feb. 25 at home. He is survived by his brothers, Jay Stevens of Pink Hill and William Stevens of Indiana, and two nephews, Connor Stevens of Pink Hill and Brandan Stevens of Pink Hill.

Janice Sanderson Brock

March 17, 1944 – Feb. 24, 2025

Janice Sanderson Brock, 80, of the Brock’s Chapel section near Mount Olive, passed away Monday morning, Feb. 24, 2025, joining her husband, Curt, just nine days after his passing. Graveside services were held Saturday, Mar. 1, at the Pate Cemetery, with Rev. James Earl Herring officiating. The family greeted friends and relatives at the cemetery. Neighbors and friends may also call at the Brock residence.

Deborah Hines Barnett

Jun. 28, 1954 – Feb. 27, 2025

Deborah Hines Barnett, age 70, died Thursday, Feb. 27, at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. She is survivedby two daughters, Heather Lanier and husband Henderson of Beulaville and Kimberly Barnett of Beulaville; two brothers, Jim Hines of Oxford, PA, and Larry Hines of Rose Hill; and two grandchildren, Austin Lanier and Ethan Lanier. Graveside service was held on Monday, March 3, at East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beulaville Baptist Church.

Nancy Reaves Justice

March 10, 1927 –Feb. 27, 2025

Nancy Reaves Justice, native of Mount Olive and former Kinston resident, died Thursday, Feb. 27, in Williamsburg, Virginia. A graveside service was held on Thursday, March 6, at Maplewood Cemetery in Mount Olive, with Dr. H. Powell Dew Jr. officiating.

Born in Mount Olive, she began work for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad at age 17, later working for Carolina Telephone & Telegraph until retiring in 1989. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl C. Justice, and parents, Jesse Herman and Blanche Whitfield Reaves. She is survived by her sons, Nicholas Grey Justice and wife Sang of Cary, Thomas Allen Justice and wife Gayle of Williamsburg, Virginia, James Clifton Justice and wife Penelope of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Mark Kevin Justice and Suzanne of Pittsboro; in addition to eight grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren. She was the sister of the late Louis Reaves of Fayetteville. Memorial gifts are welcome to the charity of one’s choosing.

Lillie (Quinn)

Everett

April 11, 1924 – Feb. 22, 2025

Mother Lillie Everett, 100, departed this life for life everlasting on Saturday, Feb. 22, at her home.

Born in Duplin County, she is the daughter of the late Eugene and Annie Loftin Quinn and the wife of the late Sylvanus Everett. She was also preceded in death by her daughters, Linda Ammons and Christine Barnes, and granddaughter, Juametrice Ammons.

Her love and words of wisdom will forever be cherished by her grandchildren, Cheryl Ammons, Rudolph “TC” Barnes, Cynthia Barnes and Demetrice Ammons; seven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.

Bertha Mae Darden Morrow

Jan. 6, 1932 – Feb. 21, 2025

Bertha Mae Darden Morrow, 93, of Newark, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, Feb. 21, at Southwood Nursing Center in Clinton. She is survived by her sister, Margaret D. Newkirk of Magnolia, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A graveside service was held at Mount Peace Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, March 4.

Jimmy Nelson Carter

Oct. 24, 1940 – Feb. 27, 2025

Jimmy Nelson Carter, 84, passed away Thursday, Feb. 27, at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. Carter was born Oct. 24, 1940, in Duplin County to the late Ivey Carter and Winnafred Virginia Lane Carter. A funeral service was held Sunday, March 2, in Community Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw, with visitation following the service. Graveside service was held on Monday, March 3, in the Devotional Gardens, Warsaw. Carter is survived by his wife, Fay Carter of the home; son, Ivey Steven Carter and wife, Pam of Warsaw; daughter, Wanda Stancil of Warsaw; grandchildren, Megan Stancil, Samantha Carter, Miranda Carter Campbell and husband, Jamal; great-grandchildren, Cayden Carter, Alianna Campbell, Kaliyah Campbell, and Carter Dunn; brothers, Richard Carter, Edward Carter and wife, Barbara of Glen Allen, Virginia; and sister, Anna Faye Mimken and husband, Brian of Eden.

Sylvia T Jordan

Dec. 11, 1947 – Feb. 24, 2025

Sylvia Jane Taylor Jordan, a lifelong resident of the Pleasant Grove community near Mount Olive, passed away Monday evening, Feb. 24, while being cared for at ECU Health Duplin Hospital.

Sib, as she was known by those closest to her, had been the glue that held her family together. Her strength and resilience in some of life’s toughest moments made others aware of just how determined she was. After a life of many heartbreaks and hardships, she is now finally at rest.

Sib had worked in many places throughout her life. Her life started on a farm, then it was at Cannon’s Cafe in Mount Olive, Edgemont Meats in Goldsboro, a real estate agency, Byard and Ricky Kornegay at Kornegay’s Grocery, Mrs. Lewis Keathley and Keathley grapes, Piggly Wiggly, and finally, Guilford Mills near Kenansville, from which she retired.

She leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Lecinda J. and Buddy Waters of Mount Olive; grandchildren, Josh Waters and wife, Nora, Luke Waters and wife, Nada, Davis Jordan and wife, Brittany, Rachel Jordan, and Matthew Jordan; several greatgrandchildren; two brothers, Shelton Taylor and wife, Elizabeth “Teenie” of Cameron, and Stevie Taylor and companion, Becky Davis, of Albertson; a brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, Donald and Betty Jordan of Dudley; nephews, Jessie L. “J.L.” Taylor and family, Tim Taylor and family, James C. “Jamie” Hinson, Scott Taylor, and Daniel Hanchey. Sib is also survived by the family of her first cousins, the Summerlin boys, Dwayne, Johnny, and Todd, and their families.

She now joins the company of deceased loved ones, including her son, Bobby Jordan Jr.; her husband, Bobby Jordan; her mother, Annie Mae Summerlin Taylor; her father, Leroy Ashford Taylor; a sister, Cynthia Lucille “Cindy” Taylor; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The life of Sylvia Jordan was remembered on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Tyndall Funeral Home, followed by a time of visitation. At other times, Buddy and Lecinda Waters’ home was open to dropin guests.

Charlie Thomas Brinson

Feb. 2, 1935 – Feb. 23, 2025

Charlie Thomas Brinson, 90, of Warsaw, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro. Funeral service was held Friday, Feb. 28, at Rainbow Missionary Baptist Church in Warsaw, with public viewing one hour before service. The interment was in Dobson Family Cemetery in Kenansville.

Bridgette Lynette Teachey

Jun. 2, 1965 – Feb. 23, 2025

Bridgette Lynette Teachey, 59, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 23, at her home.

The funeral service was on Sunday, March 2, at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill. Burial followed at Duplin Memorial Gardens in Teachey. Bridgette is survived by her parents, Mary Jacqueline and William Earl Teachey; husband, Stanley Bodie; two sisters, Melanie Taylor (Charles Taylor) and Debbie Degree; three children, Freda Wilson, Darohn Teachey (Rahnae Teachey) and William Teachey (Fatou Teachey); three grandchildren, Dashawn Teachey, Ariyah Teachey, Elijah Britt, and one on the way; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Marcus “Marc” Lee Mobley

Sept. 26, 1972 – Feb. 28, 2025

Marcus “Marc” Lee Mobley, 52, passed away on Friday, Feb. 28, at his home. He is survived by his spouse, Kelly Mobley; mother, Betty A. Mobley; son, Trent Mobley (Kaylyn); sister, Joette Mobley (Brien); brother, Berry Jeffrey Mobley. A memorial service was held on March 3, followed by a visitation at Sandy Plain OFWB Church in Pink Hill.

Jun. 23, 1953 – Feb. 27, 2025

William Carol Britt, 71, passed away on Feb. 26 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. Britt was born Jun. 23, 1953, in Wayne County to the late William Richard Britt and Doris Brock Britt. Britt is survived by his sister, Debra Amaya of Warsaw. In addition to his parents, Britt was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Britt. No services were scheduled as of press time but will be announced on the Community of Warsaw website.

William Carol Britt

Evelyn T. Davis

Jan. 29, 1937 – Feb. 23, 2025

It was in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Feb. 23, that Evelyn Thompson Davis passed away while at Wayne Hospital.

She was 88 years of age and was a Mount Olive resident.

Mrs. Davis was a homemaker who excelled at caring for her loved ones with love and devotion. In later years, she worked in the dietary department at SunBridge Nursing Home.

Visitation was on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Tyndall Funeral Home and at other times at the residence. Her life was honored at a graveside service on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Maplewood Cemetery in Mount Olive. Officiating was Pastor Ronnie Wise.

Four sons and their mates survive Davis, Michael Carroll Davis and Terry Padgett, Mitchell Neil Davis and Jane Groux, Malcolm Stuart “Bo” Davis and Paula Davis, and Mickey Lynn Davis and Karen Davis; a special family member, Sherry E. Davis; a sister, Helen Durham; a brother, Ronald Thompson; 12 grandchildren, to include Christen Davis Cherry, who was her Gma’s sidekick, along with her husband Buddy; 23 great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Coleen Davis Best, Teresa Davis DePersis, Ann Davis Naylor, and Brenda Davis Darden; and last but not least, her beloved Chihuahua, Suzee.

She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Carroll Davis; her husband, Leo Davis, and after his passing, a long-time companion, Glynn Mason; her parents, Harry Thompson and Louise Witherington Thompson Capps; and a brother, Harold Thompson.

UMO alumni empower Ghanaian children with agricultural skills

The inspiring mission promoted self-sustainability and highlighted the importance of adaptability

Duplin Journal staff

MOUNT OLIVE — Hannah Foust and Lydia Pope, both alumni of the University of Mount Olive’s Agricultural Education program, spent two transformative weeks teaching essential agricultural skills to middle school students in Ghana. Guided by their former professor, John Blackwell, they embarked on a mission to promote self-sustainability.

Foust and Pope displayed remarkable adaptability by turning obstacles into opportunities. They brought an egg incubator and live chicks to teach the students how to hatch and care for chickens.

However, the high humidity in the region posed significant challenges.

“The humidity posed challenges for the egg incubator, as high moisture levels can hinder chick development. We had to monitor and vent it regularly,” said Foust. “For the garden, we pivoted from using a large plot of land to a smaller, more manageable area near the science lab.”

One of Foust’s most memorable moments was when she taught the students about flight zones, a concept in animal science, and watched them act it out.

“We also taught them the chicken dance and hokey pok-

ey to break up lessons — it was hilarious and energizing!” said Foust.

Limited teaching resources forced them to adapt their methods, which highlighted the importance of flexibility in an educational environment.

“The simplicity of their resources, like chalk-painted walls for teaching, was a stark contrast to the technology we rely on back home,” said Pope, describing the experience as humbling.

“One of the best moments was when the students saw our instructional videos from the U.S. They thought they were professional films! Seeing their joy and excitement over something so simple was heartwarming,” said Pope.

The experience had a profound effect on both women.

Foust emerged with a deeper appreciation for hands-on education and the vital role agriculture plays in community building. She recognized the power of small, focused efforts, realizing that teaching the students not only benefited the school but also gave the students a sense of purpose.

Pope found her teaching perspective renewed and her gratitude for the simple luxuries of life in the U.S. amplified.

Looking ahead, Foust and Pope credit UMO for preparing them for this experience and are eager to return to Ghana, ready to expand their agricultural initiatives. They hope to secure funding for fencing chicken coops and explore sustainable solutions, such as planting fruit trees and incorporating dairy goats.

Duplin Journal

PHOTOS COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

Hannah Foust takes a selfie with her middle school students. Foust spent two weeks teaching essential agricultural skills to children in Ghana.