Obituaries: 2009-2010

The following obituaries were contributed to the Jones County NCGenWeb Project for 2010.

BRYANT, Katie Mae Koonce – Pollocksville – Katie Mae Koonce Bryant, 74, of 200 York St., Pollocksville,  died Friday, July 3, 2009, at CarolinaEast Medical Center.  She was a lifelong resident of Jones County and attended Jones County schools.  The funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Northwest A Conference Tabernacle, Trenton, with the Rev. Brenda Farrow officiating. Burial will be in the Murphy Cemetery, Pollocksville.   She is survived by her three sons, Clinton Bryant of Pollocksville, and Melvin Bryant and James Bryant of Maysville; three daughters, Clardine Bryant Fonville of Pollocksville, Wanda Bryant Strayhorn of Newport and Dr. Madie Bryant Orange of Hinesville, Ga.; three brothers, Cleveland Roberts and Robert J. Roberts, both of Pollocksville, and Ervin C. Roberts of Lillington; six sisters, Dorothy K. Williams of Plainfield, N.J., Christine S. Meadows of Pollocksville, Ellen Pralean of the Bronx, N.Y., Etta Williams of New Bern, Barbara Ann Staten of Kinston and Mary J. Watson of Vanceboro; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the home. Arrangements are by Oscar’s Mortuary Inc. — Kinston Free Press, July 6, 2009 – Submitted by Jeanette Corcoran.

MALLARD Jr., Leo Clinton – 83, of Kinston died Wednesday, February 9, 2010. Mr. Mallard was born in New Bern on April 25, 1926, to the late Leo Clinton Mallard Sr. and Hilda White Mallard. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Florence Mallard; sister Edna Mallard Doster; and nephew, Dwight Doster. He attended Trenton High School and then joined the U.S. Navy, where he served until October 19, 1945.  He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on January 29, 1947, and served 23 years, retiring as Master Sergeant on July 31, 1968. While serving his country with honor through WWII and the Korean War, he received the following awards and declarations: The Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Good Conduct Medal (Army), and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon. Service Stars awarded include the American Defense Service Medal, American Cam-paign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Small Arms Marksman-ship Ribbon. Mr. Mallard was especially proud of his participation in the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing, where from May 1962 through December 1963 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., his unit pioneered on-orbit flight tests of satellite systems. The capability developed by the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing, conducting multiple orbit test operations and routinely recovered capsules plummeting from outer space, ranks among the outstanding accomplishments of the Nation at that time, and to which Mr. Mallard was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit  Award.  After retiring from the military, Mr. Mallard taught radio electronics at Jones County Senior High School and worked 10 years for the Voice of America giving him 33 years of government service. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kinston, where he served as a Deacon. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 43; an active Ham Radio operator and had the tallest radio tower in the neighborhood to which he took much delight. He also was a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), 10-10 International, the Kinston Amateur Radio Society, and the Air Force Sergeant Association.  at the First Presbyterian Church in Kinston with the Reverend William Nickels officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made First Presbyterian Church, 2101 N. Heritage Street, Kinston, NC 28501. Arrangements by Howard-Carter Funeral Home.   Kinston Free Press, February 11-14, 2010 — Submitted by Jeanette Corcoran

OVERSTREET, John A. of Grifton,  62, died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Born July 20, 1947, in Robeson County to Roland and Mary Overstreet. He is preceded in death by his father and one sister, Margaret Freeman. John was a true outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing in his spare time.  Survivors include his wife, Maggie Overstreet of the home; three sons: John Overstreet Jr., of Ayden; Robert Overstreet and wife, Lisa, of Ayden; Billy Overstreet and wife, Candace, of Grifton; one daughter: Beverly Overstreet of Kinston; his mother, Mary Nunburger of Lumber-ton; one sister: Carolyn Prevatte, of Lumberton; one brother; George Overstreet, of Lumberton; four grandchildren: Summer, Kayla, Faith and Cody; one great-grandchild: Austin and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.   The funeral service will be held on Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010, at 1 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Service of Ayden.  A private burial will take place in the Triangle Run Cemetery in Trenton immediately following the service.  Tvhe family will receive friends Monday evening from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the family home, 1845 E. Hanrahan Rd. in Grifton. Arrangements by Farmer Funeral Service. — Kinston Free Press, February 7 – 10, 2010 — Submitted by Jeanette Corcoran.

POLLOCK, Clifton McDaniel –  86, died Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at his residence.  Mr. Pollock was a retired farmer. He was a member of Trenton United Methodist Church. He served his country in the US Army during World War II.  His courageous duties and actions made him the recipient of the purple heart bronze star and silver star. He was also a member of American Legion Post #154.  Funeral will be 3:00 PM Thursday at Trenton United Methodist Church with Rev. Bud Morton officiating. Burial will follow in the Trenton Cemetery.  He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mattie Ipock Pollock; one son, James Clifton Pollock of Kinston; two daughters, Anne Pollock Waller of Trenton and Kay Pollock Bender of Pollocksville; one brother, Kenneth Pollock of New Bern; eight grandchildren, Julie Waller Hampton, Ashley Waller Norris, Megan Waller Bynum, Ginny Pollock Moody, Molly Pollock, Lauren Bender Meadows, John Mark Bender, and Robert Pollock Bender; and two great-grandchildren, Milly Hampton and Maddie Norris.  The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 2:00 – 3:00 PM, just prior to the funeral service, and other times at the home.  The family would like to offer a special word of thanks to Dr. Neil Bender and staff at ECIM, Community Hospice, and his caregivers, Christine and McKinley Thomas and Sandra Turner, along with numerous people who cared for him the past several years.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Trenton United Methodist Church.  — Kinston Free Press — Submitted by Jeanette Corcoran.

WICKS, Wallace Wayne – Maysville – Wallace Wayne Wicks, 85, of Maysville died Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Carolina East Medical Center.  He was born October 16, 1924, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of the late William Cullen Wicks and Violet Stanford Wicks. He was also predeceased by his wife, Rozelle Royall Wicks, who died in 2007, and his brother, William Stanford Wicks.  Mr. Wicks graduated from Primrose High School in 1941.He served in the U. S.
Army Air Forces during World War II as a B-17 pilot with the 613th Squadron, 401st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He flew 35 combat missions over Germany and Occupied Europe, and was awarded 6 air medals and 3 battle stars. He served in the Air Force Reserve and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He attended the University of Nebraska before his service in the war, and after the war attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1949.  Upon graduation, he moved to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina to begin his career as a professional forester with Halifax Paper Company, which became Champion International, now International Paper. He married Rozelle Royall on June 19, 1955, and they had three children. In 1965 the family moved to Maysville, where he served as an active community leader until his death.  From 1965 to his retirement in 1987, he served from Hofmann Forest as a regional timberlands manager for Champion International. He was past chairman of the N.C. State Board of Registration for Foresters, and was an
active member of the N.C. Forestry Foundation, Inc. And the Division of Forestry at N.C. State University, and other professional associations.  He was a faithful member and ruling elder of Pollocksville PresbyterianChurch. He had a deep and abiding faith and lived the Gospel in his daily life. He was a member of the Maysville Rotary Club for 45 years, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his exceptional service to the community. He was an avid reader and lifelong learner in many fields. He demonstrated his passion for history through service as a member of the board of directors of the Onslow County Museum Foundation, Inc. Until his death, and as past president of the Jones County Historical Society, and member of the Oregon Trail Society. He was a founding member of Quaker Neck
Country Club, and, with his wife, an active member of the Jones County Arts Council. He served on the Jones County Planning Board and served as a clerks commissioner. He enjoyed his membership in the 401st Bomb Group and, with
his family, participated in many group reunions around the United States and in England. He was a member of the Reserve Officers Association, American Legion, 8th Air Force Historical Society, and Air Force Association.
He was an intrepid traveler and explorer, visiting all 50 states and Canada, Mexico, Europe, South Pacific, and Russia. He knew most of the blue highways around the U.S., and took special joy in taking his family on long vacations out West in the station wagon, and showing them the scenic byways where his beloved nature, trees and rocks could be explored and enjoyed. He seldom traveled without his machete, rock hammer and gold pan! He was an eclectic collector, gathering a library of thousands of books, as well as stamps and coins. He was a great appreciator and student of American art (visiting museums often when not on the blue highways). He loved music and especially
enjoyed the musical leadership in worship by his church choir (directed by his wife), and her performances with area choral groups. He was known for his wisdom, thoughtfulness, generosity, and humility, and for his great devotion to his family, loyalty to his friends, and faithful service to his church and community.  Surviving are his loving family: one son, William Royall Wicks and wife, Kelly, of Valdosta, Ga.; two daughters, Robin Wicks Robinson and husband,
Chip, of Wilmington and Laura Wallace Wicks of Asheville; four grandchildren Glennie Jeane Wicks and Lorrie Bruning Wicks of Valdosta, Ga., and James Hendry Robinson III and Wallace Katherine McLean Robinson of Wilmington. The
family is deeply grateful to Shirley Eubanks for her faithful care of and friendship to their father. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at the Pollocksville Presbyterian Church with the Dr. Eric Faust officiating.  Graveside service with full military honors will follow at 3:30 p.m. in the Clinton Cemetery, Clinton, NC.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the Pollocksville Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to the Pollocksville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 205 Pollocksville, N.C. 28573 or to the Jones County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 626, Maysville, N.C. 28555. Arrangements by Sayland Funeral Home, Maysville, N.C. — Kinston Free Press, January 19, 2010 — Submitted by Jeanette Corcoran.