Maurice Lee Hock
Franklinton
Maurice Lee Hock, age 76, gained his heavenly wings surrounded by his loved ones after a brief battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Annie Laura Hock; his brother, Roy Hock; step-daughter, Linda Waiden; and grandson, Bobby Gagnon.
Maurice is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Alice; step-daughters, Janice Peoples and Pam Wood of the home; step-son, Ricky Wood and his wife, Garlene of Spring Hope; sons, Todd Hock and daughter-in-law, Karen, of Kittrell and David Hock of Kittrell; two brothers, Conrad Hock of Kittrell and Earl Hock of Albemarle; sister, Rose Tart of Kittrell; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and host of nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law that he loved dearly.
Maurice loved spending time fishing with his grandchildren and going to NASCAR races with them and enjoyed working in his shop. He also loved all of his friends and co-workers at Ace hardware. Above all he loved the Lord and playing the guitar at his church every Sunday with his church family.
A celebration of his life was held Friday afternoon, August 23, 2019 in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial followed in the Fairview cemetery in Franklinton.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com
William Harvey Allen
Raleigh
William Harvey Allen, aged 74, passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2019, peacefully at his home after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s disease.
Will was a graduate of J.H. Rose High School in Greenville, where he was a state champion in track. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a four-year letterman in track and played on the football team for his beloved Carolina Tar heels. He proudly volunteered to serve his country in Vietnam and became a green beret with the U.S. Army Special Forces. He worked for Dr. Pepper/Cadbury Schweppes for many years before starting his own company. Will was a master chef and loved entertaining friends and family. He was quick with a joke, never met a stranger and truly enjoyed life to the fullest. To know him was to love him.
Will was preceded in death by his infant son, William Reagan Allen, and his parents, Howard and Lillian Allen.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his best friend and beloved wife, Tracy; his sisters, Barbara (Michael) Miller of Williamsburg, Virginia and Carolyn (Bobby) Tew of Salemburg; a brother, Charles (Tracy) Allen of Greenville; his sisters-in-law, Mary Gwen Whitaker and Alisa (Howard) Warner; and brothers-in-law, Whit (Rebecca) Whitaker and Bob (Jen) Whitaker, all of Tennessee. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive, as well as two special companions, whom he adored, Mickey and Annie.
Services were held at Smith’s Funeral Services in Greenville on Saturday, August 24. Interment was in Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation; 200 Southeast 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com
Louise Weaver Cole
Wake Forest
Louise Weaver Cole, 95, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2019. She was born in Lexington, the daughter of the late Lydia Woodlief Weaver and John Henry Weaver.
She was a lifetime member of the Wake Forest Church of God, giving her life to Jesus when she was 12 years old. She was a Sunday School teacher, choir member and Bible School worker. She enjoyed every aspect of her church work.
She was known by her family for being a “Prayer Warrior.” Many lives were saved because of her prayers and witnessing and the life she lived.
After her retirement from state government after 32 years she worked at Cole’s Grocery, mostly behind the meat counter.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, August 24, 2019, at the Wake Forest Cemetery.
Mrs. Cole was preceded in death by her two husbands, Walter Ervin Cole and John B. Cole, and her sisters, Pauline Harding, Elizabeth “Lib” Massey, Ruby Weaver Wise and Lydia Yvonne “Belle” Dixon.
She is survived by her two children, Walter E. Cole Jr. of Raleigh and Marcia Pearce of Wake Forest; four grandchildren; Anita Pearce, Dianne Holmes-Underhill of Wake Forest, Grant Cole and John Cole of Raleigh; and six great-grandchildren, Donald Ervin Pearce, Russel Clark, II, Kristina Clark Keaton, Audie Cole, Brooks Cole and Avery Cole.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com
Esther Alford Pearce
Raleigh
Esther Alford Pearce, 94, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 22, 2019. Esther was born April 20, 1925 to the late Ella Tharrington Alford and Ben Alford.
Esther was a loyal member of New Hope Baptist Church since 1956.
She started her career at FCX and later was a longtime substitute school teacher, but her most important job was being a wife and mother.
Esther married Robert Maynard Pearce in 1947 and was a devoted wife for over 70 years until his death. They had two sons, Robert and Kent.
Esther loved going to any event that involved her two grandchildren, Morgan and Zach. She especially loved talking about her grandkids and her granddog, Tripp.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her four siblings, along with her husband,, Maynard, in 2018.
Surviving are two sons, Robert (Michelle), and Kent; and grandchildren, Morgan (Clark) and Zach;
Funeral services were held Sunday, August 25, 2019, at New Hope Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Hope Baptist Church building fund.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com
Elaine Hicks Hayes
Wake Forest
Elaine Hicks Hayes, 71, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019, at Wake Medical Center. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of Lillia Stell Hicks and the late Cleveland Hicks, and was preceded in death by her husband, Gurney Hayes.
A memorial service will be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, August 29, 2019, at the Glen Royal Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hayes is survived by her mother, Lillia Stell Hicks; sister, Janet Blake and husband, Danny, of Wake Forest; special nephew; Chad Blake and wife, Kelley, of Henderson; and special great-niece and great–nephew, Briana Blake and Ashton Blake.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Glen Royal Baptist Church, 731 Elizabeth Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Friends may visit with the family an hour before the service at the church.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com
Richard Mitchell III
Louisburg
Richard Mitchell III passed away at Duke University Hospital on August 22, 2019 at the age of 38. He was the son of Richard Mitchell Jr. and Kathy Mitchell of Wake County, where he was born November 28, 1980.
He is survived by his wife, Erica; his children, Addyson and River; his parents, RA and Kathy Mitchell; brother and sister-in-law, Tobie and Jessi Mitchell and nephew Macon, as well as numerous aunts and uncles. Richard was predeceased by his grandparents, Richard Addison Mitchell Sr. and Carrie Bradley Mitchell, Fannie Bradley Allsbrook, Clabon Bullock and Lyda Hamilton Bullock.
He worked at Dominion Energy as a craft trainer, and he loved his job. He loved teaching and helping people learn, and this job was a blessing for him. He came home every day tired, happy and proud with what he had accomplished that day and couldn’t wait to tell his wife all about it.
He loved fishing and being on the water every chance he could get. He had an immense passion for teaching other people how to fish, and it filled his heart more than anyone could know, and he took many under his wing to develop this hobby because he believed fishing brought people together and he knew firsthand how therapeutic it was. It was one way he knew he would make a difference in their lives, and it did. His absolute favorite part was teaching kids; the profound joy it brought to his heart could never be put into words and it always put joyful tears in his eyes to see a child happy and doing something they loved.
He loved cooking and sharing that passion with anyone who would listen, and was everyone’s go-to for a good meal at any type of gathering.
He was a genuine joy to be around, and he touched more lives than we ever knew. So many people loved to just be around him and experience the charismatic personality he exuded. And of course, he always had a good story to tell. There was always a good “Richard story” as they were known, and they guaranteed a good laugh.
Most of all, he loved his wife and children with a passion that saw absolutely no bounds. He did absolutely anything and everything for his family and they were his world, and he was theirs. Absolutely nothing came before his wife and children’s needs.
Richard was an amazing guy who always made you smile and laugh, and we know his memory will continue through the impact he had on this world.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Loeys-Dietz Foundation, www.loeysdietz.org.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2019, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. before the service.
Charles Jonathan ‘John’ Pollard II
Norlina
Charles Jonathan “John” Pollard II was born June 11, 1954 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Leatta Agee and John C. Pollard. He transitioned to his eternal life on Friday August 23, 2019, at Duke Raleigh Hospital.
John, as he is affectionately known to his family and friends, served in our U.S. Army from 1971 to 1973 and was honorably discharged. After he left the Army he made a career in heating and air conditioning (HVAC). John was always willing to teach his trade and help those that needed an extra hand; many times at no charge.
John loved his country and sharing stories of his time in uniform. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and his gun collection. He liked showing off his latest toy or gadget to those that showed interest. Lately he simply just enjoyed hanging out with a friend or two to chitchat. His most favorite thing was spending quality time with his wife, Sandra, his son, Jonathan, and their beloved mascots, Benji and Rusty at home. “There is no place like home,” he would say “No place like home.”
John was an amazing man, a guy that could make you smile or laugh at the most simple of things. He will be truly missed but he will live in our hearts FOREVER!
John leaves to cherish his memory: his best friend and beloved wife of 35 years, Sandra G. Pollard; his son, Jonathan Pollard III of the home; his daughter, Karen Pollard Green of Wheelersburg, Ohio; his granddaughter, Alexis Atkins, also of Wheelersburg, Ohio; mother-in-law, Eulalia M. Gunn of Raleigh; two sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews and friends that he loved dearly.
A celebration of Mr. Pollard’s life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2019, at his home, 114 Briggs Drive, Norlina.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
