The News-Journal Obituaries

James L. (Luke) McNeill

James Luther (Luke) McNeill of 510 North Main Street died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 in his home at the age of 83.
He was born in Hoke County on Feb. 25, 1927 to the late John K. McNeill and Beulah Burns Lentz McNeill. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth W. McNeill, John K. McNeill Jr., and Neill A. McNeill. He was a member of Raeford Presbyterian Church. Having lived in Hoke County his entire life, he attended school in Raeford until that fateful date in 1945 when Franklin D. Roosevelt died. It was the same day he was called by the United States Navy to join World War II. The war ended only 18 months later, and he was able to return home to graduate from high school with the class of 1947. He then attended East Carolina University but returned home in 1948 to take his place as assistant manager and part owner of the family business, Home Food Market. He was extremely proud that Home Food has existed for over 90 years and is now being run by the fourth generation of McNeills. In 1950, he married his fiancée, Phyllis Baker. Although he’d been a member of Raeford Presbyterian Church since 1939, the couple became the first to be married in the, then new, Raeford Methodist Church. His membership and service in the Presbyterian church has been a great source of pride to him. He served there as deacon for eight years, as an active choir member and secretary/treasurer of the Sunday School. He was also one of the charter members of the Raeford Jaycees. Since his retirement in 1984, he has pursued his hobby of photography and videography. His work in these fields has benefited individuals locally and countrywide. His video works include documentation of the Turkey Festivals, Special Olympics and other Hoke events, restoration documentation of the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Depot and the Hoke County Courthouse, the Hoke County Golden Jubilee and the Raeford Centennial Celebration, in addition to his documentation of the major fires and accidents of Hoke County. These works provide training films for the local fire departments, EMS and Rescue Squad. His efforts have helped many local programs preserve their special moments in film. His hummingbird photos and videos have been shown in civic clubs, classrooms and TV stations across the state. He has received the Woodmen of the World Award, multiple Paul Green Multi-media Awards, and the Order of the Long-Leaf Pine Award. Finally, after a lifetime of capturing and preserving the stories of Hoke County, he donated this body of work to the Raeford-Hoke Museum to be shared by all interested parties.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Baker McNeill of Raeford; two brothers, Edwin (Ed) L. McNeill of Raeford and Bobby B. McNeill and his wife Betsy of Raeford; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 at Raeford Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mark Fisher, the Rev. Beth Foster and the Rev. Bill Foster officiating. Burial was in Raeford Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Raeford Presbyterian Church Building Fund, PO Box 1570, Raeford, NC 28376, Hospice Foundation of Hoke County, PO Box 1584, Raeford, NC 28376 or Raeford-Hoke Museum, PO Box 1383, Raeford, NC 28376.

William F. Schultz

William Frederick Schultz, 78, of 5707 Justin Court, passed away Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010.
He served in the Special Forces, was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and received the Bronze Star with One Oak Leaf medal. He was a lifelong member of the Special Forces Association, the 82nd Airborne Association and the American Legion. He graduated from Campbell University with a bachelor of arts in business and was a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and the National Association of Arboriculture.
The funeral was held Thursday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. in St. Matthews United Methodist Church with Pastor Knog S. Namkung officiating. Burial was in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake on Monday, Aug. 30 at noon with full military honors.
Survivors include his wife, Gertrude C. Schultz of the home; three sons, Shawn Schultz of Raeford, Hans Schultz of Fayetteville, and William F. Schultz Jr. and wife Shirley of Fayetteville; two grandchildren, Rudy Schultz and Courtney Schultz; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Thomas; a close family friend, Mary Morrow; nephew, Larry Kubicek; and niece, Jan-Marie Kubicek.
Memorials may be made to St. Matthews United Methodist Church at 202 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304; or the Special Forces Scholarship Fund at PO Box 41436, Fayetteville, NC 28309-1436.

Henri D. Stubbs

Henri D. Stubbs, 50, of Raeford, died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010.
A memorial service was held Thursday, Aug. 26 at 8:15 p.m. in Freedom Chapel AME Zion Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lessie; children, Henri Mocks, Desmond Dawkins, Sasha McAllister, Charmaine Wilson and Jerome Smith; his mother, Helen Goins; his father and stepmother, John and Janie; five siblings; and a grandchild.

John E. Lewis

John Edward Lewis, 54, of Raeford, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010. The service will be private.
Survivors include a daughter, Heather Baker; brothers, Richard and Steven; a sister, Alisa Starnes; and three grandchildren.

Colleen Linthicum

Colleen M. Linthicum, 79, of 417 East Donaldson Avenue, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 in her home.
A visitation service was held Tuesday, Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Crumpler Funeral Home.
Survivors include a son, Steve Linthicum of Red Springs; a daughter, Wendy L. Smith of Raeford; brothers, Billy Curtis McGhee of Franklinton, and Dallas Pete McGhee of Lewisburg; sisters, Betty Faye Bay and Shirley Pendleton, both of Franklinton; and grandchildren Heather Smith, Karin Smith, Chris Smith and Samantha Jo Linthicum.

Robert Dotson

Robert (Bob) Dotson, 59, of Raeford, passed away Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.
Survivors include his wife, Martha; sons, Robert Jr., Kenneth, and Jerry; and grandchildren, Briana and Aaron.
An informal memorial will be held in his memory on Sept. 4, 2010 at 5 p.m. at 4402 Red Springs Road, Red Springs, NC.