Earlene Willoughby Gerald, age 82, of Lumberton, NC passed away on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at Southeastern Hospice House in Lumberton. She was born in Horry County, SC on August 15, 1933 to the late Oscar and Alma Blackmon Willoughby. She previously worked for social services. She was a member of Smyrna Baptist Church of Lumberton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; and four sisters.
Mrs. Gerald is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Benjamin Worth Gerald of the home; a son, Benny Gerald (Terri) of Lumberton; daughters, Melinda G. Atkinson (Sam) of Lumberton, Sharon G. Scheper (Rick) of New Bern, Paula G. Smith (Paul) of Lumberton; sisters, Doris Elliott of Nichols, SC and Judy Martin of Charleston, SC; eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff of Woodhaven Nursing Center and Southeastern Hospice House for their kind and caring service.
A time of visitation will be held on Saturday, December 26, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc., 809 East 5th Street in Lumberton.
The funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Floyd Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dale Willoughby and Rev. LeRoy Burke officiating. Burial will follow the service in Meadowbrook Cemetery in Lumberton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to be made to the Alzheimer's Association Eastern North Carolina,
3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612
or Southeastern Hospice House, 1100 Pine Run Drive, Lumberton,
NC 28358