Obituaries

Juanita Elizabeth Ward, 43, of Sunset Beach, died Sunday, May 13, 2012, in her home. Born in Wilmington, she was a daughter of the Rev. Larry Dillion Ward and Mary Lou Simmons Ward.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by two sons, Alex Thompson and Dillon Thompson, both of Sunset Beach; two brothers, Bobby Sullivan of Calabash, and Danny Sullivan of Sunset Beach; two sisters, Marilyn Inman of Calabash, and Mary Ellen Ward of Hallsboro; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melissa “Missy” Lynn Stonesifer (McCartney), of Calabash, passed away peacefully Sunday morning April 22, 2012, after a long illness at Duke Raleigh Hospital with her parents at her side.
She was the daughter of James and Barbara (Severe) McCartney of Calabash. She was predeceased by her grandfather, William Bruce Severe.

Patricia Preziosi Scholl, 73, died Monday, May 14, 2012, at Sunrise Assisted Living in North Hills.
A service will take place at a later date.
A native of East Orange, N.J., Patricia was born May 2, 1939, the daughter of the late Peter Martin Preziosi and Marion Patricia Broderick Preziosi.
She was a gourmet chocolatier, owning her own business and later working from her home. Patricia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and genuinely a true friend to those who knew her.

James M. Payne Jr., 70, of Shallotte, died Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at home after a long illness.
Jim was born on June 20, 1941, in Charlotte, a son of the late James M. Payne Sr. and Desiree Marshall Payne.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1979 after serving 22 years as a MSGT E7. He owned TNT Leather Company in Charlotte, and in 1998 moved the business to Shallotte where he retired in 2002.
He was a Shriner and a Mason, member of Long Creek Lodge 205 in Huntersville.