THE WEST CRAVEN
rUGHUGHT
Vol. 2, No. 49
Vanceboro, N. C. - Thursday December 13, 1979
12 pages
20 Cents
McGee home
damagred
by fire
Rick Cannon
Fire, apparently start-
ingr in a couch in a rarely
used room, razed one end of
the Irvin McGee home on
Hwy. 43 in Vanceboro
Tuesday morning. Dam
age in the 9:40 a.m. was
unofficially estimated at
r Only
12 I
days!
'til Christmas
about $3500. No one was
home at the time and no
injuries were reported.
The fire was quickly
contained and put out by
firefighters from the
Vanceboro Volunteer Fire
Department who respond
ed in less than four
minutes. Chief Ed Nobles
commented that the fire
could have been much
worse. He commended his
department for its efficient
work in containing the
blaze with a minimum of
loss. Fireman Herman
Lewis explained that home
owners should double
check their heating
systems since this time of
year the number of house
fires increase.
In Tribute
Joe Bright:
Statesman, family man, brother
by Connie Bryan
Over one hundred
friends and family of Rep.
Joe Bright attended his
funeral services last
Thursday at Wilkerson’s
Funeral Home in Vance
boro. Rev. Steve Hickle
read the 23rd Psalm and
Linda Thomas sang, “How
Great Thou Art” and “His
Eye is on the Sparrow.”
The service was conducted
by Rev. Claude Wilson. In
his remarks. Rev. Wilson
said, “Joe taught me that to
know a person you must
look deeper than the
surface. You must look on
the inside. I knew Joe as a
man, respected him as a
SPEAKS OUT— Rep. Joe Bright was very always
very concerned about the welfare of the people in this
area. Above, he speaks out at a meeting last February
on the merger of the Craven County and New Bern
City Schools. (Highlights file photo.)
statesman, appreciated
him as a family man, but I
cherished him as a brother
in Christ.”
Among those in atten
dance at the service were
Lt. Gov. James Green, Sen.
Harold Hardison, and Rep.
H. Horton Roundtree.
Serving as pallbearers, J.
A. Everett, Sen. Monk
Harrington, Rep. Dave
Bumgardner, Sheriff
Leland Brinson, Bill
Pickett, New Bern Mayor
Lee Morgan, Brad Rice,
Rep. Chris Barker, Jimmy
Huff, Vanceboro Mayor
Jimmie Morris, Senator
Bill Mills, and Sen. Joe
Thomas.
Bright, a life long
resident of the Vanceboro
community, graduated
from Farm Life High
School in 1943. He
attended the U. S.
Merchant Marine Acade
my and served as an officer
in the Maritime Service.
He later attended King’s
Business College in
Raleigh. He was co-owner
of BrighLMorris Ford in
Scotland Neck, returning
to Vanceboro in 1966 he
began operating Bright
Chevrolet in Bayboro and
tending his farming
interest.
In 1970 Bright was
elected to the N. C. House
of Representatives from
Craven, Jones, Lenoir, and
Pamilico Counties, where
he was an active spokes
man for his constiuents. He
served on a number of
committees including
Banks and Banking,
Highway Safety, Agri
culture, Public Buildings,
and Grounds. He was
Chairman of the Commit
tee on Commercial
Fisheries.
Bright was a member of
the Vanceboro United
Methodist Church, the
Vanceboro Masonic Lodge,
and the New Bern Scotish
Rite and Sudan Temple.
In an interview with the
Highlights last year. Rep.
Bright pointed to the estab
lishment of the Medical
School at East Carolina
University as one of the
biggest accomplishments
that he helped bring about.
Ladies of Craven Attend Meeting
by Alma Drake
On Thursday November
29, several of the Ladies of
Craven along with Father
Leslie W. Hewett, Inter
national Chaplain, attend
ed the Civitan Internation
al N. C. District East Area
IX meeting, held at the
Barbeque Lodge in
Kinston.
The Welcome was given
by the Kinston Club’s
President Arthur B.
Stevenson. They adjourned
for dinner. After dinner
the business meeting was
held. Reports and projects
of Area IX clubs were
given by Club presidents.
Remarks on pertinent
subjects wore expressed by
Elbert A. Mallard.
Governor, District East.
Ben C. Thaxton gave a few
remarks and challenged
the area clubs. The Civitan
Creed in unison - was led by
Chaplain “L. W. Hewett,
Sr. 'TSF (Government and
Common Consent.)
The District East
Officers - 1979-80 are Ben
C. Thaxton, Governor: Tom
Wilson, Imm. Past Gover
nor; Hank Dressel,
Governor-Elect; Lynda
Browning, Sec. & Treas.;
and Elbert A. Mallard,
Chaplain. Father Leslie W.
Hewett, Sr. was elected
ayear IX Governor Elect.
The Ladies of Craven
extend best wishes to him.
Those attending the club
were Father Leslie Hewett
Sr., Mrs. Florence Hewett,
Bessie Cherry, Lorraine
Ford, Loney Newton and
And'. Anderson.
WOW News
W.O.W. Camp 652 will
hold its 15th Annual
Christmas Banquet on
Saturday, December 15, at
6 p.m. All Woodmen
members and their
families are urged to
attend the party to make it
a successful event.
Ranger Unit 1347 had a
campout at the Park Inn
Camp ground during
November with their
leader Billy Hughes. Those
attending were Jimmy,
Joey, and Brian Whitford,
Doug Whitford, Perry and
Kevin Whitford, Pat
Troutner, Brian Hudson,
Jimmy Whitford, Gene
Autry Whitford, and
Bobby Whitford.
Carol sing
planned
Plans are being made for
a Community Christmas
Carol Sing to be held
Friday night December 21
from 6:30 to 8:00 at the
Community Christmas
Tree at the stoplight in
Vanceboro. Mrs. Linda
Thomas is coordinating the
singing groups for the
event. Many area groups
have been contacted
already. Anyone interested
in performingorparticipa-
Gng in the Carol Sing
should contact Mrs.
Thomas at 244-1414 before
Monday, December 17.