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FRANKLIN – Roland McCoy Newsome, 88, passed away on Nov. 6, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Roland was a lifelong resident of Southampton County and a son of the late Roma W. Newsome and Oretha Cobb Newsome. He was also predeceased by three sisters, Irene N. O’Meara, Glenda N. Turner and Laura N. Stieh.

Roland was a graduate of Franklin High School and was a Army veteran. He was a retired foreman in the roll finishing department at Union Camp Corporation and was a member of Sedley Baptist Church. He was an avid fisherman and was a member of the Over the Hill Gang. Roland was a former employee of the St. Regis Paper Company and retired from Union Camp after 35 years of service. While in the Army he served two years in Austria.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 69 years, Ryland Gillette Newsome; two daughters, Darlene N. Thomas (Kerry) and Lois N. Gurganus (Edward); three grandchildren, Shawn Thomas (Jennifer), James Dylan Thomas (Rose), Amber Webster (Jacob); two great-grandchildren, Jaxson Thomas and Jonathan Kirk; two sisters, Audrey N. Padgett (Donald) and Edna N. Butler (Marvin); two brothers, R.Wendell Newsome and Clayton C. Newsome (Joan) and a host of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Sedley Baptist Church with the Rev. James Foreman officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Southampton Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Tuesday, Nov. 8 in Wright Funeral Home from 6 – 8 p.m. and at other times at 21260 Black Creek Road in Franklin. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Sedley Baptist Church Building Fund.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org