George Martin McDuffie Jr.

ROCKINGHAM - Mr. George Martin McDuffie Jr., 79, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, in Britthaven of Hamlet. Funeral services will be conducted at noon today, Jan. 3, in Sandhills Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Janet Buffalo officiating. Burial will follow in Richmond County Memorial Park. Mr. McDuffie was born in Anson County on July 26, 1926, son of the late George Martin Sr. and Sarah C. Thomas McDuffie. He graduated from Brevard College and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He retired from Liberty Life Insurance Co. after 40 years of service and worked for Ralph Sasser at Village Rare Coin & Jewelry in his retirement. He was a 50-year Mason and a Shriner, as well as a 50-year member of Pee Dee United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nina Craft McDuffie; a son, Jonathan Mark McDuffie, and wife Betty of Pinebluff; a daughter, Martha Ellen McDuffie Gibson, and husband Tim of Courtland, Va.; a brother, Thomas Nelson McDuffie, and wife Kay of Rockingham; three grandchildren, Jonathan Travis McDuffie, Adam Ross McDuffie and Ellen Michelle Gibson; and longtime friend, Nell Lewis. The family will receive friends this morning, Jan. 3, one hour before the service at Sandhills Funeral Home in Rockingham. Memorials may be made to Pee Dee United Methodist Church, 101 Pee Dee Second Ave., Rockingham, NC 28379, or to a charity of the donor's choice.