February 14, 2023, 81, Goldsboro –
Elliot R. Futrell, 81, of 101 Crosswinds Drive died Tuesday morning at his home.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, February 18th, at 11:00 AM, at Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist Church. 752 Stoney Creek Church Rd., Goldsboro, NC. The Rev. Dr. Josh Whitfield and Rev. Luke Davis officiate. Committal will follow in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Dr. Jim Futrell.
The family will receive family and friends following the burial and at other times at the residence.
Surviving is his wife: Georgia Smith Futrell; daughter; Elizabeth A. Futrell of Durham; brothers William A. “Billy” Futrell (Wendy) and James Wilbert Futrell Sr. (Rebecca) both of Greenville. Nieces; Joanna A. Futrell of Greenville, Shelley F. Tripp (Samuel, Sr.) Jessica F. Cauthon both of Bethel. Nephews, Joshua A. Futrell (Lauren), Jacob A. Futrell (Heather), James Wilbert (Will) Futrell, Jr. all of Greenville. Great Nieces, Saria Tripp, Kileigh Futrell, Anna Cauthon, and Great Nephews, Samuel Tripp, Jr., Sammy Cauthon, Seth Cauthon, Ian Cauthon, Landon Smith, and Greysen Mahany along with a special canine companion, Jack.
He was reared in the Eureka and Stoney Creek Communities of Wayne County. He was preceded in death by his parents; Eloise Bogue Futrell and Esper A. Futrell a sister Anna Frances Futrell. He was a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1956, he worked in the funeral industry. He was a licensed Embalmer & Funeral Director and a former owner of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Inc. in Durham. He was the founder and operator of Futrell Funeral Service, Inc. in Goldsboro, and Princeton and at Yelverton-Futrell Funeral Service in Fremont until 1981. He was presently a partner in Evergreen Funeral Home, Cemetery & Cremation, and All Memorial Stone Company.
Mr. Futrell inspired numerous embalmers and funeral director apprentices that served under him. He was known for his expertise in the funeral industry and the art of embalming. He served on the North Carolina State Board of Funeral Service in Raleigh where he was also a past president in 1989 and also in 1998.
He was a member of Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist Church where he had served on the Board of Trustee several times. He was a member of the Ambassador Sunday School where he took an interest in the areas of mission and charity. He was the past master of Harmony Lodge # 340 and served as secretary for several years. He was a past patron of Southgate Chapter # 177 O.E.S. in Durham. He was the past Watchman of Shepherds of Friendly Shrine # 6 of the White Shrine of Jerusalem in Durham. He was a member of Sudan Temple in New Bern and the Wayne County Shrine Club. He was a charter member, the first secretary, and the past president of the West Durham Exchange Club, in Durham. He served three terms as treasurer of the Goldsboro Volunteer Rescue Squad and served several years on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Goldsboro. He was also past president of the Rotary Club of Fremont, where he received the Rotarian of the Year Award in 1979. He was past distinguished president twice and past distinguished secretary and in 2002 he received the Legion of Honor Award. In 2021, he received the Award of 50 years of Perfect Attendance for the Sunrise Goldsboro Kiwanis Club where he served as president and the first to serve twice as well as distinguished secretary and Board member for many years. In Kiwanis, he was very active in the annual Goldsboro Road Run and Golf Tournament at Walnut Creek Country Club. In addition to his public service, he also served on the Board of Directors of Wayne Country Day School, Inc for eight years.
He had a lifetime passion for Genealogy, he abstracted and published Four Volumes of “Wayne County, North Carolina Cemeteries Book” He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of genealogy with others corresponding through letters, phone calls, and emails on a regular basis. In the field of Genealogy, he was the past president of the Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society. He was past president of the North Carolina Genealogical Society where he had served on several committees and received the Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the North Carolina Genealogical Society” in the fall of 2009. In recent years, he was a consistent contributor of information and photographs to Ancestry.com.
Flowers can be sent to Evergreen Memorial Service or memorials can be made to the charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends at his home located at 101 Crosswinds Drive, Goldsboro. Friends and family are welcome to visit his daughter, Elizabeth A Futrell at a later time at her residence; 51 Forest Oaks Drive, Durham. Lastly, a special thank you to the ICU doctors and nurses; Charmaine, Johnny, and Bryson at Wayne UNC Healthcare.
