Neal Graham Eakins

Mrs. Neal Graham Eakins, age 89, of Wilmington and formerly of Atkinson died Friday, January 27, 2006, at Davis Health Care.

She was born May 11, 1916, in Robeson County and was the daughter of the late Archie H. and Lena Humphrey Graham. She was also predeceased by her husband, John David Eakins, Sr. in 1978.

Mrs. Eakins was a retired secretary from the University Wilmington having served as the first secretary for the Department of Education and Psychology and later for the Department and School of Education. She was a member of Atkinson Baptist Church.

Surviving are her daughter, Susan Eakins Whitfield and her husband Doyle of Dudley; her son, John David Eakins, Jr. and his wife Reba of Wilmington; grandsons, Heath Whitfield and his wife Kim, Graham Whitfield and his wife Crystal, Dwayne Eakins, and Vann Eakins and his wife Beth; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Myrtle Venson of Roseboro and Helen Downey of Springfield, TN; and brothers, Norman Graham of Richmond, VA and Irvin Graham of Wallace.

Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Monday at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Ottis King officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately following the funeral service on Monday.

Burial at Riverview Memorial Park will follow the visitation.

Casket bearers will be Heath Whitfield, Graham Whitfield, Dwayne Eakins, Vann Eakins, Jimmy Eakins and Jack Turner.

Honorary casketbearers will be Wayne Horrell.

Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Burgaw.