Willie Eugene "Gene" Speight

Willie Eugene “Gene” Speight, 87, of Wilson, passed away Tuesday evening at home surrounded by his loving family. A Homecoming Service will be held at 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at Joyner’s Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be held at 9:30 a.m., on Monday, July 25, 2022, in Evergreen Memorial Park. Rev. Shawn Garnett and Bishop Bobby Tucker will officiate.

The family will receive family & friends from 4:30 – 5:45 prior to the service on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson.

Gene was a lifelong farmer in Wilson County. He was also an avid outdoorsman, as he loved hunting and fishing and especially loved UNC Tarheels basketball. He loved his family dearly, especially his grandchildren, who called him PaPa. Gene was devoted to his church family at Pentecostal Lighthouse. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by a host of nieces and nephews who worked on the farm with him in the summer.

Gene is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 63 years, Margaret L. Speight of the home; daughter, Becky Edwards and husband, Sam of Fremont; son-in-law, Greg Eatmon; grandson, Nicholas Eatmon and wife, Heather; granddaughters, Amy Wiggs and husband, Sam: Heather Grimes and husband, Chris: Misty-Sierra Edwards and friend, Jordan; great grandsons, Brenden Eatmon, Reece Sutton and Hayden Grimes; great granddaughters, Destiny Wiggs, Maddie Grimes and Shelby Mae Grimes; brother, Rev. James Speight and wife, Lillie; sisters, Louise S. Bullock of Tennessee, Myrtle West of Fremont, Esther Ferrell of Four Oaks, Mary Lou Miller of Texas and Marjorie Speight of Fremont.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Sally Speight; daughter, Kathy Eatmon; sisters, Doris Aycock, Rose Woodard and Martha Watson; brothers, Tom Speight, Clarence Speight and David Lee Speight.

Special Thank You from the family to Hospice of Wilson for their care and compassion in his final days.

Flowers are welcome, as well as memorials in Gene’s name to Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, 4408 London Church Road, Elm City, North Carolina, 27822.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.