North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years

Elnita Cribb Pridgen, 86, of Loris passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at her home following an illness. Born on May 5, 1932, in Clarendon, N.C., she was the daughter of the late William Warren Cribb and the late Bertha Ida Cribb. Survivors include her sons, Johnny Pridgen of Loris and Edward McDonald of Mullins, SC; four daughters, Barbara McDowell of Loris, SC, Melinda Allen and her husband Russell of Loris and Louise Bullard and Juanita Bullard Pridgen, both of Nichols; and lots of loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Pridgen was predeceasd by her husband, Craven Pridgen; her son, …

Randy Edwin Kirkley, 67, of Little River passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at his residence after a brief illness. Randy was born on March 14, 1952 in Charlotte, N.C., a son of the late Freddie E. Kirkley Sr. and Martha Ann Rice Kirkley. He was a proud member of the Derita Masonic Lodge in Charlotte. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Freddie E. “Skip” Kirkley. Surviving are a sister, Mitzi K. Smith and her husband Barry; nephew, Brian Smith; special friends, Tony and Chelle DiGennaro and their dog, Baby Girl; and …

Wayne Anthony Graci, 70, of Loris passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at his home. He was born on Sept. 20, 1948, in New Brunswick, N.J, to the late Samuel Graci and the late Patricia Rizzo Graci Spampinato. Mr. Graci served his country with courage, honor and dignity in the United States Marine Corps. during the Vietnam War where he was a point man. He earned both the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal for his valor. Wayne was the anchor of his community and honorary social director for all fun activities and engagements. He was …

Raymond A. Boseman of North Myrtle Beach passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2019. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and retired from Exide Electronics in Raleigh, N.C., in 1989. The family moved to their home on Sept. 22, 1989, the day of Hurricane Hugo. He enjoyed golfing in the area for almost thirty years. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and was stationed in Alaska during a greater part of this time. He was recently awarded the Cloak of Valor for his service in the Air Force. He was a …

Mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Katherine “Kitty” Loretta Wilson, 91, born on June 8, 1927, passed away on March 27, 2019, surrounded by her adoring family. Born in Silver Springs, Maryland, she lived in northern Virginia where she raised her three sons, Wendell, Craig and Russell Poulsen. She married her second husband, John Leslie Wilson, with whom she enjoyed boating, fishing, camping and riding on the back of John’s motorcycle. Following his death, she moved to North Myrtle Beach where she and John had loved to vacation and made her home for the next 30 years. She worked at Fat …

Chairman Harold WORLEY and board members Lulu QUICK, Janet HARROLD and Bayles MACK inviting all “Living Legends” to make plans to attend the annual party and induction ceremony May 17-18 at Fat Harold’s Beach Club for the oldest legendary shag organization in beach history events… Laura and Frank VALLONE keeping up with all the happenings in their former beach home area as they are now enjoying life in Mullins… Vicki KEIBLER working hard to be number one in the nation in memberships as she is now in the number two spot… Dr. Whitney McLEOD sending mom Charli just the right …

The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department will host the 3rd Annual Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sport Complex in the Wild Wing Café Soccer/Lacrosse parking lot. Admission is free. Touch-A Truck provides a day for children of all ages to get an up close, interactive look at many of the large vehicles and heavy equipment they only see on television or driving down the road. Everyone will have the opportunity to explore exhibits like dump trucks, tractors, fire trucks, police …

Starting on June 15, all public parking lots along Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach will charge $2 per hour, payable by downloading an app to a smartphone and using a credit or debit card. Those who live in the city and have vehicles registered there will be able to use a residential permit system to allow them free parking, though the details are still being worked out, and the number of vehicles allowed may be limited, according to a press release. Up to now, the parking fee had only applied to four existing parking lots at 4th Avenue North …

The city of North Myrtle Beach has found its new police chief after two rounds of searches and interviews. He is Greg Purden, a commander in the Brevard County, Fla., Sheriff’s Department. He is set to start the first week of May. A committee of area law enforcement chiefs all voted unanimously on Purden, who has 33 years of experience including in tourist areas in Florida, though that was not the main reason for his selection, according to North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Director Jay Fernandez. “We truly believe he’s going to be a great asset,’’ Fernandez said, explaining that …

The city of North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival drew a huge crowd as it was celebrated on March 16. Tens of thousands lined Main Street to watch what has become the largest St. Patrick’s Day event along the Grand Strand. The North Myrtle Beach Times team joined in the celebration featuring their own best dressed pet contest. Entertainers of the “Rhythm and Blues Show” supported the cause. Said local entertainer and Jake Blues impersonator, “The boys had a great time at the North Myrtle Beach Times during the St. Patties Day Parade. We handed out free …