Tributes

The family will receive family and friends on Friday, August 8, 2025 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at 400 West Barnhill Street, Everetts, NC 27825 Doris Elizabeth Staton Wallace, beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend, was born on March 7, 1931, to the late Reverend Wheeler C. Staton and Hattie W. Staton. A proud graduate of W.C. Chance High School, Doris attended Fayetteville State University and furthered her studies through continuing education at East Carolina University (Journalism), the University of North Carolina, and UNC Greensboro. She earned certificates in Public Speaking and Parliamentary Procedures. She was also a retired Notary Public. Her professional journey reflected her dedication to service and community. She began her career at Southern Apparel, later serving as Administrative Secretary at East End School and as Administrative Assistant for the ESEA Title I program. Doris devoted 33 years to Martin County Community Action, Inc., where she served as Planner, Grant Writer, and Director until her retirement. A devoted servant of the Lord, Doris joined Saint Mark Baptist Church at the age of 13. Blessed with an angelic voice, she sang in the junior choir as a child and later the senior choir as an adult. In 1983, she co-organized the Saint Mark Gospel Choir and also served as interim clerk and on numerous church committees. While active at Saint Mark, she also supported her family church, Lily of the Valley Baptist Church, where she was a choir member, Sunday School teacher, and founder/director of the youth choir. She also served as President of the Pitt County Mass Choir. Doris was a tireless advocate for equality and civil rights. As a member of the local NAACP Board of Directors, she broke barriers, becoming the first Black woman to run for an officer position on the Martin County Board of Education. She was active in the Civil Rights movement, served as a poll judge for a decade, and worked as Treasurer and mentor for Household of Ruth #5754. Doris was also a proud member of the Eastern Star. In addition, she held leadership roles in the North Everetts Community Organization and served as the PTA President for five consecutive years. Doris married the love of her life, Earl L. Wallace. Together, they built a loving home and raised four children: Rhonda, Michael, Ellis, and Terry. Doris’s unwavering support and pride in her children were evident in every stage of their lives, and she beamed with joy when sharing their accomplishments. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl L. Wallace; parents, Wheeler C. and Hattie Staton; siblings, Mildred Parker, Ann Marrow, Ida White, Nathan Staton, Precious Jones, Sarah Pete, and Wheeler Staton; and grandson, Theodore Rayford Lawrence, III. Her memory will forever be cherished by her children, Rhonda Tapp (Larry) of Mebane, NC, Michael C. Wallace, Sr. (Hilda) of Durham, NC, Ellis I. Wallace (Sheila – “the Ruth to her Naomi”) of Nashville, NC, and Terry L. Wallace of Charlotte, NC; sister, Armecia Bryant of Williamsburg, VA; grandchildren, Earl J. Wallace of Burlington, NC, Dana D. Wallace of Woodbridge, VA, Michael C. Wallace, II of Studio City, CA, Brandon E. Wallace (Lydia) of New Orleans, LA, and Evan G. Wallace of Nashville, NC; great-grandchildren, Daijah F. Stephenson (Shane) of Goldsboro, NC, Cameron Zachary of Graham, NC, Alaina Wallace of Norfolk, VA, Carmon Wallace of Hampton, VA, Donovan Wallace of Burlington, NC, and Andrew Bonus of Woodbridge, VA; great-great-grandchildren, Zane and Zoey Stephenson of Goldsboro, NC, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, and extended family. Doris was a natural leader, a gifted cook, and a woman who found her greatest joy in the company of family. She was a trailblazer who left behind a legacy of “firsts” and a lifetime of cherished memories. Her life was a testament to faith, perseverance, and love—a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Tributes

Mrs. Doris Wallace

March 7, 1931 - August 2, 2025