Percy Durant Merritt

Percy Durant Merritt, 88, of Dalton, Ga., formerly of Lexington, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, where he was a member for 52 years. A private inurnment will be held beside his wife at Lexington City Cemetery. "P.D.," as he was known to all, was born in Sampson County on June 14, 1917, to Plato and Della Merritt. He was a graduate of North Carolina State University and was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. He was honorably discharged at the rank of captain after the war, where he served on the European front. Mr. Merritt and his loving wife, Frances, raised their family in Lexington, where he served as vice president of manufacturing for Dacotah Cotton Mills for more than 30 years. He was a past president and honorary lifetime member of the Kiwanis Club and past president of the Lexington YMCA. After retirement, he became an accomplished furniture craftsman and farmer. His furniture creations can be found in many friends' and families' homes, and his produce was lovingly given away every harvest to friends and those who needed it. His greatest joy was doing something for others. He was preceded in death by Frances Turner Merritt, his beloved wife of 47 years, and five brothers. Surviving are his two sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Sharon Merritt of Dalton, Ga., and Joe and Jennifer Merritt of Yorba Linda, Calif., and his six grandchildren, Turner Merritt of Charleston, S.C., John Merritt and Cambey Merritt, both of Chapel Hill, and Elizabeth Merritt, Elle Merritt and Matthew Merritt, all of Yorba Linda, Calif. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday in the church parlor prior to the service. The family requests that memorials be made to Trinity Methodist Church, 1600 Weloons Ave., Dunn, NC 28334. This was the church where "P.D." was raised as a child.