Mr. Gary Wayne Locklear, 72, of Locklear Road was born February 19, 1948 and departed this life Thursday September 10, 2020 surrounded by his loving family at Duke Medical Center. He is preceded in death by his parents: Mr. Gus and Mrs. Josephine Locklear; five brothers: Mr. Eberts, Mr. Edsel, Mr. Prentis, Mr. Gus Jr. and Mr. Lockwood. Gary is survived by his loving wife of 49 years: Mrs. Panthia and 3 children: Mrs. Nakesha Pierce (Chad), Mr. Garrick and Ms. Autumn; four grandchildren: Noah, Niyah, Christopher and Nicholas; brother: Mr. Eddie Mack; sisters: Ms. Bertha, Ms. Mary Frances, Mrs. Patsy (Russell) and Ms. Sara Elizabeth; many nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.
The funeral, for family only, will be 4:00 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2020 at Locklear & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Revs. Matthue Locklear and Dr. Robert Mangum officiating. Everyone will be welcome to attend the burial service in the Locklear Family Cemetery, Locklear Road, Pembroke, NC.
Mr. Gary was a graduate of Pembroke State University where he was a proud member of the Braves Men’s Basketball team. He enjoyed framing and bringing beauty to everyone’s home and businesses.
Mr. Gary was employed at LOF for 27 years as a Human Resource and Development Specialist. He was called into Mission Ministry with the United Methodist Church. He was a Home Missioner, Robeson County Church and Community worker, member of Rural Life Chaplains Association and Native American Cooperative Ministry.
He was a lifetime member of Sandy Plains United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School and Bible Study for over 50 years and served in several Administrative positions. Gary was a part of mission work teams in Robeson County, South Carolina, Alaska, Guatemala, and Russia. In Bolivia, his mission work was instrumental in founding a rural health clinic that now serves fifty thousand people. Gary served as the NC Conference lay leader and was elected as the President of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Annual Conference Lay Leaders Association and Director of the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Center.
Gary touched many people with his gentle hands and loving words. He planted seeds of healing in this broken world that will continue to grow in his absence.
The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2020 at Locklear & Son Funeral Home.
In remembrance of Gary’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the UMC Mission Endowment or the UNCP Men’s Basketball Alumni.
