Pratt Alexander McInnis

Pratt Alexander McInnis, 92, of Norman passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at his home. He was born December 19, 1914 in Richmond County, the 10th of 12 children of the late John Alexander and Mamie Bolton McInnis. Mr. McInnis was a longtime member of Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon for many years and was chairman of the cemetery fund. Following graduation from Ellerbe High School, Class of 1933, he began farming. Later, in partnership with his son Danny, they began P.A. McInnis and Son Farm from which he retired in 2000. During his career, he also sold Federal Crop Insurance, served on the Ellerbe School Board, was past President of the North Carolina Peach Growers Association, was a member of the Board of Directors of North Carolina Farm Bureau, and was recognized during Farm City Week as the oldest active farmer in Richmond County. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marjorie Rankin McInnis on February 21, 2007. Surviving are their children, Carolyn Lovin and husband Mac of Hamlet, Danny McInnis and wife Glenda of Norman, and Beth McInnis of Ridgewood, NJ. He was the loving grandfather or “Pa” of Lisa Robinson, Jeffrey Lovin, Mac Lovin, Tracey Novick, Dan McInnis and Kelly Sears; great grandfather of Courtney Smith, Alex and McLean Lovin, Trey McInnis, Emily Novick and Jamie Kay Sears; and, great-great-grandfather of Alexis Locklear and his sister, Elizabeth McInnis of Norman. He will be remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends. Also surviving are his caregivers and extended family, Linda Seagraves, Vickie Greene, Teresa Graham, Joyce Eubanks and Deana Thompson. His sisters and brothers, Eloise Maness, Jennie Mae Sedberry, Monnie Thompson, Willie McInnis, Robert McInnis, Glenn McInnis, Lee McInnis, Woodrow McInnis, Lawrence McInnis, and Clarence McInnis, who died in infancy, all preceded him in death. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday in Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Alexander and Rev. Edsel Huffstetler officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will see friends from 5:00 – 8:00 PM Saturday at Carter Funeral Home in Ellerbe and at other times at the home on County Line Road. Memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Evon Craven, P.O. Box 265, Ellerbe, NC 28338 or to Richmond County Hospice, 1119 N US Hwy 1, Rockingham, NC 28379. Mr. McInnis loved people and the outdoors. He was quite a conversationalist and never met a stranger.