Loyce Fillingame Lancaster

Published 4:40 pm Friday, July 4, 2014

Loyce Fillingame Lancaster
July 3, 2014

Mrs. Loyce Fillingame Lancaster, 78, went to be our Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 3, 2014.

The funeral service will be conducted Saturday at 3 PM in The Church of the Open Door in Winterville.  Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Greenville.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 to 2:45 PM at the church. Loyce, a native of Craven County, lived all of her life in the Vanceboro community.

She farmed with her husband for many years, working in all aspects of their farm operation.  Loyce developed a deep Christian faith early in life and was active in ministry for many years.  She taught Bible studies, led outreaches, and ministered in many ways including personal and group prayer – counseling youth and adults.  For the past 13 years she had been an active member of Open Door ministries, where she was serving as a Life Group Leader. God, family, friends and taking care of her body as God’s temple were here passions.

She always had time for anyone who needed prayers, spiritual guidance or a compassionate ear to listen.  Loyce, in partnering with her husband at Open Door Ministeries, are known as the couple who connects with every generation – no one thinks of them as that “older couple”, but as “I am going to talk with ‘Miss Loyce’ and see what she thinks.”

Loyce was also very deeply devoted to her family. Loyce was preceded in death by her son, David Macon Lancaster in 2000. She is survived by: her husband of 61 years, Floyd Gray Lancaster, Jr.;  daughters, Dixie Lancaster and fiancé, Peter Pratt, of Greenville and Laura Lancaster of Cary; grandchildren, Meredith Lancaster Decker,  Ian Farias, Seth Farias and wife, Ana, Chelsea Lancaster Russ and husband, Kenneth, Faith Farias, and  Mary Soltow; great grandchildren, Anastasia, Lihana, Caleb, Aaron, and Yisrael; a twin sister, Joyce Gaskins of Vanceboro; sisters, Sybil Hardee of Williamston and Jean Ackiss of Goldsboro; and a brother David Lee Fillingame of Vanceboro.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The NextGeneration Campaign (Building Fund) of Open Door Ministries, 4584 Reedy Branch Road, Winterville, NC 28590.

Arrangements are by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenville. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.