A. Merrill McLaurin FAYETTEVILLE - A. Merrill McLaurin, 90, of Heritage Suites, formerly of Wade, died Monday, April 6, 2009, at Heritage Suites. Merrill was born Jan 8, 1919, in Wade. He married Thelma Melton on June 9, 1940. A lifetime resident of Wade, he was active in his community. He was a Democratic precinct chairman, served on the Wade Town Board, the Cumberland County Planning Board and was on the Board of Directors for Wade Fire Department. He was a retired Nationwide Insurance agent and was a member of Creasy Proctor Masonic Lodge and a Shriner and a member of the Oriental Band. He was a lifetime member of Bluff Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, elder emeritus and Sunday school superintendent and was active with the men of the church. The family would like to acknowledge the love and special care given by Debbie, Mary, Loretta, Shelia and Michael at Heritage Suites, as well as the other dedicated staff. Mr. McLaurin was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Thelma M. McLaurin; and his parents, A.A. and Alma Mae McLaurin. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Bluff Presbyterian Church in Wade, with Dr. Robert Yoder officiating. Pallbearers will be Darrell McLaurin, Walter Parrish, Merrill McLaurin III (Trey), Billy Vickers, Mack Eason and Rob Scarboro. Burial will be in Old Bluff Presbyterian Church cemetery in Wade. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday at Bluff Presbyterian Fellowship Hall; and at other times the family will be at the home of Tim and Jennie McLaurin, 3390 Lizzie Lane, Eastover. Mr. McLaurin is survived by his six children, Melton McLaurin (Sandra), Juanita M. Parrish (Walter), Timothy McLaurin (Jennie), Maxine M. Anders (Wade), Merrill McLaurin Jr. (JoAnn) and Renee M. Giles (Chuck); 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Bluff Expansion Fund or to the Old Bluff Trust Fund, P.O. Box 96, Wade, NC 28395. Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home of Fayetteville.