Robert McDuffie

Robert “Carl” McDuffie, 75, of St. Pauls, NC passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020. He was born in Robeson County on December 17, 1944 to the late Daniel Weldon and Mary Alice Hagins McDuffie.  Carl was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He was well known for his witty personality, yet the first contact for true wisdom. Carl loved sports, especially UNC Tar Heel basketball, as many of his friends and family are well aware. He worked for 50 years in the transportation industry and retired in 2009 from Carerway Freight, Inc. in Southern Pines, NC; a successful brokerage company established with two business partners (Wayne and Ernie). Carl was always a phone call away to help relatives and friends and held an open invitation for all to his gardening and fruits trees for many years.  He later focused on his true joy in life, his twin grandchildren, which he adored. Carl also served in the U.S Marine Corps and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

A special thank you to the doctors and staff at Duke University Health in support of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Center for their love, care and support.  Also, the family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude towards McNeill Mackie Funeral Home and Pastor Don Goforth of Great Marsh Baptist Church for being very accommodating and understanding during this difficult time.

Preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Weldon McDuffie and Mary Alice Hagins McDuffie of Rex-Rennert; brother, D.W. McDuffie (Sally); sisters, Margaret McLendon (Johnnie), Myrtle Knowles(Jim), Carl is survived by his wife Phyllis of 51 years; daughters, Teresa Mercer (Dale), Carla Commander; two grandchildren, Allie and Cameron Commander. Brother, Earl McDuffie; sisters, Lillian Formy-Duval (Mackie), Joyce Hardin and brother-in-law Bobby Hart and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 5:00-5:45 pm at Great Marsh Baptist Church on Thursday, July 30, 2020 with a graveside funeral service scheduled at 6:00 pm at Great Marsh Baptist Church Cemetery where Carl will be laid to rest. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Deere, Jerry Hagins, Gary Jackson, Jack Jackson, Howard McDuffie and Wayne McDuffie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Carl’s name to:

Duke Health Development

Center for Pulmonary Vascular

300 W. Morgan Street, Ste. 1200

Durham, NC 27701

Or

Great Marsh Baptist Church Cemetery Fund

PO Box 115

St. Pauls, NC 28384

Arrangements by McNeill Mackie Funeral Home of St. Pauls.