William Kenneth Neighbors, Jr.

Benson:  Mr. William Kenneth Neighbors, Jr., age 83, died Monday, July 25, 2016 at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Benson.  Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Friday at Benson Baptist Church.  Officiating will be Revs. Paul Burgess and Mike Carter.  Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.          Mr. Neighbors was born October 16, 1932 in Johnston County  to the late William Kenneth Neighbors, Sr. and Maude Johnson Neighbors. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie Wheeler Neighbors; and brother,  Joseph Donwell Neighbors.  Mr. Neighbors was born and raised on the family farm on Hwy 50 North in Benson. He graduated from Benson High School in 1950 and attended UNC Chapel Hill for one year. He joined the  US Air Force   and was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War, was honorably discharged,  then returned to the family farm.  Mr. Neighbors earned a degree in Accounting at Atlantic Christian College. In 1967 he opened Neighbors & Neal CPAs, later expanding  with other partners to form offices in Benson, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morehead City and Raleigh. He was the first CPA in Benson and one of the first in Johnston County.  Mr. Neighbors was the auditor of Johnston and Carteret Counties for over thirty years.   He was a member of the American Legion Banner Post 109, a Master Mason with Masonic Lodge #431. As an active member of Benson Baptist Church, he also served as a Deacon and Chairman of Budget and Finance Committee.  Mr. Neighbors was a former member of Benson Lions Club, Benson Chamber of Commerce, Lou Parrish-Order of the Eastern Star, and the Sudan Shriners.        Survivors include wife of thirty-eight years, Mary Carter Neighbors; children and spouses, William Kenneth Neighbors, III and wife, Margaret of San Jose, California, Heather Dawn Lewis of Benson, Arthur Glenn Neighbors and wife, Karen of Four Oaks, Todd Duncan Lewis and wife, Leslie of Zebulon, and William Michael Neighbors and wife, Rebecca of Benson; grandchildren, Richard Andrew Boyd, Mary Margaret Boyd, Samuel Claude Neighbors, Caroline Hensley Bridges, Joshua Glenn Neighbors, Ava Dianne Lewis, Faye Mairead Neighbors, Olivia Faith Strickland, Sarah Jon Neighbors, Gael Keren Neighbors, Aidan Todd Lewis, Avery Lynn Neighbors, and Riley Grace Neighbors; sisters and brother-in-law, Judith N. and M.C. Blackmon of Altoona, Alabama, and Patsy N. Morgan of Benson; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, GayNell  and Vernon Rooney of Cary and Rachel Day Wheeler of Four Oaks; and many nieces and nephews.      The family will receive friends 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Benson and other times at the home.      Flowers are welcome; however, memorials may be expressed to Benson Baptist Church, P.O. Box 323; American Legion Banner Post 109, P.O. Box 153; Masonic Lodge #431, 315 S. Lee St.; or The Neighbors' Family, P.O. Box 655, all Benson, NC 27504.       The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Kenneth's dear sister, Patsy Morgan, and nieces, Candace Morgan and Laine McLamb for their loving dedication and care throughout this journey that led him home to our Father.       Additionally, the family would also like to express sincere gratitude to Jordan, Cody, Wendy, and Shannon at  Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab Center for the excellent care they provided.       Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home, Benson, NC.