Mainor Lee Sawyer

Mrs. Mainor Lee James Sawyer of Grifton (NC) and formerly of Wallace, departed this life for her heavenly home on the evening of October 17, 2026. Born on March 15, 1952, she is the daughter of the late Dexter and Myrtie Brown James. Also preceding her in death are siblings—Joseph James, Anna Margaret Cribb, Willis James, and D.L. James.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband—Harold Wayne Sawyer of the home; children—Kenneth Franklin Sawyer (Tina) of Raleigh and Kristen Sawyer Metcalf (Karen) of Farmington Hills (MI); grandchildren— Lauren Bryce, Alexandra, and Emerson; and siblings—Eloise Register of Wallace, Dorothy Wells of Wallace, and Jesse James of Rocky Point.

Early childhood and schooling were in the Wallace area of Duplin County where Mrs. Sawyer grew up as the youngest of eight children. Her early career was in textile manufacturing in Wallace. Upon her marriage to Wayne, she became fulltime homemaker and moved to Plymouth (NC). As a dedicated member of the Plymouth Church of God, she gave tirelessly to many church functions, with a personal ministry of teaching children’s Sunday School for many years and leading fundraising efforts for YWEA mission work. Always attentive to the needs of her family, they were the most important love she had on earth, second only to the love she had for Jesus, her Lord.

A service to celebrate her life is set for 2:00 pm in the Plymouth Church of God with visitation at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Internment on Thursday, October 22, 2026, visitation at 1pm and service at 2:00 pm, in the Maready Cemetery (3299 Fountaintown Rd. Chinquapin, NC). In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions be made to the Plymouth Church of God.