Arnold Benjamin Dula

He was born on March 9, 1930, to the late Alexander Dula, Sr. and Virgie Roland Dula, in the Dulatown Community.

He was a member of Dula Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he faithfully served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, and church leader for several years. He especially loved and supported the choir’s ministry, and he always encouraged others to attend the church and participate in the church’s ministries.

He retired from the Lenoir Police Department after 25 years of service. He was especially loved by the children who attended East Harper Elementary School where he directed school traffic. He also had a private sanitation business with numerous customers. He never met a stranger and was well known and loved by many in Lenoir and the surrounding towns and communities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Virgie Dula, three brothers, Alexander Dula, Jr., Arthur Dula, and Andrew Herbert Dula, Sr., five sisters, Juanita Witherspoon, Berniece Dula, Kathleen Hendrix, Joyce Dula, and Shirley Utsey, and a son, Keith Howell.

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 64 years, Willette Goode Dula of the home, daughters Arnita Dula of Hickory, North Carolina and Adrienne Dula of Lenoir, North Carolina, a son, Roland Dula of the home, a special goddaughter, Robin Reeves (Michael) of Greensboro, North Carolina, granddaughters, Keisha Howell of Winston Salem, North Carolina and Gabrielle Dula of Lexington, North Carolina, great granddaughters Kasia Howell and Sydney Howell, great great granddaughter A’lonii Howell, two sisters Mavis Wilson of Lenoir, North Carolina and Geraldine Nicholas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, two sisters-in-law Gerri Dula of Lenoir, North Carolina and Bobbie Wakefield of Morganton, North Carolina, a devoted nephew who provided care, Virgil Dula, many other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

A Homegoing service will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Dula Chapel Missionary Baptist Church at 1575 Miller Hill Road in Lenoir, with Rev. Valerie Hightower officiating. Burial will follow the service in Dulatown Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be nephews and friends of Mr. Dula.

The family will receive friends for 2 hours on Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home.

The family respectfully requests that masks be worn for the health safety of everyone.

Words of comfort may be expressed to the family at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Arnold Benjamin Dula.