Wilbert Mills Faircloth

Wilbert Mills Faircloth of Clinton died peacefully in his home and surrounded by his family on March 28, 2025. Born on August 8, 1942, in Raleigh, North Carolina, he arrived in the world five minutes before his twin brother and best lifelong friend, William. The two brothers were inseparable for their first twenty-two years of life. They were nicknamed the “Moose” twins because, although they were fraternal twins, many in the community could not tell them apart.

Wilbert was a 1960 graduate of Clinton High School, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. After high school graduation, he attended Wake Forest University, where he proudly wore the number 81 as a tight end. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and graduated with a major in history in 1964.

In 1967, Wilbert graduated from Wake Forest University Law School and returned to Clinton to serve as a third generation attorney in the law firm of Faircloth and Faircloth, where he worked until his death. He was a member of the North Carolina Bar Association for over fifty-seven years.

After returning to Clinton, Wilbert served his community in many ways. He was a member and officer of the Clinton Rotary Club, and a member and award winner in the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. He served on the bank board of BB&T Bank, and he was a lifelong member of Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, elder, Sunday School Superintendent, youth club volunteer, and pulpit committee member.

Wilbert loved athletics of all kinds. He enjoyed working as a volunteer coach for the Clinton Recreation Department and supporting the Clinton High School Booster Club. He was a regular on the basketball courts at 5:00 a.m. at Early Bird Fitness and later on the golf course at Coharie Country Club during his earlier years. He loved attending Wake Forest University Football games, and he always celebrated any type of Wake Forest victory.

Wilbert is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Mary Lou Butts Faircloth, his two daughters, Suzi Matthews (Neal), Lisa Kelly (Michael), his twin brother William Faircloth (Becky), his brother in law James Alfred Butts III (Ursula), his four grandchildren, Cara Elisabeth Kelly, Shawn Mills Matthews, Melina Carole Matthews, and Seana Denise Kelly, and five adult nephews and nieces.

Wilbert was preceded in death by his parents Croom and Elizabeth Faircloth, his older brother Maurice Faircloth, and his daughter Paula Carole Faircloth.

A service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held on March 31, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, followed by a visitation in the MacQueen Fellowship Hall at the church. Memorials may be made to the Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church Missions Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.royalhallfuneralhome.com

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Faircloth Family.