Delma Louise Autry

Sorrows come and go just as surely as the joys of life. Yet there is something so disquieting and deeply sorrowful about the death of a loved one that we are never quite ready to accept.

Whereas God in his infinite wisdom and divine love has seen fit to call from this earthly scene to a land that is free from sickness, sorrow, pain and death, his loyal servant Delma Louise McKoy Autry. We bow in humble submission to his will.

Born December 02, 1935, Delma Louise McKoy was the oldest survivor of ten children to the late Elder David and Dovia McKoy in the Colly community of Bladen County North Carolina. As a child, she grew up in a loving Christian home with her nine brothers and sisters. She graduated from Bladen County Training School in Elizabethtown and later did some study at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina.

In 1954, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Oscar Lee (Milton) Autry. Three wonderful sons were born to this union: Kenneth Allen, Victor LaVonne, and Kevin Rene’. She worked at Fleetline Shirt Factory in Garland, NC, for many years before joining her sister-in-law, Esther McLean at McLean Family Care Home of Bladen County until it closed.

She started her Christian journey as a young mother while traveling to different churches with her father Elder David McKoy. She became a devoted servant of God. During her Christian Journey, she served as a Sunday school teacher for many years at Pleasant Hill Holiness Church in Elizabethtown, NC, and a Spiritual Overseer for Evening Light Holiness Church in Garland, NC, Greater St. Matthew Holiness Church in Garland, NC, and New Beginning Holiness Church at White Lake, NC. She was an epitome of a woman of God.

Preceding her in death other than her parents are a son Victor,  and his wife Rosemary; a granddaughter Angela Whitaker, a brother Harry Lee and wife Annie; two sisters, Almeta and husband Wade Walton, and Zelma, a brother-in-law Lewis (Lou Bop) Hollis Jr., and a sister-in-law Peggy McCoy.

Of the many left to cherish her memory are, her devoted husband of 72 years, Oscar Lee (Milton) Autry, two sons, Kenneth (Antonia) and Kevin (Alleathia), and a daughter in Love, Johnice Autry. Also, three sisters, Dorothy McKoy, Helen Hollis, and Jean (Clarence) Thornton all of Elizabethtown, three brothers, John T. (Audrey) McCoy of Elizabethtown, Robert (Helen) McKoy of Hagerstown, Maryland, and Clayton McCoy of Hilton Head, SC.

Also six grandchildren; Stephania (William) Lenard, Kenneth Autry II, Allison Randall, Brian Autry, Briceson Autry, and Kelva (Johnathan) Jones, also four granddaughters in Love; Cori Horne, Ayana Brown, Carrie Steinbeck, and Angela Hornsby. Nine great-grandchildren, Pryce, Kaliya, Jonathan Jr., Elle, Jai, Jessee, Willow, Cadence and Nala. She leaves many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 04, 2026, at Evening Light Holiness Church, 50 West 3rd. St., Garland, NC, by the Reverend John McCoy officiating.  Burial will follow in the Autry cemetery on Johnsontown Rd., Elizabethtown, NC

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 03, 2026, from 1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. with family present from 5:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. at Carter Funeral Home in Garland. 

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course

I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me

A crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous

Jude shall give me at that day”

2 Timothy 4; 7-8