Wilson Lee “Buddy” Roughton, 91, of Zack Circle, Elizabeth City, NC went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Mr. Roughton was born in Elizabeth City on February 4, 1935, to the late Eunice Theron and Betty Gregory Roughton, and was a 1953 graduate of Elizabeth City High School. He served in the army in Korea after the Korean War and worked his career in installation and sales of central office telecom equipment. He started his own business (Northeastern Telecom) in 1990 installing telephone equipment for local businesses. He enjoyed watching sports and fishing. He was an active member of Corinth Baptist Church and a 30 year member of the Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Club. In Rotary he was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and the 2014-2015 Rotarian of the Year. Mr. Roughton regularly participated in weekly meetings and coordinated the club’s NC Adopt-A-Highway cleanups and Salvation Army bell ringing at Walmart during Christmas.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Roughton was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Roughton Evans. He is survived by his brother-in-law, K. Morgan Evans; his nephew, Gregory Morgan Evans and wife, Belynda, of Raleigh, NC; his grandnephews, Gregory Morgan Evans II and wife, Katrina, of Kernersville, NC and Thomas Edward Evans of Raleigh, NC; his great grandnephew, Gregory Morgan Evans III of Kernersville, NC; and his great grandniece, Eliana Aurora Evans of Kernersville, NC.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the Miller & Van Essendelft Chapel, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, N.C. and will be officiated by Rev. Gregory Carr. He will be interred at the family plot in Old Hollywood Cemetery in Elizabeth City. The family will receive friends and family at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Corinth Baptist Church, 1035 US Highway 17 S, Elizabeth City, NC, or the Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Club, P.O. Box 2085 Elizabeth City NC 27906.

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, NC is assisting the Roughton family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com