Col. Paul Bennett Little, Jr. MD

WADESBORO – On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Col. Paul Bennett Little, Jr. MD, passed away peacefully at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be at 3:00 PM, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at First Baptist Church in Wadesboro. Interment will follow in the Eastview Cemetery with military honors.

Paul was born January 19, 1949 in Wadesboro, North Carolina, the son of the late Paul B. Little, Sr. and Edna Pearl Harmon Little. He was a graduate of Wadesboro High School, Wingate Junior College, East Carolina University and the University of South Carolina Medical School, receiving his medical degree in 1977. Paul entered the United States Army in 1987 as a medical doctor. Paul traveled throughout the world while in the Army, but his primary duty station was in Washington, DC. Paul retired from the Army, as a full Colonel, with over thirty years of service to his country.

It was difficult to know what to call Paul Little when you met him. Colonel? Doctor? Mister Little? Actually, he was fine with just “Paul.” He was quick with a smile and even quicker to lend a hand. Paul had a full life. His private and professional lives took him around the world where he learned about art, music and different cultures. As a colonel and medical doctor in the U.S. Army, he served on the staff of the Army Surgeon General at the Pentagon. He was the first medical editor at the United States Department of Defense Media Center.

For Paul, serving was second nature, whether serving his country, his alma mater, his church or his community. Whatever he did, he went all out. A number of years ago, his church, First Baptist Church of Wadesboro, NC, was in need of a new piano and Paul decided to help. Instead of writing a check, he flew to New York to talk to the people at the Steinway Company. The Steinway Company would later deliver to the church a beautiful, new custom Model B classic grand piano. Paul dedicated it in memory of his mother, Edna Pearl Little, a fine-arts professor at Wingate University in the 60s and 70s. Paul donated many works of art to Wingate from his personal collection that he and his mother accumulated during their world travels.

On September 11, 2001, Paul was at a training conference across town from the Pentagon when the terrorist’s hijacked plane flew into the Pentagon building. Paul was immediately rushed to the scene and spent the next 48 hours treating survivors. Paul’s administrative assistant was in the Pentagon in Paul’s office and was killed that day.

Paul sang in his church choir for many years on weekends when he returned from college or from the army. When Alzheimer’s took his ability to sing, he continued to attend church and whistled the hymns in perfect tune and pitch. Before service started he would go around the auditorium, greet everyone with a handshake and that Paul Little smile. Although he could no longer recall names, his face expressed the pleasure he got from greeting people.

As an only child, Paul is not survived by any close relatives but leaves dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 423, Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to the Hospice of the donor’s choice.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com