Recent Obituaries

Jan 5, 2022

Ms. Rhonda Powers Allen, age 72, passed away on January 5, 2022.

Rhonda was born on November 21, 1949, a daughter of the late Ronald Elliott Powers and Dorothy May Winfree Powers. Ms. Allen was a faithful member of West Durham Pentecostal Church. She loved being outdoors and enjoyed murder mysteries. Rhonda was an avid pet lover. She rescued and...

Jan 5, 2022

Gattis “Wayne” Ennis, 69, passed away January 5, 2022 at home.

Mr. Ennis was born on December 31, 1952, to Helen Meirl Ennis and the late Harvey Gattis Ennis in Dunn, NC.  Wayne attended RTP Community. He loved the Lord and freely witnessed to others. Wayne loved cats and taking care of them. He enjoyed working on classic cars, as...

Jan 5, 2022

Virgil Solomon Lucas, Jr. was known to friends and family as Sol, in deference to his dad who was known as Virgil. Sol grew up in Goldsboro and Charlotte, and attended UNC-CH where he ultimately earned a Pharmaceutical Doctorate. He started his career at Duke Hospital working with cancer patients, then moved to Burroughs Wellcome, and stayed when it merged...

Jan 5, 2022

Catherine “Cat Bird” Olivia Colclough Herndon, 73, passed away January 5, 2022, at home.

Mrs. Herndon was born February 3, 1948, to Violet Mae Green and Wesley David Colclough in Durham, NC. Catherine was a fun-loving woman who enjoyed being with her family. She loved to dance and if a tambourine was nearby, she would play it like a professional....

Jan 4, 2022

Mrs. Eleanor Ruth Williams Willett, age 98, of Durham N.C., passed away peacefully on January 4, 2022 in her home with family by her side.

Ruth was born on August 12, 1923, a daughter of the late Charles Ashburn and Naomi Belle Pearson Williams. Ruth was a devoted wife to her late husband, EC, and worked tirelessly alongside him to...

Jan 4, 2022

DURHAM- Mr. Charles Alan Classen, 74, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Duke University Hospital from complications of lung cancer.

Mr. Classen was born March 20, 1947 to the late Fritz and Pauline Classen in Ithaca, NY. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. Mr. Classen enjoyed boating, hiking, doing home projects, maintaining his lawn, and...

Jan 3, 2022

Mr. William “Brad” Bradford Pelletier, age 46, passed away on January 3, 2022.

Brad was born on July 16, 1975, a son of Linda Averette Rives and the late Mark Dawson Pelletier, Jr. Mr. Pelletier was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He enjoyed working, especially in the HVAC industry. Brad loved his daughters, as they were the light of...

Jan 3, 2022

Jan 2, 2022

Mrs. Rebecca “Becky” Lee Johnson Ragan, age 90, passed away on January 2, 2022.

Becky was born on August 8, 1931, a daughter of the late Dwight Wellons and Lyda Johnson, Sr. Mrs. Ragan was a former member of Liberty Free Will Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher. Becky worked at Gorman and Grace Baptist Church...

Jan 2, 2022

Dr. Joseph Aaron Klaits, 79, passed away on January 2, 2022.

Born on September 23, 1942 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, N.Y., Joe was the son of the late Julius Klaits and Beatrice Kossoy Spielman. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School and Columbia University. A summer research fellowship during college took him to Vienna and then most notably to Paris, sparking a...

Jan 1, 2022

Mrs. Brigida F. Hernandez, age 89, passed away on January 1, 2022.

Brigida was born on April 11, 1932 in Punta Alegre, Cuba, a daughter of the late Guillermo Baeza and Blanca Sosa Baeza.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hernandez was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fabio L. Hernandez; brother, Enrique Baeza; and sister, Elena Bernal.

Mrs....

Jan 1, 2022

Sgt. Ronald Alan Wiggins (Ron), passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2022, at the age of 51.

Ron worked for thirty years as a Police Officer in Durham, NC. After retiring in May 2020, Ron worked at Ragin’ Bull Harley Davidson, where he was a sales professional. He loved serving his community and sharing his love of Harleys.

Ron will...

Dec 31, 2021

Mrs. Linda Gail Griffin Medlin, age 58, passed away on December 31, 2021 in the comfort of her home surrounded by family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Linda was born on November 13, 1963 in Durham, NC, a daughter of the late John Benton and Geneva Shults Griffin. She graduated from Hillside High School in 1982. Mrs. Medlin was...

Dec 30, 2021

Michael Leslie Carroll, age 61, of Timberlake, N.C., passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, December 30, at his home on the farm.

He was the son of the late James and Agnes Carroll; brother of Cynthia C. Wade of Marion N.C.; father of Crystal G. Carroll of Burlington, N.C.; grandfather of Richard and Ryan Byrd; and also survived by many other family...

Dec 29, 2021

Mrs. Virginia Dare P. Blake, age 83, passed away on December 29, 2021.

Virginia was born April 8, 1938 in Durham, NC, to the late Nulen Carr and Fannie Minerva Clayton Porterfield. Mrs. Blake was a faithful member of Ebenezer Baptist Church for over 40 years. In her younger years, she was a great cook. Virginia loved going to Wal-Mart....

Dec 29, 2021

Wanda Ruth Jefferies Westbrook, 73, passed away, December 29, 2021, at home with her loving family.

Mrs. Westbrook was born November 29, 1948, to the late Harold and Ruth Jefferies in Durham, NC. Wanda was of the Christian Faith; she had a caring and giving nature. She was always willing to help her family and friends in any way she...

Dec 28, 2021

Mrs. Brenda Gail Beall Fulcher, age 69, passed away on December 28, 2021.

Brenda was born April 27, 1952 to the late James Thomas and Louis Elaine Bingham Beall. Mrs. Fulcher was a faithful member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Fulcher was preceded in death by her sisters, Shirley “Skeeter” Faulkner and Denise Beall.

...

Dec 28, 2021

Helene Baskir departed on her next journey on December 28, 2021. She began her life in Vienna, Austria in December of 1933. Her parents, Adele and Paul Reiser, brought her to the U.S. in 1939, fortunate to escape the Nazi holocaust that was building in Europe. Helene graduated from Hunter College High School and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in...

Dec 26, 2021

David Monroe Smeltz, 64, of  Durham, NC, passed away on December 26, 2021.

David Smeltz was born in Lancaster, PA on May 4, 1957. He graduated from Garden Spot High School (1975) and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from Morehead State University.

David is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Elva Smeltz and brother, Byron Smeltz.

David is survived by his loving wife Tanya Spaulding-Smeltz; children: Sabrina Watson (Chris), Ryan...

Dec 26, 2021

Kenneth Alan Fisher, age 70, surrounded by his wife and children, entered the glorious presence of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, on December 26, 2021, after medical complications following a heart attack.

Born December 21, 1951, Ken is from Clinton, NC, and has called Eastern North Carolina “home” for 67 years. As a private airplane pilot and radio announcer...