Recent Obituaries
Doris Wilkins Leonard
Dec 22, 2020
DURHAM – Mrs. Doris Wilkins Leonard, 66, entered the gates of Heaven on December 22, 2020, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Leonard was born March 16, 1954 to Clarence and Mary Wilkins in Durham, NC. She worked for the Durham Public School system for over 20 years and loved mentoring children and helping them achieve their goals. Doris will be...
Lucy Ricks Harris
Dec 20, 2020
DURHAM- Mrs. Lucy Ricks Harris, 86, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
Mrs. Harris was born on February 25, 1934 to Rufus and Mary Elizabeth Ricks in Garner, NC. She retired as a machine operator at Liggett and Myers, and was a member of Roberson Grove Baptist church. She loved to square dance, shop, sing and play piano. She...
Jack Nelson McLamb
Dec 20, 2020
HILLSBOROUGH- Mr. Jack Nelson McLamb, 77, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020.
Mr. McLamb was born on November 27, 1943 to Valton and Annie McLamb in Johnston County, NC. He was the owner and operator of AutoWorld Service Center. He was a member of Horton Road Freewill Baptist Church, the Gideons International, and Past Master of Masonic Lodge 352....
Jack Ross Downey
Dec 18, 2020
Lifelong Durham resident Jack Ross Downey, 92, passed away on December 18, 2020. He was born on September 7, 1928, in Durham, N.C., to the late Marshall L. Downey and Lula Florence Bass. Jack attended Oak Grove School until the ninth grade, after which he went to work in the Portsmouth Navy Yard, overhauling ships. He joined the Navy on September...
Ruth Laneigh Parker Myers
Dec 17, 2020
DURHAM- Mrs. Ruth Laneigh Parker Myers, 77, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020 at her home.
Mrs. Myers was born December 19, 1942 to the late William and Janie Parker in Erwin, NC. She was a Quality Inspector at IBM for 13 years. Mrs. Myers will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Myers...
Joel Smith
Dec 17, 2020
Joel Smith, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Duke University, died at rest at his home in Durham, North Carolina, at the age of 95. In 1958, with his wife, the former Barbara Jean Vorsanger, he had come to Duke and Durham, which together they made their home and embraced the community around them.
Joel was born in Manhattan, in New...
Larry Jackson Wilson, Sr.
Dec 16, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Larry Jackson Wilson, Sr., 79, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.
Mr. Wilson was born on March 6, 1941 to Hermus and Mary Eileen Wilson in Durham, NC. He was the owner and operator of Larry’s Towing and helped create three generations of proud business owners. Larry proudly served his country in the United States Army National...
Gail Freeman
Dec 15, 2020
Gail was born during the Great Depression at her grandparents’ homestead near Chikasha, Oklahoma. Raised in suburban Chicago, Gail followed her mother’s path to graduate from the University of Illinois and practiced architecture before earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Arizona at her beloved Tucson.
Returning to Champaign as a professor at the University of...
A. George Hales
Dec 15, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Andrew George Hales, 87, passed away on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
Mr. Hales was born on December 20, 1932 to Milford and Ida Hales in Johnston County, NC. He proudly served in the United States Navy for two years, then served as a Baptist Minister for 35 years. George loved to serve the Lord and his community. He...
Premjit Singh Ji
Dec 15, 2020
Divine Soul… Now One with Divinity Forever…
Professor Premjit Singh Ji has completed his humanly sojourn on Tuesday 12/15/20 morning very peacefully. He celebrated his 85 years of life through a special connection with Almighty God.
He started his life in Jallandhar, Punjab, India. Later he moved to Amritsar. Then he worked for 36 years at Thapar Institue of Engineering...
Martin Shenhouse
Dec 12, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Martin Shenhouse, 90, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
Mr. Shenhouse was born on August 3, 1930 to Philip and Sophie Shenhouse in Jersey City, NJ. He worked as a carpenter for 40 years and belonged to The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Martin loved playing softball when he was younger and liked watching...
Sean Cruz Conway
Dec 11, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Sean Cruz Conway, 27, passed away on December 11, 2020.
Mr. Conway was born on November 12, 1993 to Shelton Lee Conway and Michelle T. Hickman in Durham, NC. He attended Rose of Sharon Baptist Church and loved sports. His favorite were Duke basketball and football, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Lakers. Sean will be deeply missed by...
Lawrence David Berger
Dec 10, 2020
Durham- Mr. Lawrence David Berger, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 10, 2020.
Mr. Berger was a professional dancer, theater person and educator most of his life. Born in Brooklyn, NY accidentally because his mother, from Pittsburgh, was spending her last trimester that summer with her sister in Brooklyn! So, Labor Day and Larry both arrived, and they promptly returned...
Larry Blane Kestner
Dec 7, 2020
Larry Blane Kestner, 64, of Saltville, Virginia passed away peacefully at home in Durham, North Carolina surrounded by his family on December 7, 2020. Larry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Deborah Gail Kestner, sons Matt (Deborah) and Dillon (Alexandria) Kestner, brother Melvin (Pat) Kestner and sister Gracie (Lanny) Harner and loving nieces, nephew and cousins and a...
Charles Edward Young
Dec 7, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Charles Edward Young, 88, passed away on Monday, December 7, 2020.
Mr. Young was born on November 25, 1932 to Ezra and Emma Young in Durham, NC. He worked for over 30 years with the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, and later worked at Lake Mickie for 6 years. Charles proudly served his country in...
Michael Clifton Champion
Dec 6, 2020
RALEIGH- Mr. Michael Clifton Champion, 66, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020.
Mr. Champion was born on October 16, 1954 to Jasper and Vera Champion in Oxford, NC. Michael proudly served his county in the United States Air Force. He will be lovingly remembered by his friends and family.
Mr. Champion was preceded in death by his parents, Jasper...
William Ray Bolton
Dec 3, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. William “Ray” Bolton, 73, passed away on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020.
Mr. Bolton was born on December 23rd, 1946 to Cecil and Alice Bolton at Watts Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He loved all sports and was an avid fan of UNC. Ray had the best time joking around and making up ghost stories to share with his...
Bruce Logan Cotton
Dec 3, 2020
DURHAM- Mr. Bruce Logan Cotton, 35, passed away on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020.
Mr. Cotton was born on February 1st, 1985 to Bruce Cotton and Lori Hinson in Durham, North Carolina. He was an avid fan of Duke basketball and loved riding motorcycles. He also loved fishing, guns, and most of all, spending time with his son. He was known...
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