Daniel (Dan) Stevens Addison

(Durham) – Daniel (Dan) Stevens Addison passed away peacefully at 12:21 a.m. on May 27, 2026. A native and lifelong resident of Durham, he was born on July 13, 1938, to the late Leola Jones Addison and Henry Samuel Addison, Sr. He was a member of the second graduating class of Northern High School. He married Roberta Sims in 1959 and they had two sons, Blake and Todd.

Dan honed his natural talent in architecture and art while working for the architectural firm of the late Archie Royal Davis for twelve years. Subsequently, he opened the first Interior Design Department at Belk Leggett and went on to head the design department for the late Claude M. May at his main street office working as a partner in the business for 35 years with Mr. May and the late James R. Pleasants. Dan opened his own business, Daniel S. Addison Designs, at 618 Morehead Avenue and enjoyed ten years there before moving to his Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard location. In semi-retirement, he opened an office in his son’s business (Classic Treasures), and remained there until his wife’s illness and his own declining health due to Parkinson’s disease.

In 1980, he became a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and designed homes in New York, Connecticut, Palm Beach, and throughout North Carolina: specifically Durham, Chapel Hill, Burlington, and Henderson. He was particularly proud of his work at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center and the Carolina Club on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Dan often formed lasting friendships with many of his clients. He counted among his friends and clients university presidents, bank and business executives, and some of the oldest families in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. In addition to his family, these relationships created treasured memories that he carried in his heart and were a source of comfort in his last years.

Dan is survived by his two sons, Blake (Adele) and Todd (Rachel), six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Addison Tilley of Durham, NC, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Roberta, and his brother, Henry Samuel Addison, Jr. of Raleigh, NC.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 8, 2026, at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home followed by the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home Chapel. Immediately after the funeral service, the burial service will take place at the Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.

Flowers or a gift of remembrance to a charity of your choice would be a lovely tribute to Dan.

The Addison family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.