Obituaries

Ronald Lee Mitchell

Ronald Lee Mitchell

Jun 27, 2023

Ronald Lee Mitchell, 86, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2023. His devotion to his family and firm belief in God gave him strength and peace through out his life.

Ron was born on October 15, 1936 to the late Everett and Julia Mitchell in Durham, NC. He attended Durham public schools and graduated from Durham High School.

Ron married Mary Helen,...

James Rodney Tarrants

James Rodney Tarrants

Jun 27, 2023

Rodney Tarrants had a knack for sales from the very start. In elementary school, he won top honors for selling magazines. As a teenager, he sold Rainbow vacuum sweepers, door to door. And at just 19-years old, Rodney would begin a tremendously successful career selling insurance.

Rodney was exceptional with numbers, and with people he was loyal and dedicated. Rodney’s job...

Serguei Dolys Ndinga Momo

Serguei Dolys Ndinga Momo

Jun 27, 2023

Serguei Dolys Ndinga Momo died suddenly of cardiac arrest in his home in Carrboro, NC on June 27, 2023, at age 21.

Dolys was a loving son, brother, and grandson. He is survived by his parents, Sergueï Bracy Ndinga Momo and Strother Murray-Ndinga, of Chapel Hill, NC, and Irène Milolo Tamba (Badibanga), of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. He is also survived...

James Alexander Leak, Iii

James Alexander Leak, Iii

Jun 25, 2023

James (Jim) A Leak III, of Durham died on June 25, 2023 at the Hock Family Pavilion of Duke Hospice after a lengthy illness and valiant fight against cancer. 

Son of the late James A Leak Jr and Sallie Ann Welsh Leak, Jim was born in 1945 in San Bernardino, CA where his father was serving in the US Army....

Andrew  J. Schmalzried, Sr.

Andrew J. Schmalzried, Sr.

Jun 24, 2023

Andrew J. Schmalzried, Sr, age 65, died suddenly at his home on June 24, 2023, in Franklinton, NC. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 16, 1958, to his parents, Harry J. Schmalzried and Lillian Mae Elfrey Schmalzried. He joined his late wife of almost 30 years, Deborah Jean Schmalzried. 

He leaves behind his sons and their families, Andrew...

Rev. Dr. Vernon Bernard Van Bruggen

Rev. Dr. Vernon Bernard Van Bruggen

Jun 24, 2023

The Rev. Dr. Vernon B. Van Bruggen passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 24, 2023, in Durham, NC. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in the chapel at Croasdaile Village, Durham, NC.

Dr. Van Bruggen was born on November 24, 1935, in a farmhouse near Montpelier, North Dakota as the second of the six...

Amelia Theron  Davis

Amelia Theron Davis

Jun 24, 2023

DURHAM- Dr. Amelia Theron Davis, 44, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023, at UNC Hospital.

Dr. Davis was born October 28, 1978, to Debbie White and Dwayne Bynum in Tyler, Texas. She served the community as a psychiatrist for many years as a graduate from University of Minnesota Medical School in 2003. She loved her family tremendously and her heart overflowed...

Carol Joplin Elliott

Carol Joplin Elliott

Jun 24, 2023

DURHAM - Carol Joplin Elliott, actress, singer, and playwright, died peacefully on June 24, 2023. She was 83. Carol was born in a blizzard on February 14, 1940 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Mary Minns Joplin and Dr. Robert Jefferson Joplin. She was the fourth of their five children. Carol graduated from Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill,...

Judy  Ann Elliott

Judy Ann Elliott

Jun 22, 2023

Judy Ann Elliott, age 72, of Oxford, NC went home to be with the Lord on June 22, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis Clifton Racer and Phyllis Jean Racer and her son, Mark Aaron Frame.

She was married to William "Bill" Elliott of Oxford, NC, for 17 years, and together they shared a journey filled with...

Stephen  Edward Wilson

Stephen Edward Wilson

Jun 22, 2023

Stephen Edward Wilson died peacefully on Thursday, June 22nd, at home in Durham after a battle with cancer; his wife and daughter were by his side. He is survived by wife Anna Ludwig Wilson; brother David Wilson of Reno, Nevada; brother Bob Wilson of Bella Vista, Arkansas; daughter Lisa Harrison of Durham and her husband Bo; son Davey Wilson of...

Dorothy  Turner

Dorothy Turner

Jun 20, 2023

Dorothy Giles (“Dot”) Turner, age 87, passed away at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, on June 20, 2023. She was born in Trion, Georgia on December 10th, 1935, to the late John Henry Giles & Myrtis Giles, and grew up in Dayton, Tennessee. 

Dot was the valedictorian of her high school and graduated from the University of...

George  Starling Pelletier

George Starling Pelletier

Jun 19, 2023

George Starling Pelletier, age 101, died on June 19, 2023.

Starling was born to the late Mary (Mollie) Sabiston Pelletier and Jeremiah Rufus Pelletier on October 18, 1921, in Maysville, North Carolina. He was predeceased in death by his sister, Mary Barker Pelletier Bell, and his wife, Sarah Weeks Pelletier.

He is survived by his brother, Jere Rufus Pelletier of Jacksonville, North...

Anthony Lee Watson

Anthony Lee Watson

Jun 18, 2023

Anthony Lee Watson, 62, died on June 18th, 2023 surrounded by beloved family. He was born on October 20, 1960 in New London, CT to the late Barbara Lue and Lee Otis Hunt.

Anthony loved God and his family as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. His relationship with the Lord defined his worldview and guided his daily decisions.

Anthony studied at...

Melinda Vail Killenberg

Melinda Vail Killenberg

Jun 18, 2023

Melinda Townsend Vail Killenberg died on Sunday June 18, 2023. Melinda was born to Marion and Arthur Hubert Vail, Jr. in Mt. Kisco, New York on June 20, 1939. She graduated from Putney School in Putney, Vermont and Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. She was employed as a social worker in New York City, Philadelphia, and Cleveland, Ohio before...

Richard  Arlan  Berry

Richard Arlan Berry

Jun 16, 2023

Richard Arlan Berry born in Charleston, West Virginia on October 22, 1949, died peacefully at home with family on Friday, June 16, 2023. He was the son of the late Richard Waitman Berry and Anne Brooks Berry.

Richard is survived by his wife, Dianne Babb, they were lovingly married for over 40 years. He is preceded in death by his parents...

Douglas  William Inscoe

Douglas William Inscoe

Jun 16, 2023

Douglas William Inscoe

June 16, 2023

Oxford, NC: Douglas William Inscoe, 46, passed away peacefully and suddenly on Friday, June 16, 2023 at his home in Oxford. Born in Durham County on September 27, 1976, he was preceded in death by his father Alex Brent Inscoe. A beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, and friend—he always had a smile.

Doug is survived by his...

Jo  Alice  Richards

Jo Alice Richards

Jun 15, 2023

Jo Alice Wilson Richards passed away at home with family. She was born on August 5, 1938, in Yancey County, North Carolina, and passed away on June 15, 2023, at the age of 84. Jo was the daughter of Earl Clayton Wilson and Helen Piercey Wilson.

Jo had a fulfilling career as a dedicated nurse. She obtained her Bachelor of Science...

Edgar Shelton Toms, Jr.

Edgar Shelton Toms, Jr.

Jun 13, 2023

DURHAM- Mr. Edgar Shelton Toms, Jr., age 93, died at his home, Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

Mr. Toms was born August 13, 1929, to the late Edgar and Julia Toms in Philadelphia, PA. Edgar was a graduate of Fishburne Military Academy in Waynesboro, VA and received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, Class of 1952. After serving in the Army, he...

Sally Anna Decker

Sally Anna Decker

Jun 10, 2023

Sally Anna Decker, 82, died peacefully with her husband at her side at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina on June 10, 2023.

Sally was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was born March 12, 1941, in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Sandy Springs High School in Sandy Springs, Georgia in 1959. She attended Harcum College in...

Julia Smith Walters

Julia Smith Walters

Jun 8, 2023

Julia Smith Walters, aged 102, died on June 8, 2023, at UNC Hospice House, Pittsboro, NC. A resident of Stoneridge Retirement Community in Cary, she was born and raised in Salisbury, NC, the daughter of the late Lawrence Neal Smith and Margaret Albright Smith, she was born on April 10, 1921. A 1937 graduate of Boyden Hight School, she was...