Recent Obituaries

Jan 13, 2022

Mr. Robert Paul “Bucky” Miller, age 74, passed away at his home suddenly on Thursday, January 13, 2022 and went to be with our Lord.

He was born on December 21, 1947 in Durham, NC. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mattie B. Miller and father, Robert Paul Miller, Sr., and two sisters, Brenda “Cookie” Miller Weaver and...

Jan 12, 2022

William Yates Crabtree, 20, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer since 2017, at Duke Medical Center.

William was born February 12, 2001, to Angela Crabtree and the late Scott Crabtree in Raleigh, NC.  He loved fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles and 4 wheelers.  He enjoyed watching movies and, most of all, loved spending time with his mother and family. ...

Jan 8, 2022

Chapel Hill, North Carolina — Elaine Phyllis Whitney, 78, a longtime resident of River Vale, New Jersey, passed away Saturday, January 8, 2022.

Elaine grew up in Brooklyn, New York where she was known for her boisterous humor, beautiful singing voice, her love of dance, and Broadway musicals. In her teens, she was the director of her high school’s “sing”...

Jan 8, 2022

Mrs. Jacksie Ann Watlington Crossman, age 91, passed away on January 8, 2022.

Jacksie was born on November 1, 1930, in Danville, VA, a daughter of the late Julius Spencer and Laura Jones Watlington. Mrs. Crossman was the State Highway Patrol Troop C Secretary in Durham for 20 years, until retirement in 1989. Prior to that, she worked at GE....

Jan 7, 2022

Mr. Jesse Howard Hill, age 94, passed away on January 7, 2022.

Howard was born on May 17, 1927, a son of the late Lee and Annie Pearl Haithcox Hill. Mr. Hill was a member of Guess Road Baptist Church for many years. Howard, a World War II Vet, served his country proudly in the United States Army as an...

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....