Robert E. Cowan





DURHAM -- Lt. Col (Ret.) Robert E. Cowan, 78, joined his departed comrades in arms on March 14, 2010.

He passed peacefully at the VA Medical Center in Durham, with his wife by his side.

Born in Fort Totten, N.Y. he was the second son of his late parents Lt. Col (Ret.) William Norman Cowan and Elva Meeks Cowan. He spent the early part of his life in Fort Hamilton, N.Y. - the headquarters of the famous Big Red One, the First Infantry Division. Col. Cowan began his military career in 1950 when he was sworn into the Army Reserves by his father who organized the Army reserves in the Western part of NC shortly after World War II. During the Korean War Col. Cowan asked for active duty and was sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia as an MP. In 1954 he applied for OCS and graduated as a 2nd Lt. in the Infantry. Three years later he was integrated into the Regular Army.

Col. Cowan served in numerous places in the states and overseas. Assignments overseas included the Third Armored Division in Germany, the 82nd Airborne Division in the Dominican Republic and advisor to the Liberian Army's Kennedy's Battalion. He also served two tours in Vietnam.

Col. Cowan received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, five awards of the Air Medal, two Bronze Stars and the Meritorious Service Medal during his service.

Col. Cowan graduated from Austin High School in El Paso, Texas, in 1949 and from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1953. After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1976, he taught high school Vocational Education for 21 years and earned a Masters of Education from North Carolina State in 1979. He retired from teaching in January, 1998.

He was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and was an active member of the Triangle Chapter 637 and Western NC Chapter 844 where he presented leadership awards to high school JROTC, and ROTC at Duke, UNC and NC State. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and also the Disabled American Veterans. He volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity and his students built a home for them while he was teaching at Chapel Hill High School.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Walker Cowan; two daughters and a son, Nancy McBride Cowan and her husband, Gene Kresge, of Denver, N.C., Cynthia Diane Cowan of Carrboro, Michael Duncan Cowan of Greensboro; and five grandchildren, Meghan Cowan, Shannon Cowan, Jessica Cowan, Nancy (Alex) Kresge and Eugene (Trey) Kresge III; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, 2nd Lt William Norman Cowan Jr., who was killed in a Fort Bragg training accident in 1952.

The family would like to thank the staff of CLC1 of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham for the excellent care he received during his five years with them.

Family visitation will be held at Carrboro United Methodist Church at noon on Friday, March 19 with funeral services following at 1 p.m. One week later a memorial service has been planned in Hickory. Family visitation will be held at the Bass-Smith Funeral Home at noon, Saturday, March 27, followed by a service at 1 p.m. A military ceremony will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity are requested.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.cremnc.com.

Irene Tuck Helmer

DURHAM -- Irene Tuck Helmer, age 88, died on Thursday February 25th, 2010 in Titusville, Fla.

Born and raised in Durham, she had resided for many years in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Helmer; mother, Daisy Smith; father, Will Tuck; siblings, Sarah (Toots) Browning and Lee Hunt.

Survivors include a daughter, Joyce Fry of Titusville, Fla.; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; several nieces; and one nephew.

Irene had many friends in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She was a beautiful lady and well respected by many.

A memorial service will be held Saturday March 20th at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 295 NW Prima Vista Blvd. Port St Lucie, Fla.

Joseph Melvin Robinson Jr.

DURHAM -- Joseph Melvin Robinson Jr., 82, of Durham, died Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Durham Regional Hospital.

Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was the son of the late Joseph Melvin Robinson and Elizabeth Greene Robinson. In addition to serving in the US Navy during WWII, he also served in the Air Force during the Korean War. From 1974 to 1987, Mr. Robinson taught Auto Mechanics at Southern High School. In addition to hunting and fishing, he loved irises and buttercups. He also enjoyed traveling and Civil War history, especially trips to Gettysburg and Pennsylvania battlefields. He and his late wife, Hilda, were charter members of Triangle Presbyterian Church in Durham.

Surviving are his son, Ken Robinson and his wife, Debbie, of Concord; his daughter, Vickie Hare of Raleigh; one sister, Jane R. Weaver and husband, James, of Roxboro; three grandchildren, Matthew Craig Robinson, Tyler Scott Robinson and Kathryn Elisabeth Robinson; and his beloved cats, Wild Thing and Ebony. He was predeceased by his wife, Hilda Weisner Robinson; and his sister, Evelyn McCollough.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010, from the Chapel of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service with the Rev. Ray Cobb, of Triangle Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 W. Main Street, Durham.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311, http://www.diabetes.org/

Online condolences www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.

Alice Herndon Stephenson

DURHAM -- Mrs. Alice Herndon Stephenson, 81, died Thursday morning at Carver Living Center.

Mrs. Stephenson was born in Durham Co., the daughter of the late Aurelia Margaret Thomas Herndon and the late Theodore Cotton Herndon. Prior to her retirement, she was employed at Durham Drapery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sherwood Raythell Stephenson.

Mrs. Stephenson is survived by two sons, Tim Stephenson and wife, Debra, of Clarksville, Va. and Mike Stephenson and wife, Kay, of Bahama; two brothers, Paul Herndon and wife, Sally, of Durham and Tom Herndon of Durham; a housemate of many years, Kay Ladd; six grandchildren, Chris Stephenson, Emily Moorefield, Jared Stephenson, Kaylon Honeycutt, Brantley Stephenson and Katie Stephenson; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church with Dr. Rick Finley officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church, 515 Southerland St., Durham, NC 27703 or Duke Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Ste 101, Durham, NC 27704-2175.

Thank you to Carver Living Center for the many years of loving care.

Pauline 'Polly' Laws Stevens

DURHAM -- Pauline 'Polly' Laws Stevens died Monday, March 15, 2010, in Durham at the age of 88.

Born on July 20, 1921 in Orange County to Hattie and Clinney Laws, Mrs. Stevens was raised in Orange County and Sanford.

Polly had been a resident of Durham for the past 60 years. She worked for Owens-Illinois, Liggett and Myers, and Mr. Bryson, a local Durham Attorney. Mrs. Stevens was a member of Mount Sylvan United Methodist Church.

She is survived by three sons, Rick Stevens of Raleigh, Ron Stevens of Arlington, Texas, and Jerry Stevens of Hillsborough; a brother, Malcolm Laws of Lemon Springs; two sisters, Lillie Layton and Hattie Lou (Pat) O'Quinn of Sanford; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews.

Mrs. Stevens was a loving mother, grandmother and friend to all who met her. Affectionately known as "Mrs. Polly" and "Sister," she brought a smile to everyone.

There will be a memorial service Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church beginning at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive visitors following this service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church, 5731 Roxboro Rd., Durham, NC 27712 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814.

The family is being assisted in Durham by Clements Funeral Service, Inc.



ORANGE

Samuel M. Holton

CHAPEL HILL -- Dr. Samuel M. Holton, 87, of Chapel Hill, died on March 17, 2010.

Dr. Holton was born in Durham on May 29, 1922, the son of Holland and Lela Young Holton. He graduated from Durham High in 1938. He graduated from Duke University, New York University and Yale University where he received his Ph.D. in Education in 1948.

During World War II, he served in the US Army Air Corp in India and China as a meteorologist, leaving the service as a Captain. His academic career as a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill in the School of Education began in 1948, retiring in 1987. He was principal from 1953-1955 at Bartlett-Yancy High School in Yancyville while on professional leave from UNC. He wrote the textbook 'Understanding the American Public High School' and numerous education publications. He served on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board from 1968-1975. He was on the board of trustees of NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, and Goodwill Industries of Eastern NC. Sam was an Eagle Scout and a Boy Scout leader. He was awarded the Boy Scouts' highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award by the Occoneechee Council in 1966 for over 30 years of service to the Boy Scouts at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham. He was honored to be a member of the Kiwanis Club for over 50 years. Sam and his wife, Margaret, have established the Samuel M. Holton Distinguished Professorship in the UNC School of Education.

Sam is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Margaret Umberger Holton; his four children, Robert W. Holton and wife, Beverly, of Boone, Margaret (Meg) D. Holton and husband, Jerrel Kesling, of Chapel Hill, Grace H. Holton of Durham, Elizabeth (Betsy) H. Carmichael and husband, John, of Davidson; and six grandchildren, Lori A. and Kelly A. Holton of Boone, Alexander H. Kesling of Chapel Hill, and John Samuel 'Jack', Robert W. and Andrew H. Carmichael of Davidson; and two close cousins, Edith Murphy of Durham and Mary Grace Anderson of Kennesaw, Georgia. He was predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Winfred Quinton Holton and Holland Young Holton.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. The family will receive friends and family on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, Durham. A private family burial service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the School of Education Foundation, Inc., for the "Samuel M. Holton Distinguished Professorship in the School of Education," Attn: Wendy Borman, University of NC at Chapel Hill, 101 Peabody Hall, Campus Box 3500, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500, or to your local Boy Scout Council.

Arrangements for the Holton family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. www.hallwynne.com.



PERSON

Lacy Brooks Long

HURDLE MILLS -- Lacy Brooks Long, age 70, of 12091 Hurdle Mills Rd., Hurdle Mills, died Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Durham Regional Hospital.

Born in Person County, he was the son of the late Dewitt Lacy and Marie Brooks Long.

He was a retired farmer, and later was employed as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years.

He was a retired member of the Hurdle Mills Volunteer Fire Department and had served in the U.S. National Guard.

Mr. Long was a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Barbara Eidson Long, of the home; two daughters, Suzanne L. Vaughn, and husband, Michael, of Cary, and Marcie L. Landrum and husband, Barry, of Indian Trail; two grandchildren, Rachel Brooks Vaughn, and Megan Marie Landrum; one sister, Ann Long Hawkins and husband, Dan, of Hurdle Mills; two nieces, Luanne Hawkins Ellis and husband, Roy, and Dena Hawkins Kennedy and husband, Mike; a great nephew, Dusty Ellis; a great niece, Sarah Kennedy.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Mt.

Zion United Methodist Church. The Pastor Edgar De Jesus and the Rev. Norma Walters will be officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church New Fellowship Hall at 135 Clay Long Rd. Hurdle Mills.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Building Fund c/o Betty Jean Horton, 497 Long's Store Rd. Roxboro, NC 27574.

Condolences may be sent online at www.brooksandwhite.com

Emmett P. Wilkerson Jr.

ROXBORO -- Emmett P. Wilkerson Jr., 56, of Mill Hill Road died Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Duke Medical Center.

He was born in Person County on August 17, 1953. Emmett was preceded in death by his father, E. Payne Wilkerson. He was a member of the Roxboro Baptist Church.

Emmett was president and operator of both Roxboro Builders Supply and E.M.

Wilkerson and Son (the family construction company started by his father and grandfather in 1951). He was also a member of the National Association of Home Builders; the Elks BPO Lodge No. 2005, the Roxboro Country Club where he had served as president; and a lifetime member and past president of the Roxboro Jaycees.

Emmett loved traveling with his wife, Judy; weekend trips to the beach; socializing with his brothers at the Elks Lodge; and cheering passionately for his beloved UNC Tar Heels.

Survivors include his wife, Judy C. Wilkerson of the home; his mother, Anne Brandon Wilkerson of Roxboro; one son, Jason Wilkerson and wife, Erica, of Roxboro; one daughter, Jennifer W. Fish and husband, Phillip, of Roxboro; two step children, Austin Bowen and Ashley Bowen of the home; one brother, Tracy Wilkerson and wife, Barbara, of Pilot Mountain; one sister, Libby W. Wilson and husband, Richard, of Greensboro; five grandchildren, Tyler, Jacob, and Aiden Fish and Haley and Jordan Wilkerson; and extended family.

The memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Roxboro Baptist Church with the Rev. DuPree Sanders officiating. Burial will be in the Burchwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Phillip Allen, Carl Stonebraker, Noell Tillett, Randall Long, Mac Wagstaff, David Whitt, Tony Stevens, and Terry Allen. Honorary pallbearers will be his Elks brothers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Brooks & White Funeral Home and other times at the home of his mother,

546 John D. Winstead Road, Roxboro.

Memorials may be made to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, P.O.

Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710 or The Roxboro Baptist Church, Forward By Faith Building Fund, P.O. Box 348, Roxboro NC 27573.

Condolences may be made to brooksandwhite.com.



WAKE

Carson T. Brame

APEX -- Carson T. Brame, age 56, died at home on March 16, 2010.

He was born to Marshall and Helen Brame on July 17, 1953 in Durham County.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 21, 2010, at Mt.

Pisgah Baptist Church, 1334 Mt. Pisgah Church Rd., Apex.

He is survived by his children, Tommy and Lisa Marie; brothers, Marshall Brame Jr. and his wife, Emma, of Roxboro and Robert Brame and his wife, Marshae, of Zebulon; and four grandchildren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

On line condolences may be made to www.apexfuneral.com



ELSEWHERE

Iley Baker 'Trip' Browning III





BALTIMORE, MD. -- Dr. Browning died March 11, 2010 with his loving family by his side at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was 54 years of age.

He was born in Evansville, Indiana and subsequently lived in Durham, as well as Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Trip was the devoted husband of Doctor Pamela Kay Smith whom he met during medical school and married on July 17, 1981. He was a good father and role model to his two sons, James A. and Christian H. Browning. Trip was a wonderful cook, a passionate wine connoisseur and loved to travel.

Trip was an extraordinary student and an exemplary physician. He was a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall, a Morehead Scholar and received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Subsequently, he performed his internship, residency and fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine through the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.

He was a board certified physician in the American Board of Pediatrics and Pediatric Pulmonology.

After fellowship he joined the Duke University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Pulmonary Diseases from 1988-1998.

There he was the director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Pulmonary Fellowship program, Co-Director of the Duke Cystic Fibrosis Center, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Lung Transplant Program.

He moved to Corpus Christi, Texas in 1998 where he began a Pediatric Pulmonary Division at Driscoll Children's Hospital. There he worked tirelessly to improve the medical care for many children in South Texas and was a founder and the medical director for Camp Easy Breathers, a summer camp for children with asthma.

During his practice there he was thanked by parents and children for saving and improving the quality of their lives.

Trip was affiliated with 10 other Texas hospitals and clinics and was an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Texas A&M University Medical School. Recently he became an Associate Professor and Division Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

He was also an author and co-author of many articles and papers in pediatrics and pulmonology.

Trip is survived by his wife; and sons; as well as his sisters, Graeme Browning of Bethesda, Maryland, Lowry Browning (and Tim O'Neill) of White Salmon, Washington, and Winlock Brown (and Steven) of Golden, Colorado. Trip was the son of the late Iley B. Browning Jr., and Elizabeth Lowry Browning.

A funeral service will be performed at Saint James Episcopal Church in Belhaven on Saturday, March the 20th at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Smithton Cemetery in Smithton.

The following will serve as pallbearers: Dr. Christopher O'Connor, Mr. Ryan O'Connor, Mr. James Browning, Mr. Charles Dewey, Mr. Tim O'Neill and Dr. Staley Moore.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at Paul Funeral Home in Belhaven, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March the 19th. Charitable donations may be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Online condolences may be sent to www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Lindbergh Nathaniel Bailey





DURHAM -- Mr. Lindbergh Nathaniel Bailey, 80, of Durham, departed this life Sunday, March 14 at the Hock Family Pavilion Center in Durham.

Funeral services will be Thursday, March 18 at 1 p.m. at Peace Missionary Baptist Church, 2608 Apex Hwy.

Visitation will be one hour prior at noon.

He was a lifelong resident of Durham. In 1953 he was united in marriage to Dora M. Bailey, who preceded him in death. Together they were the proud parents of four children. One son, Curtis W. Bailey, also preceded him in death.

He retired in 1986 after 31 years of service from the A&P Food Stores. In 1998 he retired from the Town and Country Pantry on Fayetteville St.

Lindbergh joined Rogers Grove Baptist Church at an early age and was a devoted member most of his adult life. He later joined Peace Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his daughter, Janice (Claude) Gentry; and sons, Carroll (Loretta) Bailey and Stanley (Tonya) Bailey, all of Durham; granddaughters, Claudette (Shaun) Harris, of Stone Mountain, Ga., Natasha, Noel, Destiny and Kaitlyn Bailey of Durham; grandsons, Stephen Gentry, and Jack Miller of Durham; great grandchildren, Nicholas and Dani Harris and Isaiah Bailey; sisters, Vermon Weeks of Linden, N.J. and Azella Powell of Baltimore, Md.; and a host of relatives and friends.

Services entrusted to Holloway Funeral Home.

Robert E. Cowan





DURHAM -- Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert E. Cowan, 78, joined his departed comrades in arms on March 14, 2010.

He passed peacefully at the VA Medical Center in Durham, with his wife by his side.

Born in Fort Totten, N.Y. he was the second son of his late parents Lt. Col (Ret.) William Norman Cowan and Elva Meeks Cowan. He spent the early part of his life in Fort Hamilton, N.Y. -- the headquarters of the famous Big Red One, the First Infantry Division. Col. Cowan began his military career in 1950 when he was sworn into the Army Reserves by his father who organized the Army reserves in the Western part of NC shortly after World War II. During the Korean War Col. Cowan asked for active duty and was sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia as an MP. In 1954 he applied for OCS and graduated as a 2nd Lt. in the Infantry. Three years later he was integrated into the Regular Army.

Col. Cowan served in numerous places in the states and overseas. Assignments overseas included the Third Armored Division in Germany, the 82nd Airborne Division in the Dominican Republic and advisor to the Liberian Army's Kennedy's Battalion. He also served two tours in Vietnam.

Col. Cowan received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, five awards of the Air Medal, two Bronze Stars and the Meritorious Service Medal during his service.

Col. Cowan graduated from Austin High School in El Paso, Texas in 1949 and from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1953. After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1976, he taught high school Vocational Education for 21 years and earned a Masters of Education from North Carolina State in 1979. He retired from teaching in January, 1998.

He was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and was an active member of the Triangle Chapter 637 and Western NC Chapter 844 where he presented leadership awards to high school JROTC, and ROTC at Duke, UNC and NC State. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and also the Disabled American Veterans. He volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity and his students built a home for them while he was teaching at Chapel Hill High School.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Walker Cowan; two daughters and a son, Nancy McBride Cowan and her husband, Gene Kresge, of Denver, N.C., Cynthia Diane Cowan of Carrboro, Michael Duncan Cowan of Greensboro; and five grandchildren, Meghan Cowan, Shannon Cowan, Jessica Cowan, Nancy (Alex) Kresge and Eugene (Trey) Kresge III; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, 2nd Lt. William Norman Cowan Jr., who was killed in a Fort Bragg training accident in 1952.

The family would like to thank the staff of CLC1 of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham for the excellent care he received during his five years with them.

Family visitation will be held at Carrboro United Methodist Church at noon on Friday, March 19 with funeral services following at 1 p.m. One week later a memorial service has been planned in Hickory. Family visitation will be held at the Bass-Smith Funeral Home at noon, Saturday, March 27, followed by a service at 1 p.m. A military ceremony will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity are requested.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.cremnc.com.

Walter L. Dash

DURHAM -- Walter L. Dash, 59, departed his life on March 15, 2010.

He is survived by his wife, Rosa B. Dash; three children; a brother; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Greater Walltown UHC, 706 Belvin Ave., Durham, with visitation at 11 a.m.

Ralph R. Ragan

DURHAM -- Mr. Ralph R. Ragan, 80, died Monday at the VA Hospital.

Mr. Ragan was born in Granville Co., the son of the late Ann Dean Ragan and the late Brodie Edward Ragan. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving during Korean Conflict. Mr. Ragan owned and operated a janitorial service prior to his retirement.

Mr. Ragan is survived by his wife, Peggy Lou Barker Ragan; and a brother, Thomas Edward Ragan of Burlington.

Memorial services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church with the Rev. Brooks Gale officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Service in Durham.

James Ernest Thompson





DURHAM -- Mr. James Ernest Thompson, the fourth child of Frank and Maude Thompson, peacefully departed this life the morning of March 11, 2010 at Winthrop Hospital in Long Island, New York after a brief illness.

He leaves to mourn a loving and devoted wife of 15 years, Joan Thompson of Westbury, New York; four children by a previous marriage, Karen Thompson, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kimberly T. Wells (Donald), Topeka, Kansas, James Fitzgerald Thompson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Sandy Thompson of Trenton, New Jersey; three brothers, Frank E. Thompson Jr. Long Island, New York, Alexander Thompson, Grantville, Pennsylvania, Willie Thompson, Long Branch, New Jersey; four sisters, Sandra T. Shuler and Judy T. Kirk, Durham, Sadie T. Brown, Charleston, South Carolina, Uva T. Lee, Asbury Park, New Jersey: seven nephews; 13 nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 18, 2010, at noon at Rogers Grove Baptist Church on Baptist Road off Highway 98 in Durham. Visitation with friends begins at 11 a.m., one hour prior to the service. Professional services provided by Holloway Funeral Home.

Danridge 'Dan' Hudgins Wilkinson Sr.





DURHAM -- Danridge "Dan" Hudgins Wilkinson Sr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, March, 14, 2010 at his home.

Dan was born in Durham on August 25, 1920 to John Walker and Mary Pearl Wray Wilkinson.

Dan graduated from Durham High School and then served in the Army. He was stationed in the Philippines with the Signal Corps during WWII. Throughout his life he worked in construction, building everything from barracks in Fayetteville to home construction. He worked with his brother for the TW Wilkinson construction company in Durham. He then took a job with the Dupont Chemical Company in construction of the Savannah River Nuclear Weapons facility where he had the distinction of being the youngest construction foreman. He then returned to Durham and formed the DH Wilkinson Construction Company as well as DH Wilkinson Rentals. In addition to his other accomplishments he built his two primary residents that housed his family through the years. He was manager of the Durham Shrine Club on N Roxboro Road, and he worked at West View Storage in Durham, retiring in January of 2009.

Dan was an active member Carr United Methodist Church. An important part of Dan's life was being a devoted mason in the Scottish Rite achieving the 32nd Degree. He was also a Shriner involved in the Sudan Temple and participated in all fundraising activities to fund the Shriners' crippled children's hospitals. He was awarded Shriner of the year and received an award of achievement for his contributions from the Sudan Temple Crippled Children's' activity committee.

Dan was a loving husband and father. His greatest accomplishment was the outstanding support and devotion to Flo, his wife of 62 years, and his four children. He also had a special love for children and animals, both of whom were naturally drawn to him. He was a very active and strong man, but also very gentle with a good heart. He was known for his great sense of humor and enjoyed his weekly card games with friends.

Dan is survived by a son, Dan Wilkinson Jr. and wife, Jane, of Rockwell; daughters, Carol West and husband, Jerry, of Oxford, MaryAnn Hamm and husband, James, of Bahama; grandchildren, Alissa Trollinger (Brian), David Crichton Jr., Daniel Wilkinson (Lauren), Hannah Hamm Horne (Scott), and Emily Hamm; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Adam, Jack Walker, Max Danridge, and Hailee. Dan also leaves behind his special friend and companion of 13 years, his dog, Ellie Mae. He is predeceased by his wife, Flora Belle Garrell Wilkinson; and his son, Jamie Wilkinson.

The family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the devoted and kind caregivers who loved, laughed with and attended to our father in his last days. We will be forever grateful to you, Jaclynn, Mary, Erika and Judy.

Dan is now with Flora Belle, his Beautiful Flower.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dan's name may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford, NC 27565 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010 in Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church, 5731 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham. The Rev. Tom Greener and Kathie Wilkinson will officiate. Interment will follow at Maplewood City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.

Online memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries.



GRANVILLE

John Wallace Cozart

CREEDMOOR -- John Wallace Cozart, a resident of 3211 Winston Road, Durham, was born August 4, 1917, and died March 15, 2010.

He was one of eight children born to the late Mr. W.E. Cozart and wife, Josie Lillian Cozart. He was a retired electrician, also World War II Veteran serving with the U.S. Army, South Pacific.

Preceding him in death in 2008 was his beloved wife of 59 years, Frances Averette Cozart.

Surviving are his daughter, Paula Shaw and husband, Craig; son, John Wesley Cozart; daughter-in-law, Kathy; four grandchildren, Melissa Ann Cozart, Myra Shaw, Ryan Shaw and wife, Sandy, and Karyn Shaw.

He and his wife were long time members of Braggtown Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010 at Eakes Funeral Home Chapel in Creedmoor by the Rev. Chris Teseniar. Burial will be in Carolina Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. prior to the funeral services.

Online condolences may be sent to www.eakesfuneralhome.com. Select obits.

Live To Love and Love To Live.

-- John W. Cozart 8/20/02

Phillita H. Harris

OXFORD -- Phillita H. Harris, 35, a resident of 107 Hazelwood Court, died Sunday at her home.

She was the daughter of Philip Harris and Barbara Cates Harris.

She was a member of New Hope Granville Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was a 1992 graduate of J.F. Webb High School and a 1998 graduate of North Carolina Central University. In 2009 she received a master's degree in Education Administration from North Carolina Central University. She was a teacher at Dabney Elementary School in Vance County.

Other survivors include a husband, Maurice Harris Sr.; a son, Maurice Harris Jr.; and a brother, Robert Harris, Washington, D.C.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 3 p.m. at New Hope Granville Baptist Church by the Rev. James Isaac III. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Viewing will be Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, and at other times at the residence of her parents, Phillip and Barbara Harris, 3705 Salem Road in Oxford.

Flowers are acceptable or donations may be made to the Maurice Harris Jr. Education Fund at SunTrust Bank.



ORANGE

Pearson H. Stewart





CHAPEL HILL -- Pearson H. Stewart, 90, of Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, died March 14.

Mr. Stewart was the first Vice-President of the Research Triangle Foundation and the first Executive Director of the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission and its successor agency, the Triangle J Council of Governments.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was a history graduate of Amherst College and earned a master's degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During World War II he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Bronze Star for aerial photographic services on carriers in the Pacific Ocean.

After urban planning directorships in Knoxville, Tennessee; Passaic, New Jersey; and Warwick, Rhode Island, he spent most of his professional career in Chapel Hill and elsewhere in North Carolina.

He was a planning consultant for the cities of Fayetteville and Hickory, a research associate in the Institute for Research in Social Science at UNC-CH, the director of a special hurricane rehabilitation project for eastern North Carolina after the mid-1950s hurricanes, and a lecturer in the Department of City and Regional Planning at UNC-CH. He was the third full-time staff member of the Research Triangle effort, joining the staff in 1958, where he was responsible for the physical form and character of the Research Triangle Park. He established the Triangle area's first regional planning agency, the RTRPC and TJCOG. From 1977 to 1983 he was Assistant Secretary for Planning in the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In 1983 he returned to the Research Triangle Foundation, where he remained until his retirement in 1990.

He was the second president of the Triangle Land Conservancy; was a named consultant to the North Carolina Botanical Garden; served terms as chair of the Southeast and North Carolina Chapters of the American Planning Association; and was active on several Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, State of North Carolina and TJCOG boards and committees.

In 1989 he was named Volunteer of the Year by the TJCOG. In 1990 the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association awarded him its Distinguished Service Award. In 1996 the Town of Chapel Hill named one of its Appearance Awards "The Jean and Pearson Stewart Award."

He was married to the former Jean Baker who died in 2000. They had observed their 53rd wedding anniversary on October 12, 1999.

After his wife's death he volunteered for several years on a regular basis as a counselor for a prisoner at the Orange Correctional Center, as a tutor in mathematics for a pupil at the Orange Literacy Council and as a visitor for many elderly friends at the Carolina Meadows and Carol Woods Health Centers.

Surviving are his son, Colin E. Stewart, and daughter-in-law, Susan Stewart, of Laguna Beach, California; his daughter, Jean C. Stewart, of Marshfield, Massachusetts; three grandchildren and their spouses, Matthew and Natasha Stewart, Paul Stewart and Dr. Lara Davis, and Rebecca and Dan Persson; two great-grandchildren, Abby and Juliet; and two brothers, David of Shirley, Massachusetts and Reed of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and their families. His brother, Oswald died in 2009.

A memorial service will be held in the Carol Woods Assembly Hall at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Memorials may be made to the Triangle Land Conservancy, to the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and to the Carol Woods Employee Appreciation Fund.

Arrangements made by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. On-line condolences at www.cremnc.com.



WAKE

James Prince Pendergrass





RALEIGH -- James Prince Pendergrass, LT_USNR-Fleet Reserve, passed away on March 15th.

Prince was a longtime resident of Old Laurel Hills, Raleigh. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janie McFarling Pendergrass; two sons, James and his wife, Beth, and Andrew and his wife, Barbara; daughter, Suzanne Wallace; three grandchildren, Matthew, Daniel and Lindsay; five great'grandchildren; and sisters, Dot Kelly and Patricia Williams. He was preceded in death by brothers, Watts and Coye; sisters, Josephine Horner and Agnes Lee Edwards; great-grandchild, Jack Michael Pendergrass; and in his words 'the best mother-in-law that ever lived", Bonnie Belle Markham McFarling.

Prince was born in 1927 and raised in Durham County, a child of the Depression. He attended Hope Valley School, graduating as valedictorian in 1944, of a class in which any number of his classmates could have also been valedictorian. He quickly joined the US Navy as a regular. While in radioman school, he showed natural talent for high-speed morse code and crypto, thus the Navy assigned him to a select group of oldtimer radiomen, mostly pre-war veterans, people that had served in old Shanghai, up the Yangtze and out in the Gobi Desert. They taught him well and he progressed through the ranks to RM2, then to Communications Technician First Class, and from there he received a direct commission to LTjg, followed by promotion to full Lieutenant. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, and after release to inactive duty remained in the Reserves, first as Ready Reserve, then In-active Reserve, and finally at age 60 moved into Fleet Reserve.

During the break between WWII and Korean War, Prince attended UNC-Chapel Hill and by going 24/7/12, plus taking one correspondence course, completed the course requirements for his BS Geology in two years nine months and was immediately sent to Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands. Some reward!

After the Korean War, Prince worked for the NC Department of Transportation, Materials and Tests Unit, putting in 32 years. His main work was in Portland Cement concrete, where he was very involved with the beginnings of the use of pre-stressed concrete by NCDOT. The latter half of his career was spent as Area Materials Engineer for eastern half of the State, in which he had an outstanding run, but hey, he had Sallie, he had Tas, Lee, Haywood, Ronald, Bill, Gerald, Bobby'.the list goes on and on. Anything less than outstanding would not have been acceptable.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. at Old Chapel Hill Cemetery in Chapel Hill. Family will receive friends on Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh.

Memorial Contributions can be sent to Wake County SPCA, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC.

Condolences to www.MitchellatRMP.com.



ELSEWHERE

Robert 'Bob'/'Mr A' W. Anderson





ROCKY MOUNT -- Robert "Bob, 'Mr A'" W. Anderson, passed away Monday, March 15, 2010.

He was born September 15, 1935 in Roxboro, the only son of the late Robert Andrew Anderson and Ola Frances Wilkins Anderson. He was predeceased by granddaughter, Brianna Michelle Turner; and sister-in-law, Joanna Lynn Keith.

Bob graduated from Roxboro High School and went on to serve two years in the U.S. Army. He later attended Campbell University, East Carolina Business School and Carolina School of Pharmacy.

He worked at Broad Street Drug and Eckerds Drug Store in Durham.

He met his wife, Judy while at Broad Street Drug and married in September, 1962.

He joined Ayerst Laboratories and moved to Rocky Mount in 1966. For a short while he was in real estate with John High Co. He and other partners started TOBO Sounds Music Store located in Fairview Shopping Center. As a member of a local band he played rhythm guitar. Eventually he became 'Mr A' in a joint venture with his wife Judy caring for after school kids. His love of sports started many young athletes in soccer, football and softball, many of whom went on to excel in these sports.

He continued working behind the scene after heart surgery, maintaining the vans, handling computers and keeping supplies for the Englewood After School Child Care and filling in for absent drivers up to last week. His main love for years, outside his family, was golf, spending many hours with friends at Birchwood Golf Club. After back surgery, golf took a back seat and fishing became a primary activity with Judy on Saturday or Sunday afternoons at Gaston Lake. He often took his grandchildren on many fishing and swimming trips.

Family was important and so were friends. He will be missed by all who shared their lives with him.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Judith K. (Judy or 'Mrs. A') Anderson; daughter, Sandra Anderson Turner (husband, Scott Turner); son, Robert Mikel Anderson (wife, Amanda Hudson Anderson); grandchildren, Christian Turner, Samantha and Wesley Anderson; mother-in-law, Katherine S. Summerlin of the home; sister-in-law, Dianne K. Goude (husband, Jimmy Goude) of Dorchester, S.C.; nephews, Bryan and Geoffrey Call of Charleston, S.C.; and many friends and relatives and all the afterschool children and parents whose lives he touched over the last 20 years.

A service to celebrate the life of Bob 'Mr A' will be 11 a.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Englewood United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Benson and the Rev. Johnny Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Englewood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 7128, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 301 Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, NC.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount. You may share your memories and send the family condolences online by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.

Mary Elizabeth Gurganus Hart

FT. MYERS, FLA. -- Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Gurganus Hart, 91, died March 11, 2010 in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Mrs Hart was born July 29, 1918, in Lenoir County, to the late Onwood Battle and Mary Tilghman Gurganus. When she was a young girl her family settled in Durham and she graduated from Durham High School in 1936.

Following graduation she worked for the Durham Telephone Company, and during WWII with the U.S. Navy Pre-Flite School in Chapel Hill. Following the war Lib was employed by the Commissioner of the National Association of Minor League Baseball, Judge Branham, in Durham. The Association moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1947 following Judge Branham's death. The new Commissioner, George M. Troutman, requested that Lib continue working for the Association. She continued this intersting work for the Commissioner for 26 years, traveling to Panama, Canada, Central America, and various other locations to settle problems and differences within the organization. When the Association moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., Lib chose to remain in Columbus and worked for the CPA firm of Bolon, Hart, and Buehler until her retirement.

On May 25, 1984, she married Wesley M. Hart of Columbus. They began spending winters in Florida, and moved to Ft. Myers permanently in 1989. They enjoyed traveling and visiting with family and friends, and were a perfect example of generosity, love, caring, and sharing of their blessings.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 20 years; her brothers, Eugene Gurganus, Morrison Gurganus, Charles Gurganus; and sister, Hilda Inscoe. A dear friend, Jeanne Sullivan, whom she cared for until her death, also preceded her.

Surviving are brothers, Joseph and wife, Pat, of North Carolina and Robert Gurganus and wife, Deborah, of Tennessee. Also surviving are Wesley's children, Carol Hart Covert, Edward B. Hart, Ellen Hart Wyche; and Wesley's sister, Emma Ruth Thornton; and five grandsons; many nephews and nieces.

Lib was a member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to her favorite charity, Hope Hospice.

There will be a service at a later date in Columbus.

Lib, was a lady of style, grace, independence, and strong-willed; and will be greatly missed by all.

Susan E. LaDue

SPRINGFIELD, MASS -- Susan E. LaDue, 64, of Springfield, died Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at her home.

Born in Springfield, June 14, 1945, Susan was the daughter of the late Willard and Harriett (Brown) LaDue. She attended Springfield schools and graduated from Cathedral High School. Susan worked as a cashier and bookkeeper in the grocery industry. She most recently worked at Shaws in Enfield, Conn. and had worked for the former Finast and Edwards grocery stores before they became a part of Shaws.

Susan was a lifelong learner who enjoyed learning something new every day. She was particularly fond of words and word games. She also enjoyed gardening, had a tremendous love of food and cooking, the beach and the outdoors in general. Susan loved teaching and working with children. She especially loved to see the sparkle in a child's eye as he or she experienced something new.

Susan is survived by her children, Jeffrey Blanchard and his wife, Dorothy, of Agawam, Mass., Denise Grant and her husband, Mark, of Durham; her five grandchildren, Spencer Grant, Harrison Grant, Samuel Grant, Shawn Blanchard and Lauren Blanchard; her brother, Bruce LaDue of Monson; three sisters, Simone Greco of Feeding Hills, Sarah Sanders of Hampden, and Cathy Proulx of Monson; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Calling hours for Susan will be Thursday from 4 until 7 p.m. at Dickinson-Streeter Funeral Home, 305 State Street, Springfield. The funeral will be at the funeral home, Friday at 10 a.m. with burial to follow in Springfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MASS 01701.

Barbara Cart Macauley

DANBURY, CONN. -- Barbara Cart Macauley, a resident of Chapel Hill for 28 years, died March 10.

Mrs. Macauley was 82 and had been a resident of Meadow Ridge Independent Living in Redding, Conn. since July of last year.

Born July 6, 1927 in Trenton, N.J., Mrs. Macauley was the daughter of Theodore S. Cart, founder of Atlantic Products Corp., pioneer in the manufacture of zippered luggage and golf bags; and Dorothy Wilson Cart, also of Trenton.

A graduate of Bennington College (Vermont), Mrs. Macauley was a former resident of Princeton N.J. and New Hope Pa. After moving to Chapel Hill in 1981, she was the first director of exhibitions for the Wilson Library's Rare Book Collection at the University of North Carolina.

Mrs. Macauley is survived by Michael Macauley, her husband of 58 years, of Redding; a son, John C.W. Macauley, of Wilton Conn.; one brother, Theodore W. Cart of Blooming Grove, Pa.; and grandchildren, James E. Macauley of Atlanta, Margaret W. Macauley of Boston, and Katherine A. Macauley of Wilton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be sent c/o Chapel of the Cross Memorial Fund, 304 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. Please specify 'Memorials for Barbara Macauley'.

Dr. Jerry Augustus Privette





CONCORD -- Jerry Augustus Privette, 73, born in Jefferson County, S.C. on May 3, 1936, departed this world and entered his "Father's House" on March, 15, 2010.

At 1:39 a.m., Jerry was reunited with his parents, the Reverend Henry Augustus and Attie Pauline Horton Privette; his brother, Herman Winfield Privette; and niece, Katherine Colette Privette. Jerry took his last breath in the arms of the "love of his life," his faithful and devoted wife of

54 years, Linda Bost Privette and then fell into the arms of his loving Father where he now is finally released.

Jerry Privette is a graduate of Concord High School and Furman University. He completed his Master of Divinity and PhD. degrees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He served churches in South Carolina, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida and Texas and Tennessee. Jerry worked as a consultant in the Architectural Department at the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee and then later served as Professor of Christian Education at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas for 21 years.

Dr. Privette lived his life with profound gratitude for the beauty of music, the wonder of nature, and the privilege of learning, especially from the depths of Scripture. He shared these pleasures with his wife, Linda, as they traveled and camped within the United States and Canada and visited family and friends.

Jerry's ultimate fulfillment was in living out his calling as a teacher to "future teachers" in the seminary classroom. His gift was identifying with his students because he knew firsthand the daunting and unending triumphs and failures of being a good father, husband, student and pastor.

Outside the classroom, and especially in later years, Jerry led a rather private and unassuming life. It was in this life, with his wife and in his faith, that he found meaning and contentment.

In addition to his parents and brother, Jerry was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Samuel and Ethel Gregory Horton of Pageland, S.C.; and paternal grandparents, Henry L. and Sallie B. Privette of Matthews.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Bost Privette; four children, Martin Lewis Privette (Sharon) of Gallatin, Tenn., Cynthia Elizabeth Privette (Rob Davis) of Max Meadows, Va., Katherine P. Reavis of Durham, Gary Winfield Privette of Nashville, Tenn.; sisters, Phyllis Willis (Lowell) of Matthews, Dianne Cranford of Concord; and brothers, Malcolm (Denise) Privette of Gainesville, Fla., Dr. Douglas (Terry) Privette of Greenville, Alton Privette (Judy) of Oriental; seven grandchildren, Travis and Dallas Ross, Tara Ross McCants, Timothy and Seth Reavis, Hope and Paige Privette; two great granddaughters, Ava Elizabeth McCants, Walker Anne Ross; seven nieces; and five nephews.

Pallbearers: Grandsons: Travis Ross, Dallas Ross, Tim Reavis, Seth Reavis and nephews: Robert Privette and Michael Privette.

Funeral services for Dr. Jerry A. Privette are Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church, 561 Union Cemetery Rd, Concord, with internment at Carolina Memorial Park, 601 Mt. Olivet Rd, Kannapolis. Visitation is Wednesday, March 17, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. Wilkinson

Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County,

5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28021 or Southside Baptist Church, 561 Union Cemetery Rd. Concord, NC 28027.

On-Line condolences may be left at www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com

Wilkinson Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for the Privette family.