Eleanor June Ferris Davis
Eleanor June Ferris Davis, 94, of Wake Forest died Friday afternoon, November 27, 2009, after a brief illness. She was born June 30, 1915 in Blue Ash, Ohio, and was the daughter of the late Ernest and Lucy Marvin Ferris and the wife of the late Junius Everett Davis.
During World War II, Mrs. Davis served as a volunteer with the Red Cross in various military hospitals in England, Guam and Saipan from 1940-1945. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, where she lived from 1950 through 1995. Currently she was a member of the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Women’s Circle of both churches.
Mrs. Davis was the proud mother of Junius (Rett) Davis and wife, Janice, of Burlington and Lucy Davis Deeprose and husband, Robert, of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Laura Deeprose of Baltimore, Md., Caroline Deeprose of Wake Forest, Emily Davis Cates and husband, Jon, of Toronto, Canada,and Jennifer Davis Church and husband, Seth, of Hays. She was preceded in death by her sister Hazel Guilford Ferris.
Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, November 30, 2009, at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Hartman officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery, Greensboro.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 100 North Peartree Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Melissa Jo Bullock Godfrey
Georgia Leigh Godfrey
John Wyatt “Fatboy” Godfrey
Melissa Jo Bullock-Godfrey, 26, Georgia Leigh Godfrey, 5, and John Wyatt “Fatboy” Godfrey, 4, of Louisburg, died Wednesday, November 25, 2009, from injuries received in an auto accident.
A graveside funeral service was held at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, November 29, 2009, at Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton with the Rev. Al Thomas officiating.
Melissa Jo is survived by her husband, John W. Godfrey; her parents, Eddie R. Bullock of Creedmoor and Gina J. Harrington of Cary; grandparents, Lynn Crosley of Utah and Linda Johnson of Durham; sisters, Jennifer Harrington and Tabitha Harrington of Cary; and brother, Westley Harrington, of Cary. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Gene Johnson.
Georgia and Wyatt are survived by their father, John W. Godfrey; grandparents, Tony and Cindy Godfrey of Creedmoor, Gina Harrington of Cary and Eddie Bullock of Creedmoor; aunts and uncles, Candace “Nana” Godfrey, Holly Mulchi, Jennifer Harrington, Tabitha Harrington and Westley Harrington.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Godfrey Family Fund, c/o Tony Gray, 102 Williams Street, Franklinton, NC 27525.
Pallbearers were Richard Daoust, Craig Clark, Darrell Jones, Jamie Brown, Paul Privette and Eddie Martin.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Hannah Grace Pearce
Hannah Grace Pearce was born November 26, 2009, and was able to feel the touch and hear the voices of her parents, Shawn and Jennifer Pearce of Youngsville, as they welcomed her into this world, in her brief 24 minutes with her earthly parents before going home to be with the Lord.
Their faith is strong and they will certainly need brothers and sisters in Christ in the days ahead to help them through. Hannah’s presence and memory will continue to live in their hearts as they share her story with her sister Mallie, her grandparents and other family and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. at Poplar Spring Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in Hannah’s memory to Poplar Spring Baptist Church, 89 Brantleytown Road, Zebulon, North Carolina 27597, 496-3919.
Arrangements by Bright Funeral & Cremation Center.
Elaine Ruby “Laina” Parker
Elaine Ruby “Laina” Parker, infant daughter of Sarah and Carley Parker of Youngsville, passed away Monday, November 23, 2009, at Durham Regional Hospital.
A graveside funeral service was held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, November 25, 2009, at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hurdle Mills.
In addition to her parents, Laina is survived by her grandparents, Leslie and Elaine Simmons of Rolesville and Carlton and Barbara Parker of Hurdle Mills; great-grandparents, Lois P. Bailey of Rolesville and Bill and Grace Parker of Rougemont. She was preceded in death by great-grandparents Chesley Bailey and Jeff and Bessie Parker.
Memorial contributions may be made to Walnut Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 7215 Walnut Grove Church Road, Hurdle Mills, N.C. 27541.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Carole Dixon Bottoms
Carole Dixon Bottoms, 70, of Raleigh, died peacefully Monday, November 23, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family.
Born in Raleigh on August 27, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Roy Ernest Dixon and Frances Bell Dixon, who preceded her in death.
Carole was a 1992 graduate of Meredith College. Those who came to know and be touched by Carole would agree she was a source of love, full of compassion and had a caring spirit. She will be missed by all, but the memories will remain. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Wake County for making her last days as peaceful and comfortable as possible.
urvivors include her husband, Claude Bryant Bottoms Jr., her sisters, Gail Stowe of Gastonia and Patricia Dixon of Durham; her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Clay Davidson of Raleigh; her son and daughter-in-law, David and Patricia Bottoms of Overland Park, Kansas; grandsons, Matthew and Michael Davidson; and granddaughters, Merrill and Shelby Bottoms as well as a niece and three nephews.
A graveside celebration of Carole’s life was held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, November 25, 2009, at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Raleigh with the Rev. Jesse Bowles and the Rev. Meta Ellington officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County Foundation, 205 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, 3808 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 or to Warmth for Wake P.O. Box 46833, Raleigh, NC 27620 or through any Wake County Wachovia Bank branch.
Arrangements by Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Donald D. Bates
Donald Duane Bates, “Don,” age 73, of Wake Forest died of lymphoma on Friday, November 27, 2009, at WakeMed Hospital, Raleigh. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Born on June 18, 1936, in Baltimore, Md., Don was the second son of John Ormond Bates and Edna McInnes Bates. He was preceded in death by both parents and his brother, Robert Vincent Bates.
He was educated at the Gilman School in Baltimore as a youth, and then graduated in 1955 from St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Md. Upon his high school graduation, Don attended the University of Maryland at College Park. He left to serve in the United States Army for two years, and then resumed his studies at University of Maryland at College Park, graduating in 1962 with a bachelor of science degree in education for industry.
He was a sales engineer for his entire career, specializing in commercial heating and cooling, energy conservation, and energy efficiency. Having worked first for Powers Regulator Company, he went on to work for Johnson Controls Inc., retiring after 16 years. Always a man to stay busy, he then worked for Siebe Environmental Controls. After leaving Siebe, he served as an independent consultant to the HVAC industry right up until his death.
Don very much enjoyed volunteering his time to his church and his community. He was a member of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church and served on various advisory boards for the Town of Wake Forest, including the Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Adjustment. Over the years, he was a life member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity; a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the Lions Club of Wake Forest; the Kiwanis Club of Mobile, Ala.; the Boys Club of Mobile, Ala.; and Big Brothers of Baltimore, Md. In 1973, he received the Greater Baltimore Big Brother of the Year award.
Always a handy man, he learned mostly by doing, through trial and error. He loved using tools, woodworking, cooking, restoring his old home, fishing, photography, and collecting the unusual, especially old clocks. He was adored by his grandchildren, children, nieces and nephews, and was known as a family man. He was considered a friend by all who met him.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nancy Best Bates; sister, Patricia Bates Cook and husband, Arnold “Arnie” Edward Cook of Savannah, Ga.; daughter, Stephanie Bates Kaeberlein and husband, Christopher Patrick Kaeberlein, of Wake Forest; daughter, Lauren Bates Blue and husband, Robert Elliot Blue, of Greensboro; son, Eric John Bates and wife, Le Dao Bates, of Chamblee, Ga.; grandson, John Patrick “Jack” Kaeberlein of Wake Forest; granddaughter, Madelyn Elise Kaeberlein of Wake Forest; and many special nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating and honoring his life will be held Friday, December 4, 2009, at 11 a.m. The service will be held at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church at 12605 Capital Boulevard, with a reception to follow.
The family would like to thank the many physicians, nurses, and medical staff at WakeMed Hospital who provided Don with the extraordinary care he received during the time he spent there.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either of the following organizations: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Western NC Chapter), 5950 Fairview Road Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28210 or Big Brothers Big Sisters (Central Maryland Chapter), 3600 Clipper Mill Road Suite 250, Baltimore, MD 21211.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Mary Ellen Ketelsen Dykes
Mary Ellen Ketelsen Dykes 82, of Wake Forest, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 28, 2009, after recent declining health.
A private burial service will be held at Clinton Memorial Park in Clinton, Iowa, at a later date.
he leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Kathleen Thomas (Brent); granddaughters, Stephanie Hartman Rivers and Shannon Jae Coleman (Trent); a grandson, Anthony “Tony” Thomas, all of Wake Forest; and six great-grandchildren, Jake Coleman, Taylor Allen, Sam Coleman, Katie Coleman, Trey Rivers and McKenzie Thomas. She was pre-deceased by her parents, five brothers and sisters and one son, Donald C. Dykes.
There will be a memorial luncheon to celebrate her life on Sunday, December 6, 2009, from to 4 p.m. at the Turnberry Apartment Community Room, 755 South White Street, Wake Forest.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Barbara Jeane Kearney
Barbara Jeane Kearney, 70, of Raleigh, died Monday, November 30, 2009 at her home after her brave battle with cancer. She was born on May 26, 1939, in Franklin County, the daughter of the late Troy and Jessie Irene Kearney. Mrs. Kearney lived a full life and retired from ABB/Westinghouse after more than 30 years of service.
Funeral services will be held at 12 o’clock noon on Thursday, December 3, 2009, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest with the Rev. David Averette officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton.
Mrs. Kearney is survived by her sisters, Nancy Kearney Redman of Crewe, Va., and Sara Kearney Moody of Raleigh; and brother, Howard A. Kearney and wife, Dalua, of Creedmoor and Thomas A. Kearney and wife, Deborah, of Wake Forest. Bobbie is also survived by one special niece, Karen L. Moody, and one special nephew, Robbie Kearney, as well as five additional nieces, nine more nephews, four great-nieces, 21 great-nephews and one great-great-niece, who all loved her greatly. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, David Kearney, and by her sisters, Shirley Kearney Oakley and Betty Kearney Mendenhall.
The family would like to express their gratitude to all of the Hospice of Wake County associates, with special thanks to Mary McLaurin and Patty McNair.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary’s Street, 4th Floor, Raleigh, NC 27605
Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service Thursday at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest.