DURHAM -- Mrs. Stella Elizabeth Atwater Alston, 96, of 2900 Fayetteville St., died Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at home.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 581 New Hope Church Road, Apex. Family visitation, one hour prior to service. Burial, Williams Family Cemetery.
She was a member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and the Williams Family Circle. She and her late husband, William Roland Alston Sr., served the Biddle/Semans/Duke Family for many years. She also retired from Belk-Leggett.
Survivors include her devoted son, Joseph L. Alston (Rose Marie); grandchildren, Kimberly R. Alston, Tiffany A. Burwell (Jay), Janelle A. Collins (Todd), William R. Alston III, Michael L. Alston and Vince Chandler; great grandchildren, Leah Alston, Kyra Alston Burwell, Logan Elizabeth Burwell, Sydney Rose Collins and Ella Gabrielle Collins; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. Viewing, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Fisher Funeral Parlor.
Vivian Gaynell Harris Cates
DURHAM -- Mrs. Vivian Gaynell Harris Cates, daughter of the late Lucious and Nannie Harris, was born March 10, 1932 in Orange County. She was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 6, 2009 surrounded by her children and grandchildren in Durham.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Harvey C. Cates. She is survived by three daughters, Beverly Cates of Fuquay Varina, Sheila Richardson (Carl), and Debbie Hardy (Michael), all of Durham; three sons, Lee Harris Sr. (Costella), Lucious Cates (Tracey), and Douglas Cates, all of Durham; and one step son, Calvin Lunsford (Stella) of Hillsborough; three sisters, Eunice H. Dunn, Gladys H. Davis, Lois J. Baxter; seven sisters-in-law; 17 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Lipscomb Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Hillsborough, at 1 p.m. with the viewing one hour before services. Arrangements are being handled by Scarborough and Hargett Funeral Home.
Philip L. Mohwish II
DURHAM -- Philip L. Mohwish II, 45, left this early life on November 7, 2009 to be welcomed into God's loving arms.
He is survived by his parents, L'avonne and Randall Senterfit; his brother, David Mohwish; his fiancee, Betty Ranes; his cousin, Michele Falco; and his adored cats, Toonces and Chicken.
The memorial services will be held on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Rock of Ages Discipleship Ministry at 2040 Frances Dr., Henderson.
Betty Delores Dunn Ruffin
DURHAM -- Elder Betty Delores Dunn Ruffin, was born January 13, 1943 to the late Willie and Fannie Holloway Dunn in Durham County. She died November 9, 2009 in Durham Regional Hospital.
Elder Ruffin was a graduate of Hillside High School and NCCU. She worked as a secretary in the Golden Belt Manufacturing Company until she retired. She was also Asst. Pastor of Charity Christian Fellowship. She was married to the late Deacon Hezekiah Ruffin.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12 p.m. at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. The family will receive friends Friday, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Charity Christian Fellowship, 1120 E. Lawson Street.
She is survived by her sisters; Pastor Shawlin Dunn and Elder Angela Liles; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services entrusted to Ellis D. Jones and Sons Funeral Directors. Condolences may be sent at www.ellisdjones.com.
GRANVILLE
Mary Frances 'Ann' McFalls
OXFORD -- Mary Frances 'Ann' McFalls, 73, a resident of 3552 Tar River Road, died Thursday, November 12th at Maria Parham Hospital.
A native of Mitchell County, the daughter of the late Jeter and Effie Autry McFalls, she was a member of First Baptist Church in Creedmoor and former owner operator of Hester Country Store.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 15th in the Eakes Funeral Chapel in Oxford by the Rev. Eddie Mauldin. Burial will be in Meadowview Memorial Park.
Surviving are a daughter, Judy M. Thompson (Gene) of Oxford; three sons, Ronald 'Buck' (Teresa) McFalls of Oxford, Gary 'Peanut' (Donna) McFalls of Stem, Scottie McFalls (Joyce) of Franklinton; sister, Linda Self of Oxford; three brothers, Don McFalls of Stem, Ray McFalls of Oxford and Tony McFalls of Roxboro; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren. A brother, William Wren McFalls; and a sister, Hazel McFalls preceded her in death.
Visitation is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening at the Eakes Funeral Home in Oxford and at other times at the home of Sonny and Linda Self, 3552 Tar River Road, Oxford, NC 27565.
Online condolences can be made to www.eakesfuneralhome.com. Select obits.
ORANGE
William Gibson
HILLSBOROUGH -- Mr. William Gibson, 75, resident of Hillsborough, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2009.
He was born in Durham, the son of the late Nellie Townsend Gibson and Gilbert Gibson. Mr. Gibson was also preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert Gibson Jr. and Bobby Gibson. Mr. Gibson was a member of the US Air Force.
Surviving are his wife, Linda Gibson of Hillsborough; two daughters; and a son, all of Durham; three sisters, Janie Sadler of Bonham, Texas, Faye Adcox of Henderson and Joan Daniel of Durham.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Woodlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Miriam Saxon officiating. No visitation is planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice at the Meadowlands, 1001 Corporate Dr. Hillsborough NC 27278. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Meadowlands in Hillsborough who cared for Willie in his final days. Clements Funeral Service is assisting the family.
ELSEWHERE
John Charles Woodward
KERNERSVILLE -- John Charles Woodward, 60, entered the presence of his Heavenly Father suddenly November 7, 2009 during a bike ride around the Salem Lake Trail near his home in Kernersville.
He was born January 17, 1949 in Durham Co. to the late John Lisbon and Elizabeth Louderback Woodward.
First and foremost, Mr. Woodward loved the Lord. He served humbly throughout his community be it through hospice, sports, or labor; more than anything he wished that everyone he met could know the Gospel, and the forgiveness and peace available through Jesus Christ. This theme dominated his life though his studies at his beloved NC State to his membership at Oaklawn Baptist Church of W-S. Many knew him as a loyal deacon, a loving caretaker, a fun-loving counselor, and an unabashed follower of Christ.
Mr. Woodward received his Bachelors from NC State and a Master's degree from the Institute of Textile Technology. He enjoyed his friends and his vocation at Hanes Dye & Finishing of Winston-Salem, where he devoted 26 years of his career to measuring and managing production quality until the plant's recent downsizing. Mr. Woodward loved to sing at home, in the church choir, and even the occasional national anthem at a W-S Warthogs baseball game. John especially enjoyed water and snow skiing, tennis, baseball and the Andy Griffith show.
Mr. Woodward is survived by his best friend and wife, Patricia Dawson Woodward of Kernersville; son, David of San Francisco, Calif.; son, daughter-in-law and grandson, Benjamin, Sarah and Elijah of Louisville, Ky.; sister, Katherine Sue Woodward of Brooklyn, NYC; brother, Thomas Michael Woodward of Baton Rouge, La.; aunt, Francis Louderback Hiserman of Charlotte; and many other loving family members.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at 5 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2009 at Oaklawn Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
The family requests no flowers but would welcome donations sent in his honor to either Camp Willow Run, 190 Mangum Lane, Littleton, NC 27850 or Oaklawn Baptist Church, 3500 Kernersville Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27107.
John was a joyful, energetic man and faithful friend to all who knew him.
