DURHAM -- Funeral services for Ms. Brenda Ann Cole, 60, will be conducted on Thursday at 1 p.m. from the Deliverance Temple Holy Church and the interment will follow in the Glennview Memorial Gardens.
The family will meet friends one hour before the service.
Survivors are two sons, Mr. Kevin Cole and Mr. Nhire Cole; one daughter, Ms. Tonya Cole; two sisters, Mrs. Sharron Williams, Ms. Mildred Johnson; eight grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Hanes Funeral Service is in charge of all arrangements.
Sara Myers Griffin
DURHAM -- Sara Myers Griffin, 81, of Durham, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Monday, March 8, 2010 at Duke University Medical Center.
Mrs. Griffin was born in Raeford, the daughter of the late James Dewey Myers and the late Onie Elizabeth Covenington. Mrs. Griffin was also preceded in death by her brothers, David, George, and Lewis Myers; and sisters, Nina Fields and Irene Garrett.
She graduated from UNC at Greensboro and prior to her retirement she worked as a registered dietitian and assistant teacher.
Mrs. Griffin is survived by her husband of 58 years, Rudy Griffin; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and David Craig; grandson and his wife, Cameron and Amanda Craig; granddaughter, Christine Craig, all of Durham; sisters and brothers-in-law, Trudy and James Snead of Roxboro, Millie and Henry Walke of Kittrell; brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Annette Myers of Swansboro, Belton and Nancy Myers of Shallotte, and Carolyn Whedbee of Greensboro; plus many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Griffin was an active member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Durham, and her gift was in serving others. She was loved by her family and known as an excellent cook and homemaker. She was always caring and smiling; cooking for her husband and grandchildren, and hosting groups at their lake cottage.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham, officiated by the Rev. Don Chasteen. The burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham.
Pallbearers will be Cameron Craig, David Craig, Scott Snead, Gary Riggs, Ernest Edenfield, and Denny Mangum.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Duke Hospital for their support and for the many prayers and acts of kindness from her family and friends.
Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions can be made to the Durham Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 11858, Durham NC 27703 or at www.durhamrescuemission.org.
The family is being assisted in Durham by Clements Funeral Service, Inc.
Jimmie Floyd James
DURHAM -- Mr. Jimmie Floyd James, 76, of 2618 Bonnie Brae Road, died on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
Mr. James was born in Harnett County to the late Jimmie Allen and Lucille Smiley James. He served in the U.S. Army and was a retired truck driver with Pilot Freight. He was a member of Harris Chapel Church in Youngsville. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles James.
He is survived by his fiancee, Irene Timberlake; one son, Donnie Floyd James of Monroe; one daughter, Tammie J. Bratton of Dalton, Ga.; brother, Bobby James; sister, Norma Paschall; and three grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, officiated by Dr. Bill Haley.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's North Carolina, 400 Oberlin Road, Ste 220, Raleigh, NC 27605. Arrangements are being handled by Hudson Funeral Home.
Thomas Fuller 'Tom' McDonald Sr.
DURHAM -- Funeral services for Thomas Fuller 'Tom' McDonald Sr., age 79, a resident of 424 Country Club Drive, will be conducted Wednesday at 12 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, the Rev. Norman B. Harris officiating.
Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Annex B.
Mr. McDonald died early Monday morning at Durham Regional Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church, 4504 Sterling Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27712.
The family will receive friends at the church Wednesday from 10:30 until 12 o'clock.
Alvin Christopher 'Tank' and 'Fat Neck' Pitts
DURHAM -- Alvin C. Pitts 59, passed away on March 4, 2010. He was born to William Council and the late Ola Mae Pitts Bright.
He leaves to cherish his loving memories: three sons, Juan Nelson, Khiry Pitts and Christopher Pitts; three daughters, Michelle Smith, Ebony Pitts, Alexis Deasia Pitts; and one sister, Tanga Pitts Williams.
Funeral services will be held today at New Shiloh Holiness Church at 1 p.m. with visitation at noon.
Mildred McFarland Prince
DURHAM -- Mrs. Mildred McFarland Prince, 71, passed away Monday, March 8, 2010 following a brief illness.
She was born in Durham Co. daughter of the late James Wiley McFarland and Lena Wilkins McFarland.
Mrs. Prince was retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and was a member of Braggtown Baptist Church and the Esther Bible class.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Prince; and her brother, James 'Red' McFarland.
Mrs. Prince is survived by two daughters, Debbie Griffin, and Donna Autry and husband, Andy, all of Durham; her son, Jimmy Prince and wife, Donna, of Rougemont; her grandchildren, Blake Sykes, Matthew Prince, Lauren Prince, Kelly Sykes, Rachel Brown and Greg Autry; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob Autry and Jordan Brown.
The funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. at Clements Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Chris Tesenair. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Service, Inc.
Vicki Diane 'Nana' 'Pookie' Sparks
DURHAM -- Ms. Vicki Diane 'Nana' 'Pookie' Sparks, loving mother and grandmother, 49, passed away in her home Monday.
Ms. Sparks was born in Durham Co., the daughter of Vandhlia Raynor Thompson and the late James Baxter Thompson. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Thompson.
Ms. Sparks is survived by her mother, Vandhilia Raynor Thompson; her two daughters, Jennifer Leogrande and Leslie Taylor, both of Timberlake; her brother, Leonard Thompson, of Hillsborough; her three sisters, Wanda Brame, of Durham, Joyce Wagner, of Hillsborough, and Connie Thompson, of Durham; her three grandchildren, Tyler Leogrande, Dylan Leogrande, and Mason Taylor; and her partner of 10 years, Claude A. 'Tony' Gregory, of Timberlake.
Graveside services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Brier Creek Memorial Gardens in Raleigh. The family will receive friends Thursday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham. The family will receive friends and family Wednesday evening at the home of her sister, Wanda, a resident of 4111 Chaucer Dr.
The family is being assisted in Durham by Clements Funeral Service, Inc.
Roy Bruce Strayhorn Sr.
DURHAM -- Mr. Roy Bruce Strayhorn Sr., 88, of Durham, died on Monday, March 8, 2010.
Mr. Strayhorn was the son of the late William L. Strayhorn and Bettie Mitchell Strayhorn.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp and retired from GTE.
He was a member of Durham Memorial Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by 12 siblings and a grandson, Craig Harding.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Strayhorn; three sons, Roy Strayhorn Jr. and wife, Sherry, Larry Strayhorn and Tim Strayhorn and wife, Carol, all of Durham; two daughters, Jane Hassebrock and husband, Bob, of Raleigh and Betty Moore of Durham; and five grandchildren, Amanda, Tyler and wife, Hannah, Shannon, Christina and Nathan; and one great-grandson, David Eli.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Ed Denton will officiate.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home. Flowers are acceptable.
Katherine Sue Woodward
DURHAM -- After a valiant struggle with leukemia, Katherine Sue Woodward passed away on March 2, 2010.
A devoted mother, grandmother, and sister, she leaves behind daughters, Georgia and Giulia; granddaughters, Adele and Eva; brother, Thomas; son in law, Dwight; and many relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church on Saturday March 13th, at 11 a.m.
The family will receive guests at the church after the service.
ELSEWHERE
Amos F. 'Frank' Allen Sr.
HANAHAN, S.C. -- Amos F. "Frank" Allen Sr., 75 of Hanahan and formerly of Gasburg, Va., died Monday, March 8, 2010 in Walterboro, S.C.
He was born January 8, 1935 in Durham to the late Herbert S. and Hattie Bell H. Allen. He retired from the U.S. Navy; and was a proud Navy veteran and also retired from the Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Va.
He is survived by a son, Amos Frank Allen Jr. (Amy); and a daughter, Renee Allen Davis (Jeff) of Hanahan, S.C.; grandchildren, Ashleigh, Megan and Tyler Allen and Chandler and Gray Davis; a great-grandchild, Gunnar Haulbrooks; and former spouse, Paulette Faircloth of Moncks Corner, S.C.
Burial at Beaufort National Cemetery with full military honors will be private. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Northwoods Chapel.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 1941 Savage Road, Suite 200-A, Charleston, SC 29407.
A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.
