OBITUARIES
Nathan E. Marzen
Apr 4, 2026
Nathan E. Marzen, 49, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away at home on April 4, 2026 of natural causes.He was the husband of Madoka F. Marzen.
Born in Allentown, PA, he was the son of Edward G. Marzen and Jane Ann Mogilski. He was a deeply loving, devoted husband, father, and son. Nathan also had a strong commitment and sincere devotion...
Sandra Faye Johnson
Apr 3, 2026
Sandra Faye Johnson, age 58, of Hillsborough, NC was born on June 1, 1967 in Virginia Beach, VA to Paul King and Jeanette Cecil and passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Durham, NC.
Sandra was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her grandchildren were everything to her. Sandra truly enjoyed gardening, going to the beach, and shopping.
Sandra is...
Edgar M. Roach, Jr.
Apr 1, 2026
Ed Roach’s struggle with pancreatic cancer and its complications ended April 1, 2026. We will miss his grin, special laugh, and good humor which never left him. Edgar Mayo Roach, Jr, was born in Pinehurst, NC, auspicious for an avid golfer, June 2, 1948, to parents Susie and Edgar M. Roach, Sr. Ed and his family later moved to rural...
Lavenia Rae Cox Mason
Mar 27, 2026
Lawrenceville, Georgia – Lavenia Rae Cox Mason, formerly of Lowell, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at Delmar Gardens Senior Living at the age of 82. Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Clifford Pringle Cox and Betty Holland Cox. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her...
Jesse Ronald Oakley
Mar 27, 2026
Jesse Ronald Oakley of 226 Beauregard Lane, Mebane, North Carolina, passed away on March 27, 2026. The son of Jesse Roberds Oakley and Carrie Cheek Oakley, he was born in Mebane, North Carolina on April 23, 1941. He graduated from Mebane High School in 1959, earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in history at UNC-Chapel Hill in...
Hilda Jo Maness
Mar 23, 2026
Hilda Jo Maness, 86, of Pittsboro passed away peacefully at her home in Fearrington Village on March 23, 2026, due to complications from Alzheimer’s. She was born on November 28, 1939 to Joseph and Marjorie Maness of Thomasville, North Carolina. After attending Thomasville High School Hilda went on to Meredith College where she majored in English. She continued her education...
Charles F. Echols, Jr.
Mar 21, 2026
Charles Frederick Echols, Jr., passed away on March 21, leaving behind a life defined by independence, resilience, humor, and deep love for his family.Born on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1949, Charles carried a spirit of gratitude and individuality throughout his 76 years. He was the son of Charles Frederick Echols, Sr. and Dorothy Ann Riggsbee, and grew up alongside his...
Averee A'mya
Mar 19, 2026
Averee A’mya was born on December 18, 2025, to her loving parents, Jenny and Gary. Weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long, we knew from the very beginning she was going to be feisty and full of personality.She was welcomed with so much love by her grandparents, Titus and Sandra George, and her special Grammies, Elaine and...
Betsey Cheshire
Mar 19, 2026
Betsey John Odell Cheshire died March 19th at home after several years of declining health. She was born December 16, 1949, the daughter of John Kay and Betsey John West Odell. She is survived by her husband, Lucius Cheshire Jr., and daughter Betsey John Cheshire, brother John Odell, sister Patt Kelly, brother and sister-in-law Carl and Debra Cheshire, nephews Kevin...
William (Bill) Vierra
Mar 13, 2026
William “Bill” Manuel Vierra, Sr., 83, of Durham, NC passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Durham, NC.
William was born on May 19, 1942 in Jackson County, NC to Antonio "Tony" Vierra and Eloise Ward Vierra. William was raised by his grandparents: Frank and Bonnie Ward. He graduated from Hillsborough High School. William married Phyllis Ann Cartner Vierra on...
Drena Worth
Mar 12, 2026
Drena Worth was born May 21st, 1940 in Centralia, Illinois and died March 12th, 2026 at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Drena’s father was a career army officer whose service spanned three wars, including distinguished combat in WW2 Germany. She graduated in journalism, from UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All of which led to her founding her...
Irene Brinkmann
Mar 12, 2026
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Irene Helga Astrid (Horn) Brinkmann at age 64. Our beloved Irene passed away in a car accident on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Irene was born in Butzbach, Hessen, Germany on October 25, 1961 to Wolfgang and Christamaria Horn. Her mother tragically passed away when Irene was 18...
Kathleen Elizabeth Paren
Mar 11, 2026
Kathleen (“Kathy”) Elizabeth Paren, 101, died peacefully on March 11, 2026, in Carolina Meadows Retirement Community, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She was born in New York City on September 21, 1924, to Clara C. and James S. Kellard.
Kathleen graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in New York City. In 1946, her high school sweetheart, Raymond Joseph Paren, returned from WWII, and...
Wonnie "Tiny" Tickle Collins
Mar 8, 2026
Wonnie "Tiny" Tickle Collins, 98, of Chapel Hill, NC passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Alamance County.
Wonnie was born on January 11, 1928 in Alamance County to Mary Hudgens Tickle and Turner Tickle. She graduated from A & O High School in 1945. Wonnie married the love of her life, Billie Joel Collins, not long after. She...
Robert Hatton Peter
Mar 7, 2026
Robert H. Peter “Jess,” MD, 90, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday night, March 7, 2026, with his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann Peter, by his side. Earlier that evening they had attended the Duke–Carolina men’s basketball game with their son, Jon, and daughter, Jennifer. It had been a joyful night—until it suddenly wasn’t.
For...
Barbara Rovetto
Mar 7, 2026
Barbara Jean Rovetto "Grand B," age 82, passed away on March 7, 2026, surrounded by her loving family in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Barbara was born on April 8, 1943, in Louisa, Kentucky, to her mother, Verna Hall. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Edgar, Albert, Ernest, and Mary Koepke.
She is survived by her two...
James Claude Terrell
Mar 6, 2026
James C. Terrell, 73 of Hurdle Mills, NC, passed away peacefully, Friday, March 6, 2026 surrounded by his family.
James was born on February 14, 1953, the son of the late Vernell and Elizabeth Terrell, in Durham, NC. James spent spent most of his life doing carpentry work in this area. There was no job too big or too small. James...
John Percival Brooke
Mar 5, 2026
Dr. John Percival Brooke passed away on March 5th, 2026, at the age of 92 at his residence in Chapel Hill, NC after a long battle with dementia. John was a beloved Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather. Known as Papa to his family, he was the epitome of kindness and caring and an example of how to...
Paul Stuart Bailey
Mar 1, 2026
On March 1, 2026 Paul Stuart Bailey was called home by God, through the grace and to the glory of our Lord Jesus. From early childhood Paul lived his life with passion, imagination, and infinite curiosity. As an adult, despite his struggle with a major mental illness, Paul continued to live with courage, determination, and humor. He read voraciously across...
Gwendolyn Curtis Murphy
Feb 27, 2026
Gwendolyn Curtis Murphy, RD, PhD, passed away at home in February 2026, after a long journey with dementia.
Gwen was born in 1953, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Phyllis Steen and Gorden Murphy. She grew up in “The Valley”, attended Oberlin College and participated in the Oberlin Coop, where she met Lloyd Michener. She attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology,...
