Archive for June, 2009

Vivian Daron Smith, 99, of Fuquay Varina, NC, passed away Thursday June 25, 2009 at the Lawndale Manor Assisted Living Center in Garner, NC.  Daron, as he was known by friends and family was a builder by trade most of his life and built many homes and churches in the Fuquay Varina area before moving to Northern Virginia with his family where he continued to build homes and raise his family. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

His wife Margaret Rachel Wilson-Smith of Holly Springs, NC, passed away in 1980.  He is survived by daughter Joyce Humphries, and her husband Gerald, of Raleigh NC, and his son Robert Daron Smith and wife Pauline, of Sterling, Virginia.  There are 9 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.  Brothers and sisters include, Netha Young, Retha Cross, Callis Smith, Neara Smith, Thelma Bouchard, Ruby Smith and Nell Mills, all deceased.  Surviving sisters are, Blanche Keith and Pauline Pope and husband Dave.

Viewing will be held on Sunday June 28, at 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1433 Aversboro Rd., Garner, NC 27529 followed by a memorial service.  Remembrances should be sent to the Williford Funeral Home, 201 East Academy Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.  Tel. 919-552-2211.  Interment will be at the Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Fuquay-Varina. 

Dateline: Raleigh, NC

Born June 23, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio, Annette Deal Matthews died at home June 25^th, 2009 in the loving care of her family and Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer.

Annette is survived by daughter Michelle Matthews, of Raleigh; daughter MaryAnn Matthews, of Garner; son Mark Matthews and his wife, Nicole, of Charlotte; and daughter Melanie Matthews, of Garner. Also surviving her are six grandsons, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

Annette was known for her compassion, intelligence, tenacity and mischievous sense of humor. She wished to say goodbye to her friends and family with a heartfelt “tootles,” her signature goodbye. Her family will miss her dearly.

Cremation arrangements were handled by Williford Funeral Home, of Fuquay-Varina. Her final resting place will be Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh. She will be laid to rest with a private family ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Wake County at 1300 St. Mary’s Street Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 276054-1276 or online via www.hospiceofwake.org in her memory.

Condolences may be shared at www.willifordfuneralhome.com. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, which will be forthcoming. 

Dateline: Durham, NC

Lynton Arrington Burchette, 78, passed away Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Durham Regional Hospital. Mr. Burchette is the son of the late Alvis Lee & Mattie Jones Burchette. Lynton was born and raised in the Needmoore area of Fuquay-Varina. He is preceeded in death by his siblings, William Lee Burchette, Clarence Burchette, Violet F. Hillard, Kate E. MerKerson and Pansy Weaver.

Mr. Burchette is survived by his children, Lynton Burchette and wife Kathy of Sanford, Dennis Burchette and wife Diane of Franklinton, Keith Burchette and wife Patricia of Mountain City, TN., Deborah Williamson and husband Steve of Princeton and Kimberly Bass of Nashville, NC. Brother, Zeb T. Burchette of Torrence, CA. and sister, Jeanette Flynn of Norfolk, VA. Also nine grandchildren.

Mr. Burchette lived and attended church in Belhaven for a number of years. His current residence was at Rose Manor Health Care in Durham. Services for Mr. Burchette will be Wednesday, June 24 at Williford Funeral Home Chapel at 3:00 PM. The family will receive friends from 1 -3 prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.  Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 201 E. Academy Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Condolences may be mad at www.willifordfuneralhome.com.

Dateline: Franklin, NC

Antonio Perez Cortez, 29, passed away at home in Franklin, North Carolina on June 14, 2009. He will return to Veracruz, Mexico to be buried in his home town. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 919-552-2211.

Antonio Perez Cortez, 29, se murieron en casa en Franklin, Carolina del norte en el 14 de junio de 2009. El volverá a Veracruz, México para ser enterrado en su pueblo natal. Los servicios confiaron a la Funeraria de Williford, el 919-552-2211.

Dateline: Raleigh, NC

Jean Barnes Leadingham, 80, passed away at Rex Hospital on June 15, 2009. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 919-552-2211.

Dateline: Fuquay Varina, NC

Molly L. Buell, 86, passed away at Wake Medical Center, June 15, 2009. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 919-552-2211.

Dateline: Kipling, NC

Mr. Troy Braxton Matthews Jr., 93, passed away at The E. Carlton Powell Hospice Center no June 13, 2009. Mr. Matthews is the son of the late Troy B. Matthews Sr. and Thetie Senter. He is predeceased by his first wife, Kathleen C. Matthews, brothers, Ray, Malcomb and Leo Matthews. Sisters, Maxie Lanier and Eunice Eason.

Mr. Matthews was native on Harnett County and grew up in the Kipling area. He served his country during WWII in the Army Air Corp. He worked for the Seaboard Coastline Railroad for over 35 years.

Mr. Matthews is survived by his wife Dorothy Young Matthews, daughters, Judy Cox and husband Jack of Richmond, Va. And Sandra M. Powers and husband Ed Blocher of Durham. Sister Savonne M. Medlin, grandchildren, Pam Anthony and husband Dick, Ronnie Cox and wife Connie, Troy T. Cox, Tiffany Cox, Holly Cox, Stephen Cox ,Trey Cox and Justin Cox. Great great grandchildren, Sara Lowery and husband Jon, Matthew Anthony and Heather Larson and husband John. Great great great grandchildren, Jackson and Ellie.

Services for Mr. Matthews will be Monday, June 15 at Williford Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00AM with a visitation one hour before the service. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, E. Carlton Powell Hospice Center, 185 Pine State St., Lillington, NC 27546. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 201 E. Academy Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Condolences may be made at www.willifordfuneralhome.com.

Dateline: Raleigh, NC

Leslie Elizabeth Ridgeway, 45, passed away at Duke Medical Center on June 8, 2009. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 919-552-2211.

Dateline: Raleigh, NC

Antonio Moran Zapata, 63, passed away at Rex Hospital on June 6, 2009. Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home.

Dateline:  Apex, NC
 
Robert Edward Dittfield, 86, passed away at Duke University Medical Center on Saturday, May 30, 2009.  He was born in Utica, NY on November 24, 1922 to the late Ethel Edwards and Paul Dittfield.  He was a World War II Veteran during which time he studied in Coyne Electrical School in Chicago.  He was with the 791st Anti-Aircraft Artillery in England before going into France shortly after the D-Day Invasion.
 
Bob was an electrician who worked for Westinghouse Electric Company before transferring to Bendix Corp. in Utica, NY, which later became Lucas.  He also took studies in Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY and became an Electronic Technician.
 
He and his wife, Leona, who were married over 60 years, spent their summer vacations tenting on the St. Lawrence River with their children.  After he retired on February 29, 1988, they became summer residents in Cape Vincent, NY and he continued to enjoy fishing and boating and family get-togethers there.  They moved to Apex, NC in January 1992 and continued to spend four months at their summer residence each year.
 
He was a member of St. Andrews the Apostle Church, Apex, NC and of St. Vincent Of Paul Church, Cape Vincent, NY where he will be laid to rest in their cemetery over-looking the St. Lawrence River.
 
Bob is survived by his wife Leona Ostrouch Dittfield and children:  Paula (husband John) Brown, D. Tim Dittfield, Ginny (husband Ed) Dudek, Dennis (wife Vicky) Dittfield and Anne Marie Madden (fiancé John Cotton).  He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Marc, Eric and Jocelyn Dudek (fiancé John Fogelman), Jason (wife Jennifer) Brown, Steve (wife Ali) Brown, Pam Madden (husband Mike) Cotton and Mike Madden (fiancée Blair Harrison). He was predeceased by first granddaughter Jennifer Madden) in 1997.
 
He leaves six great-grandchildren, Brandon and Leah Brown, Drew and Collin Dudek and Tyler and Cooper Brown.
 
Bob was a 66 year member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 189 in Utica, NY and became an Honorary Life Member. He was also a life member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7383, Cary, NC and the American Legion Post 1113,Whitesboro, NY.
 
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Andrews Catholic Church, Apex, NC on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 11 AM.  Internment will take place in St. Vincent Of Paul Cemetary on Saturday, June 20, 2009 following a 10am memorial mass.  Please visit www.willifordfuneralhome.com to leave condolences.  Services entrusted to Williford Funeral Home, 201 E. Academy Street, Fuquay Varina, NC  919-552-2211.