All Obituaries

Elna Juanita Grant Farmer, departed this life on Friday, March 8, 2019.  She was born on August 22, 1937 in Northampton County, North Carolina to the late John Luther Grant and Ira Juanita Mayfield Grant.  She was one of nine children and predeceased by Iola Mae Murph, James Grant, Dorothy Grant and Wallace Grant.  Elna was educated in the Northampton County School System and graduated from W.S. Creasy High School.  She moved to Durham, North Carolina and received...

Marzetta Otelia Crawley was born on April 30, 1940 to the late Tarlean Winstead Crawley Parker and Maynard Crawley, Sr. A sister, Daisy Crawley and a brother Maynard Crawley, Jr. also preceded her in death. She was educated in the Durham Public Schools and graduated from Merrick Moore High School.  She then attended Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University where she received a degree in nursing. She worked at Lincoln Community Health Center Duke Hospice...

Ricardo Van “Jit” Mangum, Sr. was born in Durham, NC on January 27, 1947, to the late Phillip and Fannie Nunn Mangum. God called him home on February 12, 2019. He attended Durham Public Schools and was part of Hillside High School graduating class of 1966. After joining the Army in 1967, he spent time in combat in Vietnam and a tour in Korea. He had outstanding soldier and made friends all over the country. He was employed by the American Tobacco Company, retired from UNC at...

Walter Conrad Pattillo was born September 27, 1960 in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama to outstanding educators, Constance T. and Walter H. Pattillo Jr.  In 1961, Walter and his family moved to Durham, North Carolina, where he graduated from Hillside High School in 1978 and started his college career at Hampton Institute.  After one year, he transferred to Howard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 1984. Walter married Arlene Bynum in 1990 in...

James Wesley Autry Jr., known to his family and friends as Gene, was born on November 24, 1950 to the late Thelma Ray Oliver and James Wesley Autry, and entered eternal rest on January 29, 2019. He graduated from Jordan High School in the class of 1969, and later attended North Carolina Central University before joining the United States Army in 1970. Gene served in Vietnam from 1970-1971 and the Army Reserves 1971-1972. After his honorable discharge from the military, Gene worked with...

“Our Angel has left us; though she’s not really gone; within memories, conversations, spirit and love; she’ll always live on.” The Family Emily Marie Hamlett, wife of Dallas Walter Hamlett, Sr. for over 60 years and the daughter of the late Louis J. Chappell and Annie Mae Parker Chappell, departed this life on Monday, January 28, 2019 following a brief illness.  She was born and reared in Phenix, Virginia, attending Virginia County Public Schools. Her sisters,...

Fredric Ronald Barden was born May 19, 1957 to the late Elihue and Sarah Owsley Barden.  He joined his maker on January 27, 2019.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Marlo B. Barden and Louise O. Wilkerson. Fredric attended Hillside High School graduating in 1975.  He pursued numerous endeavors but music was his main passion.  After working several jobs over the years, he fulfilled his dream of playing music in California.  He played with seasoned...