obituaries

Sep 3, 2026

Patricia Abigail Salinas Alley , 50, of Cabin Creek Rd, Oxford, NC transitioned on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in Bahama, NC. She was born in Salineno, TX to Sergio Salinas and Evangelina Chapa Salinas.

She is survived by her husband, Ryan Alley; two daughters: Mia and Fiona Alley; parents: Sergio and...

Sep 2, 2026

Bryan Christopher Morton, 54, of Follow Me Way, Raleigh, transitioned on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. He was born in Vance County to Johnnie Morton and the late Josephine Owens Morton.

He is survived by his wife, Felicia McMillan Morton; four children: Christopher McMillan of Raleigh, Tiara McMillan of...

Aug 25, 2026

Sarah Lee Royster, 83, of Mountain Road, transitioned on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Brantwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Granville County to the late Elizabeth Betty Bullock Evans and John H. Evans, Sr.

She is survived by her husband, William Royster; two sons: Victor Ward (Janice) and Phillip Ward both of Henderson, one...

Aug 23, 2026

Dorothy White Bobbitt, 87, of West Hillsboro Street, Creedmoor, transitioned on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham. She was born in Granville County to the late Willie and Pherbia White.

She is survived by her children: Willie Patrick Bobbitt (Alisa) of Holly Springs, Arthur Lee Bobbitt, Jr, Teresa Bobbitt, Nancy Gattis and Pheobe...

Aug 18, 2026

Ayaba Hugbeke, 60, of Ardmore Drive in Stem, transitioned on August 18, 2026, at her residence. She was born in Logome, Togo on December 31, 1965 to Missihoun Hugbeke and Siblahoin Agbondjehome.

Ayaba is survived by her beloved children: Yawo Davui, Kodjovi Davui, Yahli Afi Davui, Donne Komla Mawuena Davui, Emilie Ayawavi Akpedje Davui; two siblings: Tchassi...

Aug 15, 2026

Lessie Cooley Hicks, 94, of Hester Road, Creedmoor, transitioned on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham. She was born in Granville County to the late George and Luvenia Parker Cooley.

She is survived by three daughters, Deborah Hicks Hayes of Greensboro, Beverly Carolyn Johnson of Youngsville and Gloria Hicks Moss (Donnie) of Creedmoor;...

Aug 12, 2026

Vincent A. Hicks "Vee", 42, of Rockspring Street, Henderson, transitioned on August 12, 2026, at Maria Parham Health. He was born in Vance County to Lucy Annette Fuller and the late George Hicks.

He is survived by his mother, Lucy Fuller of Henderson; three children: Vinkhia Hicks (mother Latoya Cooper), Vincent Hicks, Jr  and Vin'Javious Hicks (their...

Aug 1, 2026

KICK OFF

Keith Allen Burgess , the youngest of six children, was born to the late Cornith Nathaniel Burgess and Beatrice Morris Burgess on December 26, 1958, in Martinsville, Virginia. He was blessed to grow up in a loving and supportive family alongside his siblings: Bernice Burgess Torada, Julia Burgess Knox,...

Jul 25, 2026

Esther Mozell Cotten Owens, 93, of Owens Street, transitioned Saturday, July 25, 2026 at her residence. She was born in Granville County to the late George and Carrie Smith Cotten.

She is survived by three children: Phyllis Williams (Nelson) of Oxford, Richard Carl Owens (Carolyn) of Stovall, and Esther Odessa Smith of Oxford; three sisters: Narbara Williams...

Jul 20, 2026

Catherine Maria Morgan, 76, of 100 Haven Lane, transitioned, Monday, July 20, 2026 at her residence. She was born in Granville County to the late Alex and Catherine Brandon Morgan.

She is survived by four children: Michael Morgan of Oxford, Edna L. Morgan and Catherine R. Morgan both of Henderson and Alexandria Davis of South Carolina; one...

Jul 20, 2026

Jodella M. Lifsey, of Stovall, transitioned on Monday, July 20, 2026 at Duke University Hospital in Durham. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Jodie and Eloise Cooper Lifsey.

She is survived by two aunts: Ida Cooper Williams of Henderson and Jennie Lifsey Williams of Maryland; and a host of cousins and friends.

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Jul 16, 2026

Della Mae Estes Jefferson, 88, transitioned on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. She was born in Granville County to the late Thomas Elvis Estes and Estella Spivey Estes.

She is survived by a daughter, Claudia Baptista (Anthony) of Carteret, New Jersey; one sister, Estelle Staten of Wake Forest; two brothers:...

Jul 8, 2026

Willie Leak, Jr, 81, of N. Cinnebar Ct, Henderson, transitioned on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at his residence. He was born in Rockingham, NC to the late Willie Leak, Sr. and Mary Adams Sneed.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Morton Leak; three children: Shawn Bell of Morristown, NJ, Kendra Donley (Brandon) of Springfield, MI and...

Jul 6, 2026

Corine Bullock Kearney, 95, of Jane Ave, Henderson, transitioned on Monday, July 6, 2026 at Brantwood Nursing in Oxford. She was born in Vance County to the late Reverend Gilbert and Willie Nannie Dunston Bullock.

She is survived by nine children: Barbara Alston, Delores Bullock (Raymond), Carolyn Kearney, Cliston Kearney (Joyce), Connie Kearney, and Christine Kearney all...

Jul 6, 2026

Ellis Hawley, 64, of Tristen Lane, Henderson, transitioned on Monday, July 6, 2026 at his residence. He was born in Granville County to the late Lucious and Willa B. Hobgood Hawley.

He is survied by his wife, Lillian Smith Vinson-Hawley; children: Liliane Bacote (Shawn), Linette Suite, Rhonda Suite, and Tony Harris all of Henderson; twelve grandchildren, five...

Jun 29, 2026

Alfonza Wilkerson, 78, of Sycamore Street, transitioned Monday, June 29, 2026 at the Durham VA Hospital. He was born in Granville County to the late George and Hattie Mae Yancey Wilkerson.

He is survived by his siblings: Georgia M. Williams, Robert L. Wilkerson, Janet W. Thorpe, and Edna S. Wilkerson all of Oxford, Charles L. Wilkerson (Ernestine)...

Jun 21, 2026

Chester Edward Manning, 90, of Mill Creek Road, Clarksville, VA, transitioned on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at Toney Rest Home in Oxford. He was born in Mecklenburg County, VA to the late Erastus Manning and Nannie Bet Small Manning.

He is survived by three children: Tina Terry of Henderson, Tony Manning of Clarksville, VA and Tanya Manning...

Jun 16, 2026

Priscilla V. Bullock, 83, of Bullocksville Park Road, Manson, transitioned on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at her residence. She was born in Polk County, Florida to the late Reverend Washington and Lula Belle Saunders Virgil.

She is survived by her husband, John Bullock; one daughter, Joy Bullock of Manson; two sons: Joshua Bullock of Birmingham, AL and...

Jun 11, 2026

Arkesha Lavonda Howard, 52, a resident of Durham, transitioned Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Duke Hock Family Pavilion. She was born in Vance County to Vivian Howard and Earl Echard.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1pm, Wednesday, June 17 at Ilong Missionary Baptist Church (4043 Fairport Rd, Kittrell, NC 27544) by Pastor Rachel Drumgold-Coleman. Burial will...

Jun 10, 2026

Willa Jean Bobbitt Tyler, 84, of Eastway Drive, transitioned Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. She was born in Granville County to the late Garland Bobbitt, Sr and Laura Jane Smith Bobbitt.

Jean matriculated through the Granville County School system and moved to Bronx, New York upon completion. There she worked for the...