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Patsy Diane Helms
Patsy Diane Helms, 64, of Cary, died Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at her home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at Mid-Way Baptist Church, 6910 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh. Burial will follow in the Apex Cemetery, Apex.
She is survived by her husband, Grady Helms of Cary; son, Skip Helms of Cary; daughters, Marty C. Helms of Englewood, Fla., Sandra D. Snow of Fruitland Park, Fla., and Pamela D. Bujnowski of Chancellor, Ala.; mother, Helen S. King of Union Co. N.C.; grandchildren, Jake, Gregory, Amanda, Hanna, Melissa and Emile.
Patsy joins her grandson, Tyler C. Helms in Heaven.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church prior to the service.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27605-1276.
Arrangements are entrusted to Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St. (N.C. 55), Apex.
Robert Douglas Powell
Robert Douglas Powell passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at his home in Windsor Point Retirement Center in Fuquay-Varina. He was the youngest of 14 children born November 7, 1925, to Cary D. and Eva Cook Powell. Mr. Powell was a loving husband and father with a deep desire to provide and to plan for his family. He will be remembered as an astute businessman with an eye for innovation and creativity coupled with a strong work ethic. In business, he was a compassionate employer who took a personal interest in each individual employee. He was fun loving, far sighted and blessed with many talents. Golfing and fishing were hobbies he enjoyed.
Mr. Powell was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. After discharge from the Navy in 1947, he opened Powell and Jones Hardware on East Vance Street in Fuquay-Varina, a building materials, hardware and farm supply store. In 1948 he founded Varina Wholesale Builders Supply, which expanded into seven states with 28 locations before merging with Wickes Corporation in 1968. The Raleigh News and Observer honored him as Tar Heel of the Week in 1958, recognizing that Douglas Powell “Made Varina a profitable name.”
Through the years he has been known as an entrepreneur and a visionary involved in a variety of successful business ventures that included Bluegill Manufacturing Company, Golf Carts Inc., States Tobacco Company, Products International, Ltd. and Powell General Partnership. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for Durham & Southern Railroad, Bald Head Development Company, Fuquay Ford Motor Company, Fuquay Furniture Company, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Tobacco Warehouses Inc. and Virginia International Company.
From 1975 to 1977, Mr. Powell served as Mayor of the Town of Fuquay-Varina and from 1977 to 1981 he served as a member of the Town Board of Commissioners. Long-range city planning to prepare Fuquay-Varina for future growth and budgeting control were emphasized as important goals during his tenure in public office.
A native of Fuquay-Varina, Mr. Powell was active in the Fuquay-Varina Methodist Church, holding many offices and leading in various capacities. At his passing he was a current member of the Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lynn Peedin Powell; son, Timothy D. Powell and wife, Jane of Fuquay-Varina, and daughters: Eva Powell Daniel and husband Jeff of Fuquay-Varina, and Debra Powell Hardison and husband Clarence of Indianapolis, Ind.; grandchildren: Robert Powell II and wife Lindsay, Ernest Jefferson Daniel III, Wesley Powell Daniel, William Powell Hardison and Anna Elizabeth Powell; sisters-in-law: Ina Mae B. Powell, Ruby G. Powell, Rochelle W. Powell and Erith C. Powell, all of Fuquay-Varina.
Mr. Powell was preceded in death by his daughter, Becky Powell Roth; sisters: Avis Rowland, Mary Lee Clark, Lillian Jones and Catherine Forrest; and by brothers: J. Dewey Powell, Rex G. Powell, Gaston Ray Powell, Cary D. Powell Jr., Horace C. Powell, Eddie Powell and Hoke C. Powell.
A celebration of life for former Fuquay-Varina Mayor and businessman Robert Douglas Powell are planned for 11 am on Friday, July 13, in Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church with interment at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends immediately following the services, at the home of Tim Powell, 1109 Wilbon Road, Fuquay-Varina, until 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church, 301 North Woodrow St., Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, or to The Children’s Home Society of N.C., P.O. Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415.
Arrangements are under the direction of Apex Funeral Directors.
Catherine Barker Gray
Catherine Barker Gray, 53, of Cary passed into the loving arms of the Lord on May 16, 2007. She joins in Heaven her mother, Dorothy Templeton Barker and her nephew, Christopher Jordan.
She had a gentle and loving spirit filled with laughter. Her joy will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived Allan B. Gray, father of their two loving sons, Baylor Gray and Brandon Gray of Wilmington; her father, James C. Barker of Hickory; her sister and husband, Barbara and Jim Faulkner of Apex; her brothers and wives, Jim and Candy Barker of Raleigh and Bill and Crystal Barker of Winston-Salem. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephews, Brian Barker, David Barker, Ben Barker, Kara Barker, Sarah and Matt English and Katie Barker; her dog, Bogey and cat, Demi; and two special friends, Rob Watson and Chris Jones.
A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 2007 in the Chapel of Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St. (N.C. 55), Apex. The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. following the service at Apex Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA of Wake County, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Estelle Hope Whitehurst Lane
Estelle Hope Whitehurst Lane, 89, died peacefully May 9, 2007, at the home of her daughter. She was born in Virginia Beach, Va., to Clarence and Sallie Whitehurst and was preceded in death by her husband, Rodney Washington Lane, whom she married on Oct. 8, 1938.
Mrs. Lane is survived by her daughter, Betty Buffington of Cary, and son, Richard Lane of Raleigh, and his wife, Amelia. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Morgan Lane of Red Wing, Minn., Craig Lane of Charlotte, Carter Ellenberg of Wilmington, and Heather Gray and Hope Williams of Cary. Mrs. Lane is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 12, at 11 a.m. in Virginia Beach at Charity United Methodist Church with the Reverend William H. Nuckols Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Charity United Methodist Church Building Fund, 4080 Charity Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23457.
Ethel Dickens Johnson
Ethel Dickens Johnson, 89, of Cary, died peacefully at home Sunday, June 3, 2007. She was a lifelong member of Green Level Baptist Church where she served faithfully in various capacities.
A service celebrating her life and home going was held on Tuesday, June 5, at 11 a.m. in the Green Level Baptist Church. Burial followed in the Church Cemetery. The Rev. Keith Vaughn officiated the service. The family received friends, immediately following the graveside committal, in the Green Level Baptist Church fellowship hall.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Leo C. Johnson; two children: Linda J. Hale and her husband Steve of Lake Norman, and Freeman Johnson and his wife Peggy of Apex; and one granddaughter, Stephanie Hale of Raleigh.
Those desiring to do so may make memorials to the Green Level Baptist Church Building Fund, 8509 Green Level Church Road, Cary, NC 27519.
John P. Yadusky
John P. Yadusky, 44, of Apex died on Wednesday, June 13, 2007.
Survived by his wife Sally and three children Megan, Sarah, and Jacob.
Currently living in Apex, the family were regular attendees and members of Apex Baptist Church.
After graduating from N.C. State, John began his career in Charleston, S.C. at the former Charleston Naval Shipyard as an engineer.
While working at the Charleston Naval Shipyard John met Sally and they united in marriage on April 21, 1990.
John's career took him and Sally to Wilmington to work for Progress Energy (CP&L; at the time).
While living in Wilmington during the spring of '96 Megan was born.
He attended UNC Wilmington and received his master's degree.
In '98 John made a career move that took his new family to Apex where they have been ever since.
Since settling in Apex, John had been working as a Leading Licensing Engineer for Progress Energy.
While living in Apex during the fall of '98 Sarah was born.
The final member of the family, Jacob, was born in July of '03.
Family time and vacations were a huge part of John's life.
One of the favorite pastimes was taking their RV to various RV resorts throughout the mountains and the Southeast along with enjoying fishing, barbecues and family gatherings.
Another yearly vacation was a long trip to Disney World.
In addition to RV resorts and Disney, when the children were tracked out of school, the family traveled to theme parks and water parks around the Southeast including a favorite: Kings Dominion in Virginia.
At Apex Baptist Church John was a very active member. He was the kindergarten director for the AWANA Program for several years.
John was a member of various men's small groups. He was also a Yoke fellow; a deacon in training.
As a devout Christian, John was always willing to help where needed and put others ahead of himself.
A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, 2007 at Apex Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the service at Apex Baptist Church.
Those considering memorial contributions may make them to: Apex Baptist Church, 110 S. Salem St., Apex, in memory of John P. Yadusky.
