Lisa Anne Benkowski
Lisa Anne Benkowski, 36, of Apex, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003. Lisa is survived by her husband, Michael David Benkowski; daughters, Hanna and Katherine Benkowski; parents, Stephen and Susan Mueller of DeSoto, Texas, and Timothy and Faye Weill of Nashville, Tenn.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, David and Judy Benkowski of Green Bay, Wis.; sisters, Bridget Wadley of Rockwall, Texas, Tina Tollefsbol of DeSoto, Texas, and Katherine Hanners of Corpus Christi, Texas; paternal grandmother, Mary Weill of Racine, Wis.; maternal grandfather, Floyd Ockey of Salt Lake City, Utah; and a niece and several nephews.
Lisa graduated from Saint Catherine's High School in Racine, Wis. Upon her graduation from Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wis., she completed her doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Her postdoctoral research was under the supervision of the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chemistry Department. She was a member of the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Lisa was an active member in the St. Mary's Magdalene Church and school community, donating time and talent for the advancement of faith and education.
Her unselfish view of life will be missed by family and friends from around the world. Her courageous daily struggle with colon cancer was not shown to others because she never wanted to trouble anyone with her pain or battle. Lisa will be missed greatly by everyone and we are the special ones to have known her for this short amount of time. Her spirit will live on forever in all of us. We truly believe that she is resting in peace and without pain for the first time in over nine months. May God bless you, Lisa, and may you continue to watch over us.
A funeral mass was held Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 11, at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex. The family received friends following the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Magdalene School in the name of Lisa Benkowski Science Fund, 625 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502.
Mitchell Theo Burden
Mitchell Theo Burden, 82, of Apex died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at Western Wake Medical Center. Mr. Burden was a corporal in the U.S. Army serving under General George S. Patton in the European and North African campaigns in World War II. He was a Mason and member of Apex Baptist Church. Mr. Burden was a mechanical designer with Monsanto Inc. for more than 25 years.
A funeral service was held Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, at Apex Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Qualls officiating. Burial followed in Apex Cemetery.
He is survived by his sons, Tim Burden and wife, Tina, and Mark Burden and wife, Karen, all of Apex; daughters, Margaret B. Seagroves and husband, Bill, of Apex, and Pam B. Terrell and husband, Brian, of Fuquay-Varina; brother, Charles Burden and wife, Frances, of Hartselle, Ala.; grandchildren, Sgt. First Class Charles "Ronnie" Branton and wife, Charito, Matthew and Lori Burden, and Megan Terrell; and a special pet, Buddy. His wife, Melissa H. Burden, predeceased him.
The family received friends on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Apex Funeral Home. To honor Mr. Burden's memory, the family requests contributions to Meals on Wheels, 707 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Western Wake Medical Center and in particular Dr. Himanshu Parikh for his special care of Dad.
Milton Clay Jones
Milton Clay Jones, 90, of Holly Springs Road, Raleigh, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 at Rex Nursing Care of Apex. He was born in Wake County on Jan. 19, 1913 to A. P. P. Jones and Annie Virginia Maynard. Mr. Jones was a farmer, trucker and volunteer fireman with the Swift Creek Fire Department. A funeral service was held Saturday, Nov. 8, at Macedonia United Methodist Church with the Rev. Glen Mason officiating. Entombment followed in Montlawn Memorial Park.
Mr. Jones is survived by his daughter, Rildia J. Pritchett and husband, Douglas, of Cary; grandchildren, Natalie and Brian Pritchett of Cary; sisters, Mary Virginia Jones and Annie Lee Wester and husband, Elmo, all of Raleigh; and brother, Russell Jones and wife, Eva, of Raleigh. His wife, Mavis Atkins Jones, died March 27, 2003. His brothers Bryce Jones and Henry Jones also preceded him in death.
The family received friends Friday, Nov. 7, at Apex Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Rildia Pritchett in Cary.
Those considering memorial contributions may make them to Macedonia United Methodist Church Building Fund, or Hospice of Wake County.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Rex Nursing Care of Apex and Hospice of Wake County.
Leonard Wayne Christian
Leonard Wayne Christian, 61, of Garner died Thursday evening, Feb. 5, 2004, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham. Wayne retired from the trucking industry after a lengthy career in law enforcement.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the Apex Funeral Home Chapel in Apex. The family received friends immediately following the service.
Surviving are a son, Jeffery Wayne Christian and wife Lori of Willow Springs; a daughter, Stephanie C. Hubbard of Cary; a brother, Robert Christian of Wake Forest; and three sisters, Cheryle Holland of Willow Springs, Judi Price of Wake Forest and Rosemary Daughtry of Swansboro. Wayne also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 27624, Raleigh, NC 27611.
Charles Hamilton Norman Jr.
Charles Hamilton (Chuck) Norman Jr. of Cary died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004. He died peacefully at Rex Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, following a lengthy and valiant battle with cancer.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Cary First United Methodist Church. The family received friends at the church immediately following the service.
Chuck was born Aug. 17, 1929 in Atlanta, Ga., and was the son of the late Norma Hunt Norman and Charles Hamilton Norman Sr. He moved to Charlotte at an early age, and resided there with his family until entering Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and Hollywood, Fla. After graduating, Chuck proudly served two years as a Cpl. 1st Class in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In 1951, Chuck married Barbara M. Reid of Charlotte. In 1957 he moved his family to Cary, where he thrived as an outstanding salesman before establishing his private printing business until his retirement in 1996. For over 30 years, Chuck was dedicated to the girls and boys of Cary and Wake County, serving as commissioner of Pop Warner football and cheerleading and the Consolidated Football Federation. After his retirement from the CFF in 2001, the Chuck Norman Invitational Bowl was established in his name, and will be played each year by youth molded by his guidance and leadership. Chuck was awarded the Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc. Mid-South Region 1995 Male Volunteer of the Year. As quoted by members of the CFF, “Truly great men inspire greatness.”
In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by his brother, James William Norman.
Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Barbara Reid Norman of the home; his son, Dr. Charles Hamilton Norman III and his wife, Sharon Brown Norman of Greensboro; his daughter, Dianne Norman Robinson and her husband, Donnie Robinson of Greenville; his grandson, Matthew Taylor Norman of Bowling Green, Ky.; his granddaughter, Emily Ashford Norman of Elon; two stepgrandsons, Donnie Robinson II and family of Wilson, and Scott Robinson and family of Kinston; and one sister, Carol Norman Hurwitz of Charlotte.
Chuck always considered his family to be the true joy of his life. His happiest moments were those spent with Barbara, his children and his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Consolidated Football Federation (CFF) c/o Mike Baldwin, 3100 Sherry Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604; or Cary First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 117 S. Academy St., Cary, NC 27511.
Roy Timberlake Reams
Roy Timberlake Reams, 87, of Raleigh went home to be with his Lord on Friday, Feb. 6, 2004. He had worked as a mechanic with the State Division of Highways for over 30 years.
A graveside service celebrating his life was held Sunday afternoon, Feb. 8, in the Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh. The Rev. Dr. Jeff Beckett officiated the service, with burial following.
Mr. Reams is survived by his wife of 61 years, Clara Goodwin Reams of the home; a sister-in-law, Ila Reams of Apex; a brother-in-law, Reginald Malloy of Ellicott City, Md.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Ethel Reams; brothers, Robert, Kenneth, Waylon, Frank and Graham Reams; and a sister, Estell Malloy.
The family received friends on Saturday evening, Feb. 7, at the Apex Funeral Home in Apex.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Salem Baptist Church Building Fund, 1200 Salem Church Road, Apex, NC 27502.
Allison J. Beckwith
Allison (Al) Jefferson Beckwith, 75, of New Hill died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at Western Wake Medical Center in Cary.
Mr. Beckwith was a veteran of the Korean War. He was employed with Carolina Power & Light Co. for 42 years and was with the Lions Club for 30 years. Mr. Beckwith was known as “Big Al” for 52 years at Al's French Fries at the State Fair. He was an active member of Olive Chapel Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
A funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 10, at Olive Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Dennis Long officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Fannie H. Beckwith; sons, Glenn Beckwith and wife, Kim, and Jeff Beckwith, both of Apex; daughter, Debra Litsey and husband, Bryan of Salt Lake City, Utah; stepsons, David and Jeff Briggs of New Hill, and Rich Briggs of Kinston; sister, Louise Tollerfson of Darien, Conn.; three grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Coley and Gladys Beckwith, and brother, William Beckwith.
The family received friends Monday evening, Feb. 9, at Apex Funeral Home in Apex, and all other times at the home.
Flowers are welcome and memorials may be given to Olive Chapel Baptist Church, 600 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex, NC 27502.
Marian Jean Redmond
Marian Jean Redmond, 41, of Cary died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh after a sudden illness.
Mar grew up in Sparta, N.J., and was the daughter of John H. Redmond, who survives her, and the late Jeanette K. McCarthy Redmond. She was a graduate of Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pa., and received her master's in education: supervision and mathematics from the University of Calgary in Canada. Mar taught mathematics from 1987 until 2001 in grades 3-6.
She and her family moved to Cary in 1999. Mar was an active member of St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church in Cary.
She was committed to actively caring for people and the environment. Mar had a deep and abiding faith in God. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Marian will be greatly missed by her family.
In addition to her father, Marian is survived by her husband of 12 years Garnell Lewis of the home in Cary; her two beloved children, son, Rory Garnell Lewis and daughter McCarthy Redmond Janice Lewis of the home; her brother, John J. Redmond Jr. and his wife, Kathleen of Howell, N.J.; her two sisters, Jean Marie Redmond of Eureka, Calif., and Kathleen Ann Redmond of New Bern.
The family received friends Monday and Tuesday evenings, Feb. 9-10, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. A Mass of the Resurrection was held Wednesday at St. Michael's, with burial following at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Maryknoll Order, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, N.Y. 10545-03161.
Condolences may be made through MeM.com.
James S. 'Sid' Smith
Sid Smith, 59, died Feb. 9, 2004, at Rex Hospital after a brave and courageous battle with lung cancer.
Sid, who was born May 28, 1944, was employed 24 years with Tipper Tie Inc. in Apex as a Tooling Engineer. Sid served in the U.S. Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran. He was proud to be an American, live in Apex and work at Tipper Tie. Sid loved life, his family and his many friends. He was an avid golfer, a true Southern gentleman and ever an optimist. His patience and kindness served him well in work and play. To all his golfing buddies — thanks for all your love, prayers and support. To our Salem Church family and numerous friends — we couldn't have made it without you.
A funeral service will be held today, Thursday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church in Apex.
Burial will be in the church cemetery. Dr. Jeff Beckett will officiate. The family received friends Wednesday evening at the Apex Funeral Home in Apex, and other times at the home.
Sid is survived by his wife, Marcia Walters Smith; a stepson, Dean S. Woody of Cary; mother-in-law, Louise K. Walters of Apex; sister and brother-in-law, Alice Lloyd and T. G. of Four Oaks; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Greg Smith and Sandy, and Mike Smith and Vallie of Raleigh; a brother-in-law, Mac Walters of Apex; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Apex Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 765, Apex, NC 27502, or the Salem Baptist Church building fund, 1200 Salem Church Road, Apex, NC 27523.
The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye.
The story of love is hello and goodbye, until we meet again.
