William J. CHRISTIAN, one of Durham’s oldest and most influential citizens, died suddenly in Maplewood cemetery, by the side of his wife’s grave, which he was visiting for the first time in several weeks, his condition being too feeble for him to go often. Medical aid was summoned but death was instantaneous. He was born December 13, 1839. He was a valiant Confederate soldier and was a prisoner for more than 18 months on Johnson’s island. He was a staunch Baptist in his Christian faith.
Source: Pender Chronicle (Burgaw, NC); 13 May 1920.
Did you know that the NCGenWeb Project offers an index database of college and high school students at schools around the state?
Durham High School, 1921
A list of students from Durham County extracted from that database has been added to Durham County NCGenWeb site. The list currently includes more than 1800 names of students attending schools around the state. Most entries are pre-1940. You can access the list here.
This book describing the history of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church from 1878-1994 was recently added to the Internet Archive. The book contains more than 250 pages and is organized primarily under the auspices of each Rector. There are many illustrations – including pictures of church leadership, church members, and buildings of the church and in surrounding Durham areas.
Chapel Hill – Junius H. Sparrow, 57, of Rt. 6, Chapel Hill, died Monday at his home after suffering an apparent heart attack. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church by the Rev. R. H. Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lucille Oakley Sparrow; his mother, Mrs. Junius A. Sparrow of Rt. 3, Chapel Hill; three sisters, Mrs. Jessie Williams of Carrboro, Mrs. Martin Sparrow of Rt. 6, Chapel Hill, and Mrs. Robert Wilson of Durham; and three brothers, Waldo of Rt. 6, Chapel Hill, Vernon of Rt. 3, Chapel Hill, and Billy Sparrow of Chapel Hill.
J. O. Latta of Lebanon township
dropped dead at 5 o’clock this after
noon in the Banner warehouse. Heart
trouble was given as the cause of his
death; The deceased was 70 years of
age.
Mr. Latta had come to the city ____
market a quantity of produce and was
walking around in the warehouse when
death came. According to his relatives
he had been in good health recently
and his death came as a severe shock to
relatives and friends.
Surviving are three children, Mrs.
Eva Atkins, Mrs. A. T. Roberts, and
W. I. Latta, the latter being of At-
lanta.
Funeral services have not been arr-
ranged as yet in the absence of the
son of the deceased who is expected in
the city today.
A new Look up Volunteer page has been added to the Durham County NCGenWeb site. We are pleased to have some of our volunteers offer up their time too do lookups for research in the Durham County, North Carolina area. If you have copies of journals or Durham County History, Genealogy, or family books and would be willing to do lookups for Durham County researchers, please contact us.
Here is just a preview of some of the resources available from or look up volunteers:
Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest Durham County Lookups
William Bennett’s Books on Land Records in Olde Orange County which include Durham County
Hutchins Family
Cole and Dillehay Families
Quaker records of Chester County, PA
GERMANTON – Mr. William Lester “Bill” Perry, 68, died Friday, July 4, 2008, at Forsyth Medical Center.
He was born in Durham County to Corrina Perry and was of the Baptist faith. Bill was a self-employed drywall installer and was known for his ability to wheel and deal.
He was preceded in death by his mother; daughter; and two brothers.
Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Bonnie Johnson Perry; three children, Timothy Wayne Craig, Michael Anthony (Becky) Craig and David Brian (Glenda) Craig; four grandchildren, April Dawn (Doug) Bailey, Zachary Wayne Craig, Joshua Paul Maturin and Noah James Maturin; great-grandchild Austen Bailey; and favorite in-laws Marilyn and Clayton Smith.
A 1 p.m. funeral service will be conducted Monday, July 7, at Burroughs Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Clayton Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Union Gospel Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight, July 6, at the funeral home, and other times at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Stokes County, P.O. Box 10, Danbury, NC 27016.
Ms. Linda Faye Akers, 62, of Mount Airy, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Ms. Akers was born July 10, 1945, in Durham County, to the late Lonnie Eldridge and Dovie Edwards Akers.
She was a member of Victory Baptist Church. Linda was involved in Special Olympics, having won 18 medals over the years.
Surviving are three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Wanda Akers of the home, and Sheila and Richard Durham and Connie and Rodney Glidewell, all of Mount Airy; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Major Terry and Linda Edwards of Wilson, Donald and Teresa Akers of Mount Airy, and Douglas and Beverly Akers of Pinnacle; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 11:00 AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy. The service will be conducted by Major Terry Edwards and Captain Ray Morton, and burial will follow in the Old Hollow Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday night from 6:00 to 8:00 at the funeral home www.moodyfuneralservices.com
The following obituary was contributed by Hank Mabe, 18 Aug 2009.
Birth date: May 18, 1957
Death date: January 03, 2009
Reidsville – James Franklin Autry, 51, of 2301 Gibbs Rd. passed away Saturday, January 3, 2009 at Alamance Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Loftis officiating. Interment will follow at Reidlawn Cemetery.
Mr. Autry was born in Durham County to Vivian McDougal Hunt and the late George Autry.
James worked for Asplundh Tree Company and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed spending time with his dogs, Tinkerbell and Tiny. James was a loving Father that enjoyed hunting, riding his motorcycle and most of all fishing with his daughter, Miranda. James was known as a special friend to everyone.
Along with his father James is preceded in death by brother, George Edward Autry and grandmother, Carrie Langley.
Mr. Autry is survived by his wife Karen Autry of the home; son, James Leon Pruitt, Jr. of Eden; daughter, Miranda Autry of the home; grandchildren, Justice Kole Pruitt, mother, Vivian McDougal Hunt; step-father, Huey Hunt; sisters, Tina Autry of Reidsville and Shelia Waller and husband, Chris of Reidsville; step-sister, Lisa Goodman and husband, Bob of Mt. Olive, NC; special friends, Howard Tate, Randy Knighten and D.R. Smith.
The family will receive friends at Wilkerson Funeral Home Tuesday, January 6 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM and other times at the residence and at the home of sister, Shelia, 1159 Rockingham Drive, Reidsville.
Wilkerson Funeral Home will be assisting the family
The following is the obituary written by the family and posted to the Moody Funeral Services and Crematory website, www.moodyfuneralservices.com, May 10, 2009. Post submitted by Hank Mabe.
Mr. Audrey Thomas “A.T.” Barbee, Jr., 76, of West Jefferson, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center, following several weeks of illness.
A memorial service in the Quaker tradition will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2009, at White Plains Friends Meeting, followed by fellowship with the family. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors by VFW Memorial Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson.
Mr. Barbee was born October 28, 1932, in Durham County, to the late Audrey Thomas Barbee, Sr. and Fannie Lee O’Briant Barbee.
He grew up in the Lowe’s Grove Community and graduated from Lowe’s Grove High School in 1951. Mr. Barbee entered the United States Air Force in 1951 and served in the Korean Conflict and Japan in the photo reconnaissance unit with top security clearance until his discharge in 1955. Upon his return to Durham, he worked with the United States Army Research Office at Duke University prior to entering Guilford College in 1957. Mr. Barbee graduated from Guilford College in 1961 with a B.A. degree in economics and history. Following graduation, he began his thirty-year banking career in the executive training program with the North Carolina National Bank, later NCNB, now Bank of America. Mr. Barbee served offices in Greensboro, Statesville, and Morganton before retiring from the bank in 1991. Following his retirement, the Brabees moved to Beaufort. Mr. Barbee served as Chief Financial Office of Atlantic Veneer Corporation where he managed funds for the international wood processing plant with plants in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Brazil. During his career, Mr. Barbee was active on several boards and organizations, including United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Community College Co-op Education, Junior Achievement, Jaycees, Community Concerts, Manufacturers Roundtable, Beaufort Business and Professional Association, Rotary Club, and Trout Unlimited.
He met Millie Marshall at Guilford College and they were married on August 19, 1961.
He is survived by Millie Marshall Barbee of the home; a beloved daughter, Elizabeth Barbee Shronce (Beth); and two beautiful granddaughters, Katherine Grace Shronce and Anna Elizabeth Shronce of Hickory.
Mr. Barbee enjoyed taking his granddaughters on hikes and teaching them to appreciate the natural beauty of the mountains and the coast. Throughout their forty-seven year marriage, the Barbees have been avid preservationist of the natural environment and the state’s historic resources. Mr. Barbee enjoyed sailing, painting, wildflower photography, trout fishing, golf, and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the New River and the Appalachian Trail. Memorials may be made to White Plains Friends Meeting and Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust.
Audrey Thomas (A.T.) Barbee, Jr., age 76, of West Jefferson, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009 at the Watauga Medical Center following several weeks of illness.
A memorial service in the Quaker tradition will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, at the White Plains Friends Meeting (Quaker), followed by fellowship with the family. The Meeting House is located in the White Plains community near Mount Airy. Graveside services will follow in the White Plains Friends Cemetery.
Moody Funeral Service of Mount Airy will assist with the burial.
The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson.
Mr. Barbee was born in Durham County on Oct. 28, 1932 to the late Audrey Thomas Barbee, Sr. and Fannie Lee O’Briant Barbee. He grew up in the Lowe’s Grove Community and graduated from Lowe’s Grove High School in 1951. Mr. Barbee entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and served in the Korean Conflict and Japan in the photo reconnaissance unit with top security clearance until his discharge in 1955. Upon his return to Durham, he worked with the U.S. Army Research Office at Duke University prior to entering Guilford College in 1957.
Mr. Barbee graduated from Guilford College in 1961 with a B.A. Degree in Economics and History. Following graduation he began his thirty-year banking career in the executive training program with the North Carolina National Bank, later NCNB, now Bank of America. Mr. Barbee served offices in Greensboro, Statesville and Morganton, before retiring from the bank in 1991. Following his retirement, the Barbee’s moved to Beaufort, NC. Mr. Barbee served as Chief Financial Officer of Atlantic Veneer Corporation, where he managed funds for the international wood processing plant with plants in the U.S., Canada, Germany and Brazil.
During his career, Mr. Barbee was active on several boards and organizations including; United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Community College Co-op Education, Junior Achievement, Jaycees, Community Concerts, Manufacturers Roundtable, Beaufort Business and Professional Association, Rotary Club and Trout Unlimited.
He met Millie Marshall at Guilford College and they were married on Aug. 19, 1961. He is survived by Millie M. Barbee of the home; a beloved daughter, Elizabeth Barbee Shronce (Beth); and two beautiful granddaughters, Katherine Grace Shronce and Anna Elizabeth Shronce of Hickory. Mr. Barbee enjoyed taking his granddaughters on hikes and teaching them to appreciate the natural beauty of the mountains and the coast. Throughout their forty-seven year marriage, the Barbee’s have been avid preservationists of the natural environment and the state’s historic resources. Mr. Barbee enjoyed sailing, painting, wildflower photography, trout fishing, golf and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the New River and the Appalachian Trail.
Memorials may be made to the White Plains Friends Meeting and the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust.
You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com
Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.
