Obituaries

Bill W. Bell, 76, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away on August 8, 2026. Born on November 4, 1949, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, Bill was the son of Ada and Ulysses Bell.Bill lived a life marked by his devotion to family, his gift for friendship, and his enthusiasm for life's many adventures. He spent most…

John Bruce Nordquist died on August 4, 2026, from Primary Progressive Aphasia at his home in Cary, North Carolina. He was 80 years old.The oldest of three boys, John was born on March 23, 1946, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His father, John Franklin Nordquist, was a Station Manager for Western Airlines. His mother, Edith…

Dr. Vivian Barnett Brown was born to Herman Barnett Brown and Sarah (Smolinsky) Brown and grew up in Jackson Heights, New York. Thanks to her mother, she discovered a love of reading at a very early age (3!) and remained a prodigious reader for all her life. After graduating from Queens College with a major…

Dede Wingender Hall died Monday, August 3, 2026, in Chapel Hill, NC. She was 76.A real estate broker, world traveler, and bon vivant, Dede loved Bridge, Michelin Star dining, and Oscar-worthy films. She is remembered as a mother and grandmother, the life and host of the party, a person who lived through much medical adversity,…

Mark Allen Snuggs, 69, passed away peacefully after a sudden illness following a battle with cancer on Monday, August 3, 2026, in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at UNC Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family.Mark was born on June 3, 1957, in Hamlet, North Carolina, to Ella Rea Snuggs and Billy Frank Snuggs…

Helen Long Hilderman died at Hock Family Pavilion on July 30, 2026, following a brief illness. She was surrounded by family and friends. She was one day shy of her 103rd birthday.Helen was born in Danville, VA, to Walter Carrington Hilderman, Sr. and Myrtle Fleurette Long Hilderman. She had two older siblings, Walter Carrington Hilderman…

En Memoria de Nuestra Querida Esposa, Madre y AbuelaCon profundo pesar, despedimos a una mujer que dejó una huella imborrable en la vida de todos los que tuvimos la dicha de conocerla.Fue una hija ejemplar, una esposa incondicional y una madre que supo amar a cada uno de sus hijos de manera distinta, entregándoles siempre…

Kate Broome Matista, born on June 6, 1954, in Orlando, Florida, passed away on July 27, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina. Her passing followed a brief reoccurrence of a cancer she had bravely fought two years earlier. Kate’s resilience, courage, grit, and dedication to her daughters remained steadfast throughout her journey.Kate’s early years shaped her…

John Robert Barton, 80, who found his greatest contentment on a sailboat easing out of Matthews Point Marina into the Neuse River, died on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Duke Hospital.John was born December 22, 1945, in Greensboro, North Carolina, the son of Oakell Lee Barton Jr. and Fannie Lou Henson Barton. He attended Wingate…

On July 25th, Willis Houston (Will or WH) Needham, Jr. passed after a long illness at his daughter’s home. Will, or WH as he was known to his family and friends in Thomasville, was a gentleman through and through. He adored his wife Rita, their family, and the life they made together. A man of…