Obituaries

Sandra "Sandy" Buchanan passed away January 18, 2026 of natural causes in Chapel Hill, NC. She was born and raised in Devils Lake, ND to Byron and Carol Johnston in a home filled with laughter and love. Her two sisters, Penny McMahon and Jodi Ahlfors, preceded her in death.Sandy and her first husband, Donald Duffey,…

SEGUE VERSIONE ITALIANAMichele Fratta, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on January 14, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, surrounded by family.Michele was born on July 23, 1938, on a farm in the small town of Casalvecchio di Puglia, the youngest of five. His siblings encouraged their father to send Michele to high…

David Vaun Moffat passed this life peacefully on January 12, 2026, surrounded by family. David had a quick wit and loved making people laugh. His keen mind and genuine curiosity about the world guided his life. He was extremely well-read and well-informed and he enjoyed debating his strongly-held beliefs that evolved from his scholarship. His interests…

George Edward Erickson passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, at Duke Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, NC after a 2.5-year illness. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary; daughter, Kelley; son, George, Jr. (and his wife Nicole); brother Charlie (and his wife Nancy and their children, Eddie and Danny); and many…

Gene Morgan Presson, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina. Born on June 28, 1940, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Gene was the oldest son of the late Ruth and Cecil Presson. He spent his final moments surrounded by love and the calming presence of his…

Philip Norman Hablutzel was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, on August 23, 1935, and died peacefully in Durham, North Carolina on January 6, 2026, holding the hand of his beloved wife Nancy (née Zimmerman). Between those dates he became an internationally-recognized expert in international finance; co-drafted model and Illinois laws; and helped to found the Chicago…

Billy Charles Jones, Sr., a dedicated crane operator and project manager in the construction industry, passed away on January 5, 2026 at the age of 85 in Efland, North Carolina. Born on March 20, 1940, he spent his life making significant contributions to his field while earning the respect of colleagues and friends alike.Educated as…

William Davis Waters finished the living history of his life on January 2, 2026 before departing for a new chapter of eternal life in heaven. Despite multiple medical issues, including kidney disease for the last 15 years, he never gave up his slow sweet smile, attention to detail, or a genuine "thank you" for every…

Glenda Lee Small, age 76, of Burlington, NC, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, after a two-year illness.Born on May 1, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Bernice and Kenneth Wulf, she will be remembered for her Kindness, generosity, strength, smart, funny, and beauty. She was the oldest of seven children. She…

Celia Gabriela (Escobar) Urquijo, 47, of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on December 31st, 2025, at Beacon Place in Greensboro, North Carolina with her daughter by her side.Gaby was born June 9th, 1978 in Santa Ana, El Salvador to Imelda (Ortiz) Escobar and Luis Escobar. She made her way to the United States when she…