Obituaries

Billy H. George

Wake Forest

Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home. Obituary to follow.

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Lori Ann Charalidis

Wake Forest

“You trusted me to love you in life. Now you can trust me to honor you in death. I will not let you down. I will not let you go.”

Lori Pursley Charalidis passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, after courageously battling cancer.  She was born July 14, 1967, in Huntington Park, California to Evelyn Burroughs (Bro Bro) and Darwin Pursely. After high school, she attended Cerritos College in California, and then went on to work as a headhunter before she became a stay at home mom to Elie Charalidis.  She spent every day ensuring her family was finding the most joy in each day.  In 2019 she began working at Thales Academy Wake Forest as a Preschool Teacher Assistant. You could find her daily in a themed headband, inflatable costume at carpool, or covered in glitter as she absolutely loved working with children. Lori loved the beach and would spend any spare weekends with her family or friends at her house in Emerald Isle.  She enjoyed being with her friends near and far as she always made a point to make it to girls’ night, birthday celebrations, neighborhood get together and loved a themed party.  When she wasn’t spending time with her daughter Elie, she was out thrifting, reading, baking, or enjoying a good tv show in her comfy cozies. She is proceeded in death by Russell McDowell (brother), and Hildegard Miller (grandmother).  Survivors are Eliana Charalidis (daughter), Evelyn Burroughs (mother), Darwin Pursely (father), Danielle Carlson (sister) and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and of course Pixie Pancake. To know Lori was to love Lori. She had such an excitement to live life well.

Celebration of Life is Saturday April 20th at Compass Rose Brewery from 11 AM -3 PM

Address – 3201 Northside DR #101 Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

Should friends and family desire, contributions may be sent to Evelyn Burroughs for Elie’s future or to Lori’s favorite charity St. Jude’s.

Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home. 

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Patricia Ann (Stainback) Hart

Louisburg

Patricia Ann (Stainback) Hart, 79, of Louisburg passed away on Thursday April 11, 2024 in Henderson. She was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, the daughter of George “Preacher” Graham Stainback and Wilma Grey Dean Stainback. She was a farmer, primarily of tobacco, and a loving wife and mother.

A graveside memorial service will be held Friday April 19, 2024 at 2 o’clock at the Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery 1529 Flat Rock Church Rd, Louisburg, NC 27549. An informal gathering will be held in the Church Fellowship Building following the service.

She is survived by husband of 63 years Lowell Thomas (Tommy) Hart; son Patrick Hart and daughter-in-law Lhing; brother-in-law Phil Hart (Marie); niece Tammy (Stainback) Jackson; nephews RD Stainback, Jimmy Stainback, Jay Stainback, Phil Hart Jr., and John Hart; and numerous grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by brothers Ralph Stainback (Jane) and Bill Stainback (Lorraine).

Patricia was the number one guard on the Youngsville High School Phantoms team, where she was All-County and All-Conference, which was especially impressive given her 4’11” height. She was a hard-working and determined person, who took up farming at a time when it was not an accessible career path for women. She gave an interview regarding her farming endeavors, where she stated that “I feel that every individual should do what they feel like doing as an American; the only thing that should hold us back is our capabilities, not whether we are a man or a woman.” She cherished her more than six decades of living with her family on their farm, where she had too many cats to count, including her most special Dixie Cat. Throughout her life, she was most proud of her beloved son Patrick and her long and happy marriage to Tommy.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Flat Rock Baptist Church, 1529 Flat Rock Church Road Louisburg, NC 27549.

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Wake Forest, NC.

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Francis K. Uveges

Rolesville

Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home. Obituary to follow.

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Homer Raydon Aiken

Homer Raydon Aikin, 94, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Homer was a great man who lived by these words: Be kind one to another. He grew up in a coal mining town in Illinois and survived the great depression.  Homer joined the army at 17 and served more than 20 years which included the Korean war. Later, he was also a civil servant for another 20 years for the Department of Defense. He served as a Deacon in various churches during his lifetime and loved Jesus with all his heart. 

Homer is survived by six children, thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and two great, great grandchildren.

We are sure that heaven welcomed Homer with a big party and proclaimed the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Homer lived a beautiful life and died a beautiful death surrounded by his closest family members and friends.

A celebration of Homer’s life will be held at Seven Marks Church, Raleigh, NC on April 19th at 2:00 in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, Homer would have appreciated donations to his local VFW chapter.  If you would like to donate you can go to VFW8466.org, scroll to DONATE TO WAKE FOREST MEMORIAL POST 8466 or you may write a check to Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466 and mail it to VFW Post 8466, P.O. Box 1162, Wake Forest, NC 27588.

Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.  

Bright Funeral Home is serving the Aikin family.

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Marie Hampton Briley

Raleigh

Marcie Hampton Briley passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 surrounded by her family. Marcie is in the arms of Jesus after a long battle with multiple health issues. 

She was born in Asheville, NC and attended Meredith College where she met Sid.  Sid and Marcie were married in 1958 before he deployed to Korea with the US Army.  While he was away, she completed her degree at Meredith and taught elementary school for a few years.  When Sid returned from Korea, they started their life together in Fayetteville.  After Sid was discharged from the US Army, they moved to Goldsboro, NC where they raised their 3 children.  Marcie was active in First Baptist Church, and Garden Club.  Marcie worked at Wayne Community College, and then for Pro-Chem in outside sales for over 20 years. 

Sid and Marcie fell in love with the coast and made many memories and great friends at Salter Path Family Campground.  At the end of each summer season, Marcie would cry as they drove over the bridge knowing that she would have to wait a few months for “beach weather” again.

In 1989, Sid and Marcie followed their dream and moved to Swansboro where they lived for 33 years.  They made a lot of dear friends in Swansboro.   

Marcie is survived by her husband, Sid Briley, and her children Stuart Briley (Sharon Bradford), Greg Briley (Mary Briley), and David Briley (Janet Briley), and grandchildren Kaitlin Holland, Sydney Murphy, Hampton Briley, Luke Briley, Joshua Briley, Madison Briley, Hannah Briley, and Jackson Briley.  She is also survived by 7 great grandchildren; Lucy Holland, James Holland, Jack Holland, Teddy Holland, Clara Murphy, and Margot Murphy. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marshall Hampton and Ruth Hampton.

Marcie was a ball of energy.  She spent a lot of time gardening and had a yard worthy of a magazine cover.  She had a deep love of animals.  In her younger years, she loved riding horses.  She had many dogs and cats, and would sometimes surprise Sid with a new stray that she rescued.  Marcie was a true servant of the Lord and invested her energies serving others through her church, mission trips, and volunteering at Hem of his Garment in Swansboro.  For years, she would shuttle friends to doctor appointments or take them a meal. 

A memorial service for Marcie will be held on Saturday, April 13 2024 at 2:00 pm at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC.  Friends may visit with the family following the memorial service. 

If you are inclined to make a donation, Marcie was passionate about serving others so we request that donations be made to Appalachia Service Project.

Donate – Swansboro United Methodist Church (churchcenter.com)

Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.

Bright Funeral Home is serving the Briley family.

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Hannah Valeria (Val) Harp

Raleigh

In Celebration and Loving Memory of Hannah Valeria (Val) Harp November 17, 1935 – April 7, 2024

Hannah Valeria “Val” Harp, age 88, passed away with family at her side April 7th, 2024 at Transitions LifeCare.   Born on November 17, 1935, in rural Durham County on a beautiful country farm to Hannah Valeria Little and Walter James Little, Sr.  Born the third child out of seven children in the “Little Family” she was lovingly named after her mother. After her mother’s death Val became the Matriarch or the glue that held her family together.

Preceded in death by her sisters, Laura Chappell (Apex) and Elva Cliborne (Richmond, VA); brother, Gerald Little (Atlantic Beach); and half-brother Walter Little Jr. (Durham). She is survived by daughter, Donna Huckabee (David) of Charlotte; sisters, Georgie Kovaleski of Raleigh, Lois Dills (Mike) of Louisburg; brother, Randall Little of Durham (dear family friend Marie Williams of Cary) and a host of wonderful nieces and nephews on both the “Little” and “Harp” side of the families.

 Val graduated from Bethesda high school in Durham and married her late, devoted husband, Frank Harp in 1953. They were married for almost 54 wonderful years with his passing in 2007. The union of their marriage blessed her with another large family having nine children, the “Harp Family.” She was the last one of the senior Harps.

After their marriage, Frank’s parents Oma and Grover Harp came to live with them, and thou no easy task working and raising a small daughter, Val and Frank cared for his parents. Val was also very instrumental in the care of her own Mother.  Val and Frank were always present to help out in times of hardship and need and visited loved ones who were sick or in nursing homes. They were members for many years of Creedmoor Road Baptist Church in Raleigh. In later years when she was able, Val attended Grace Fellowship Church of God in Youngsville, Pastor Rodney Harp (retired 2023).

Val worked in the administrative department for the NC Employment Security Commission and after retiring from the state with 30 years of service, she went to work part time at Fallon’s Florist and held other various part time positions while waiting for her husband to retire from the Post Office.

Val and Frank loved their yard work – mowing, trimming, digging out bushes, planting flowers.  She “thrived” on being out in the yard. A wonderful seamstress, Val made her daughter’s prom dresses, intricate Barbie Doll out fits, everyday clothing, matching Mother/Daughter Easter outfits when her daughter was small. Val and Frank enjoyed refinishing old furniture to restore back to original state (chairs, trunks, and tables to name a few.)  She took up decorative floral painting on furniture, jewelry boxes and various items. If it was not nailed down, she painted it and brought it back to new life with pretty floral patterns.  An avid walker. Those who knew her well, regarded her as a “real Elvis Fan”. Val adored her little dog “Frankie Angel” who she lovingly named after her late husband and called “Angel.”

After nearly 55 years living in her home (15 years alone) in 2022 she moved to Sunrise at North Hills Assisted Living.  Where she made new friends and continued caring for others less fortunate by pushing them in wheelchairs and helping cut up their food.

The family wants to thank the Staff and the friends at Sunrise at North Hills where she resided for the past two years for the care and love given to her. Also to thank the staff, nurses, social worker and Chaplains (Liz and Barbara) at Hospice Transitions LifeCare for the support and care they showed her and family during the final days.

In lieu of flowers: Memorial Contributions for Val Harp may be made to Grace Fellowship Church of God- 8005 Harp’s Lane, Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919) 757-4241 — or to Hospice Transitions LifeCare – 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 (919)828-0890.

A funeral service will be conducted in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. 

Entombment for Val’s final resting place will immediately follow in the Mausoleum of Pine Forest Memorial Gardens. (770 Stadium Dr, Wake Forest, NC 27587).

Bright Funeral Home (405 S. Main St. Wake Forest, NC 27587)

Arrangements in the care of Bright Funeral Home. 

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