Jerry L. Tortora
Bridgeville, Delaware
Jerry L. Tortora, 80, of Bridgeville, Deleware, passed away Sunday, September 13, 2015. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of the late Catherine and Ralph Tortora.
Mr. Tortora was a retired CEO and owner of a printing supply company on Long Island, New York. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Seaford, Deleware, and was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus.
A Mass of Catholic Burial was celebrated at 11 o’clock Wednesday morning, September 16, 2015 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. Entombment was in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Tortora is survived by his wife, Barbara A. Tortora; children, Rick Tortora and wife, Rose of Wake Forest, NC, and Catherine Schwarz and husband, Richard of Wake Forest, NC; grandchildren, Elyse Tortora, Dana Schwarz, and Christopher Schwarz; step-sons, David Tosh of SC and Timothy Tosh of ME.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park, Suite 10, Raleigh, NC 27615 or online at www.cancer.org.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Delores ‘Dee’ Heroy
Wake Forest
Delores “Dee” Hoffman Heroy, 86, of Wake Forest died Sunday morning, September 13, 2015, at her residence. She was born in Kingston, New York, the daughter of the late Lizzie Kuhoupt Hoffman and Robert A. Hoffman.
A graveside funeral service was held at 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, September 15, 2015, at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Heroy is survived by her daughter, Carol Love and husband, Joe, of Wake Forest; sons, David Alan Heroy and wife, Sharon, of Murfreeboro, Tennessee, and Steve Robert Heroy and wife, Cherry, of Raleigh; grandchildren, Joseph William Love III and Andrew Richard Love; step-grandchildren, Robbie Howell and wife, Dianna, and Kim Havens; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Havens and Makenzie Howell.
Memorial contributions may be made to Transitions Life Care Hospice 250 Hospice Circle Raleigh, NC 27607.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Charles Steve Yancey
Wake Forest
Charles Steve Yancey, 67, of Wake Forest died peacefully at home Friday morning, September 11, 2015. Steve was born to the late Ledford Sizemore Yancey and Pauline W. Yancey Bannister and grew up in Clarksville, Virginia, where he loved going to his aunts’ and uncles’ farms with big family gatherings at grandparents’ homes after church at Union Chapel Baptist Church.
A celebration of Steve’s life was held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, September 14, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial was Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
He was a devoted son and brother. He was a loving husband, father and a wonderful papa to his ten grandchildren. Steve was a friend to all. He was our hero because of his stamina and his will to persevere.
He is survived by his son from his first marriage, R. Steven Yancey (Amy) of Princeton and their children, Courtney Y. Hinnant (Jonathan), Robert and Cara-beth. His survivors also include his wife, Nellie Kelly, and her three children; Brent Marley (Marlene) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and daughters, Caitlin M. Campbell (Tye) and Casey; Nan M. Cielo (Art) of Wake Forest and children Artie, Elizabeth and Joe; Leigh M. Watkins of Wendell and children, Jake and Bailey, and their father, Barry.
Other survivors include brothers, Stanley S. Yancey (Susie) of Buffalo Junction, Virginia, Timothy S. Bannister (Lisa) of Cary, Jimmie S. Bannister of Ft Lauderdale, Florida; and a sister, Jaymee Bannister May (Doug) of Cary.
Steve was owner of Carolina Printing Co. in Raleigh. He was an old-school Master Printer. As a young teen, he was introduced to printing at his stepfather’s newspaper in Clarksville. When the family moved to the Los Angeles area in the 1960s he soon learned the big city bus routes that took him to various printing jobs. Eventually he climbed through the ranks to become foreman over presses at MailWell Printing Company in Los Angeles. In the mid 1970’s, Steve returned home to Virginia. Soon after, he and his family moved to Cary where they established their original printing company.
A service of Bright Funeral Home and Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Walter P. Johnstone
July 21, 1961 – September 8, 2015
Walter Pettigrew Johnstone, 54, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2015.
Walter was a graduate of Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees from The University of South Carolina. Walter was employed by Allscripts for over 32 years where he served as a Vice President, but more importantly, as a mentor and friend to so many. At Allscripts, Walter served as a sponsor to the American Heart Association. Outside of work, Walter enjoyed exercising, and playing and watching sports as an avid Wolfpack and Gamecock fan. When his sons, Andrew and Patrick, were younger, Walter enjoyed coaching their sports teams and staying active in Cub Scouts with them. When they grew up, Walter, a craft beer enthusiast, appreciated taking them to new breweries.
Walter was married for 32 years to his high school sweetheart, Dawn Duke Johnstone. Walter was a kind, loving and devoted family man. His high energy, cheerful attitude made a lasting impact on everyone he met.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Dellene DeLoach Johnstone; maternal grandparents, John and Vivian DeLoach, and paternal grandparents, Walter and Esther Johnstone. He is survived by his wife, Dawn Duke Johnstone; sons, Andrew and Patrick Johnstone of Raleigh; father, Jim Johnstone; siblings, Jay Johnstone and Julie (Geoff) Stephens; nieces, Rachel and Savannah Stephens; his beloved mother-in-law, Gail Koon Duke, all of Columbia; and brother-in-law, Robbie Duke of Houston, Texas.
A memorial service honoring his life was held at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon September 13, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Woman’s Club of Raleigh 3300 Woman’s Club Dr. Raleigh, NC 27612-4811 or to a charity of one’s choice.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Rebecca ‘Becky’ Smith
Youngsville
Rebecca Esancy “Becky” Smith, 58, long-time resident of Youngsville, passed away Monday, September 7, 2015. Becky was born November 18, 1956, in Raleigh, the daughter of Mary Joyce Barwick Esancy and Herman Esancy. She was a 1975 graduate of Garner Senior High School, where her family had relocated following a military career.
Becky enjoyed anything and everything outdoors, crocheting and making and crafting many different items. She touched the lives of her family and friends with her smile and generosity.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon, September 12, 2015, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Shannon officiating.
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Jennifer Keith; treasured grandson, Blane Keith and step-grandson, Jonathan Keith; parents, Herman and Mary Joyce Esancy; sister, Patricia Jordan; brothers, Braxton Esancy (Karen) and Bruce Esancy Sr. (Gayle); four nephews, Wesley Jordan, Burce Esancy Jr. (Chrissy), Mark Esancy (Cory) and Nicholas Esancy; a niece, Bethany Holliday (Randall); three great-nephews and a great-niece; along with numerous friends in “The Hood” who referred to her as “Momma Becky;” and many other friends and family.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
