Howard A. Kearney
Creedmoor
Howard Alexander Kearney, 75, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at his residence. He was born in Franklin County, the son of the late Jessie Irene Hedrick Kearney and Troy Blair Kearney. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Shirley Oakley, Betty Mendenhall, Bobbie Kearney, Nancy Redman, David Kearney and Tommy Kearney.
A funeral service was held Friday afternoon, March 30, 2018, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
Howard is survived by his wife, Dalua Rochelle Kearney; his daughter, Tammy Kearney Massey (Steve Loyd) of Bunn; grandsons, Eric Lee Massey and Wesley Tyler Massey; a sister, Sara Moody of Garner; and former son-in-law; Tim “Fred” Massey of Raleigh.
Edward Alston Harris Jr.
Franklinton
Edward A. Harris Jr., 96, of Franklinton passed away on March 29, 2018.
He was born September 18, 1921, the son of Edward A. Harris Sr., a native of Warren County, and Mary Kearney Harris of Franklinton.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty Dixon Harris, and four children and their spouses, Eddie (Pattie) of Youngsville, Jimmy (Susanne) of Franklinton, Betty Roberts (Reid) of Williamston and Tommy (Rose) of Oxford. “Papa” is also survived by six grandchildren and their spouses, Shannon Chase (Chris) of Apex, Susan Lancaster (Daren) of Richmond, Virginia, Brian Roberts (Lauren) of Greenville, Kim Little (Craig) of Atlanta, Ben Harris (Ellen) of Henderson, and Nancy Pendergrass (Kevin) of Oxford; also nine great-grandchildren Connor, Harrison and Lucy Chase, Ella Rose Lancaster, Alston Roberts, Parker and Andrew Little and Matthew and Ryan Harris.
He was born in and was a lifetime resident of, Franklinton and a 1939 graduate of Franklinton High School. He grew up on Main Street, Franklinton, with his many childhood friends as part of the Greatest Generation and was introduced to the Great Depression during the second half of his childhood when the local bank closed, taking his savings of $92.12. He enjoyed many activities and hobbies before and especially after retirement from spending time with his family and friends, watching and riding steam excursion trains, gardening, woodworking, and carpentry and was always busy with some project.
Ed began his career as an apprentice with the Western Union Telegraph Company and Railway Express Agency in Franklinton. Soon afterwards he was hired by the Seaboard Railroad as a telegraph operator and station freight agent. He worked at numerous Seaboard train stations between Raleigh and Richmond with Franklinton, Norlina, Ridgeway and Kittrell (where he met his future wife, Betty) being his favorites until entering military service in the spring of 1944. A veteran of WW II, he served with the U.S. Army’s Military Railway Transportation Corps in the European Theater where he was assigned as a dispatcher and clerk of troop and military supply trains in France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Upon honorable discharge from military service he was employed with the U.S. Post Office in Franklinton as a city letter carrier and held several other positions there until his retirement as a supervisor in 1978 with 33 years of service.
He was a member of the Franklinton United Methodist Church, lifetime member of American Legion Post #52 in Franklinton, and a volunteer for the National Weather Service operating weather-related recording equipment in Franklinton for over 40 years.
The family wishes to thank the many wonderful caregivers for the loving care provided over the past year. He was blessed by God with many years of good health for which he and the family are truly grateful.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the Franklinton United Methodist Church followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. A brief graveside service with military honors will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton following the reception at 4 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklinton United Methodist Church, 109 North Main Street, Franklinton, NC 27525 or American Legion Post #52, P.O. Box 61, Franklinton, NC 27525, or to a favorite charity.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-5811)
Erlene Wilkes Yager
Raleigh
Erlene Wilkes Yager, 86, of Raleigh passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Raleigh. She was born November 30, 1931 in Franklin County, a daughter of the late Cary and Lillian (Jackson) Wilkes.
Erlene worked in food management at various locations in the Triangle. She enjoyed cookouts with her family and her flower gardens.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at Bright Funeral Home. Burial followed at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens
Erlene was preceded in death by her husband, James R Yager; son, Randall W. Warren; sister, Beatrice W. Welborn; brother, Joseph W. Wilkes; and nephew, Charles Wilkes.
She is survived by her children, Donna W. Haynes and husband, Larry, Micheal J Warren and wife, Doris Ann, and Robbie Sutherland; granddaughters, Donna E. Haynes, Melissa W. Harris and husband Anthony, Tammy W. Wilson and husband, Justin, and Randie L Rowland; great-grandchildren, Jason J. Sledge, Amhyleigh Sledge, and Memphis Sledge; nephews, Jerry N. Ellington and Thomas Wilkes; and niece, Linda W. Smith.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-5811)
Swaminathan ‘Soundaram’ Marusalin
Wake Forest
Swaminathan (Soundaram) Marusalin, 72, passed away Thursday, March 29, 2018,at his residence. He was born in Usan, Mirusuvil in Sri Lanka, the youngest son of the late Pavilupillai Marusalin and Catholikkam Marusalin. He was preceded in death by his son, Leo Arul Gnanaraj, and siblings, Thiresamma, Sebamani and Rathinam.
Swaminathan is survived by his wife Gnanasoundary (Gnanam); his daughters, Marie Leony Pathmanathan of Wake,Forest and Denisiya Ramnath of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka; sons-in-law, Priya Pathmanathan and Vijayasundaram Ramnath; grandchildren Sorupan, Nirupan, Paveeshnan, Patithivi and Sivatheebika; and brothers Nicholas (France) and Amirthanathan ( Sri Lanka).
Swaminathan graduated from St. Patrick’s College in Jaffna. He served as medical officer in Sri Lankan Government Hospitals. Most of his 40 year-long medical career was spent in serving marginalized people in the de-stabilized north and east provinces of Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan civil war until he was retired in 2008.
A funeral mass will be held at noon Monday, April 9, 2018, at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church. Cremation will follow.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2018, at Bright Funeral Home.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-5811)
Janet Margaret Kreafle
Wake Forest
Janet Margaret Kreafle, 83, of Wake Forest passed away Monday, April 2, 2018, at WakeMed. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Henry Edward LeBrun and Margaret Ernestine Reichert LeBrun.
Having grown up as an only child, Mrs. Kreafle was most proud of her role as wife, mother and grandmother to her large family. She loved spending time with her family, reading, knitting and baking. She was a kind, gentle, and selfless woman who loved the simple pleasures of a small child’s laughter and family time.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2018, at Wake Forest United Methodist Church with the family visiting with friends following the service. Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 6, 2018, at the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro.
Mrs. Kreafle is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, B. Warren Kreafle; children, Donna Lee Williams and husband, David, of Wake Forest, David Warren Kreafle of Wake Forest, Jeffrey Edward Kreafle and wife, Juliann, of Jupiter, Florida, Kenneth Charles Kreafle and wife, Ilene, of Atlanta, Georgia and Carol Ann Nash and husband, Matthew, of Chapel Hill; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and longtime friends, Betty & Guil Vogt of Bel Air, Maryland.
Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association Eastern North Carolina, 5171 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27612.
A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC. (919)556-7400
