Elsie Leonhardt Ellington
Louisburg
Elsie Leonhardt Ellington, 67, of Louisburg died unexpectedly at her home on Monday, May 9, 2016.
A funeral services was held Friday afternoon, May 13, 2016, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Brisson officiating. Burial followed in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Ellington was born on May 27, 1948, in Henderson, the daughter of the late Maude Benton and David Leonhardt. She was self-employed, owning her own cleaning business for several years. Mrs. Ellington enjoyed beading crafts, and her favorite holiday was Christmas, which she loved to celebrate year-round.
Elsie is survived by her husband of 22 years, Jerry N. Ellington of the home; son, Jimmy of Franklin County; stepsons, Phillip Ellington and Jeff Ellington, both of Robbinsville; several grandchildren; sisters, Gloria Hicks and Lillie May; and several cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 5012 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. www.stjude.org.
A service of Bright Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 405 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919) 556-5811
Timothy T. ‘Tim’ Bubac
On the evening of May 5, 2016, Timothy “Tim” Taylor Bubac passed away at the age of 21 after tragically being struck by a car in Greenville. Our hearts are completely broken.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, May 12, 2016, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial followwd in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, Wake Forest.
Tim was born in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1994. He was the youngest of four children to Dwight and Ryann Bubac. He attended St. David’s School in Raleigh and graduated from Wakefield High School a semester early in 2013. He also attended East Carolina University and was currently enrolled at Wake Tech Community College.
Tim was a precious son, the baby boy of our close knit family. He was close with his siblings and had a special relationship with each of them. He was also a loving uncle who cared deeply for his nieces and nephews and valued their “special time.”
Tim had many friends that he loved dearly across many states. Tim loved being outdoors. Hiking with his friends, tubing down the Neuse River with the “Bedford Group”, and relaxing in his Enu with his best friend Austin were some of his favorite things to do. He dreamed of moving out west one day, specifically mentioning California. Tim was loved by all who knew him, and made friends wherever he went. Tim was so full of joy and enjoyed living life to the fullest.
Tim was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Ervin and Doris Bubac, and his maternal grandparents, Robert and Nancy Frye (his Papa and Grandma).
Tim is survived by his parents, Dwight (Janet) and Ryann (Dave), his brother Corey (Alley), his sisters Heather (James) and Haley (Brooks), his nephews Aidan, Landon, and Grayson, his nieces Maclaren and Ella, and his sweet puppy Daisy. He is also survived by his loving aunts, uncles, and cousins in addition to many close friends.
A visitation was held Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Miracle League of the Triangle (in memory of Tim Bubac), in honor of the special relationship Tim had with his oldest nephew, Aidan. http://miracleleagueofthetriangle.com
In honor of Tim’s life motto, please do a random act of kindness in Tim’s memory and share it using #ThisIsForTim
“Going with the flow. Life’s about being happy and kind to others. Oh and I like to party” – @t1mtayl0r
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811
Thomas Burton Runner
Wake Forest
Thomas Burton Runner, 77, of Wake Forest passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016, at his residence. He was born in Croydon, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Mildred Davidson Runner and Thomas Runner. Mr. Runner was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a retired police officer.
A memorial service honoring his life was held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon May 11, 2016, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
Mr. Runner is survived by his wife, Star Butler Runner; sons, Vincent Runner, David Runner and Joseph Runner; a daughter, Dawn Runner, step-daughters, Brandy Steiner, Theresa Giordano-Perez and Jennifer Coleman; sisters, Diane Coar, Jean Rothsching and Cheryl Ball; a brother, Lynford R. Runner; 17 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 North Main St., Chamberlin, SD 57325.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Yvonne Mabbitt
Wake Forest
Yvonne Mabbitt (Ginger), 88, of Wake Forest went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 5, 2016. She was born June 26, 1927, in Thurman, Iowa, to the late Clifford Bailor and the late Wilma Garreans Bailor. Yvonne worked for many years at Blue Star Foods.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Donald William Mabbitt; a son, Bernard Madison; a daughter, Gayle Gentry; and by a brother and four sisters.
Yvonne is survived by three children, Vickie Green and husband, John F. of Malvern, Iowa, Michael Donald Mabbitt (Mary B) of Elk City, Oklahoma and Tammera Saunders and husband, Rob, of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Donna, Diana, DeeDee, Stephanie, Chris, Shane, Courtney, Stephanie, Anthony (AJ) and kid, Robbie, Ashley and Amber; 21 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Charlotte Bennett of Mesa, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Yvonne’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919-556-5811)
William ‘Bill’ Pulley
Wake Forest
William Richard “Bill” Pulley, 86, of Wake Forest passed away Friday evening, May 6, 2016, at his residence. Bill was born in Franklin County, the son of the late William Raymond Pulley and Marjorie Richards Pulley.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, May 10, 2016, at Rolesville Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Randy Bridges and Rev. J. Marshall Neathery officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jean Edwards Pulley; sons, Michael Hugh Pulley, William Scott Pulley and wife, Beverly, Jeffrey Raymond Pulley and wife Jeannie; daughters, Cathy Pulley Allen and husband, Terry, and Robin Pulley Brannan and husband, Woody; a brother, Ted G. Pulley; sisters, Lois P. Alford and husband, Ed, Lougenia P. Weaver and Wanda P. Madden; grandchildren, Jason Pulley, Kevin Lathan, Rondo Brannan, Ashley Pulley, Madeline Pulley, Dean Pulley, Emily Pulley and Coda Brannan; great-grandchildren, Payton Pulley and Mason Pulley. He was preceded in death by a son, Stanley Richard Pulley.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rolesville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 185, Rolesville, NC 27571.
Pallbearers were Jason Pulley, Kevin Lathan, Rondo Brannan, Dean Pulley, Coda Brannan, and Mason Pulley. Honorary pallbearers were Ronnie Perry and Clyde Bailey.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Jill Hicks
Wake Forest
Jill Hicks, 62, of Wake Forest, a loving wife, mother and nana, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at Duke Raleigh Hospital. She was born in Albany, New York, the daughter of the late Ida Belle Moore Muller and George Douglas Muller. She was preceded in death by her sister, Joanne Smith. A memorial visitation was held Friday afternoon, May 6, 2016, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Mrs. Hicks is survived by her husband, Danny Hicks; daughters, Shannon Rogers and husband, Clint, of Cary, and Dionne Hicks of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Chase and Colt Rogers and Tyler Anthony Hicks; father-in-law, Lawrence Hicks Jr. of Wake Forest; god-mother, Rachel Kiev of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Doug Smith of Fayetteville, Miriam and James Pollard of Clayton, and Joe and Lillian Hicks of Randleman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park Suite 10, Raleigh, NC 27615.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Nannie Edwards Chappell
Wake Forest
Nannie “Nan” Edwards Chappell, 95, of Wake Forest passed away peacefully at her home in the Falls Community following a recent decline in health.
Nan, daughter of the late Grover and Ona Edwards, was born in the Orange Factory Community of Durham County and moved to the Falls Community at the age of 4. Over the years, she greatly enjoyed visiting her many friends and family members in the Orange Factory community. Nan was a proud graduate of Millbrook High School Class of 1940. She retired after many years of service from the NCDOT in 1985. She was a member of Falls of Neuse Baptist Church for 77 years. Nan was preceded in death by her husband, Wayland H. Chappell in 1988. She was also predeceased by her sister, Edna Edwards Leonard, and nephew, Cecil Leonard.
Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, May 17, 2016, at Falls Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Terry Ashe officiating. Burial was in Falls Community Cemetery
Nan is survived by sons, Michael W. Chappell (Judy) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Billy C. Chappell of Wake Forest; sister, Betty Edwards Middleton of Garner; nephews, Jim and Steve Middleton; grandchildren, Michael Chappell, Beth Mills, Daniel Chappell; and eight great-grandchildren. Much love is extended to Asilee Leonard, Parks Icenhour and Lorrie Icenhour, and Phyllis Jackson.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Falls Community Cemetery Fund, C/O Linwood Barham, 9705 Fonville Rd. Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Friends visited with the family Monday evening, May 16, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919-556-5811)
Frances ‘Tiny’ Finch Vassar
Louisburg
Frances “Tiny” Finch Vassar, 82, died at her home on May 10, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.
She was actively involved with the ministry of South Main Baptist Chapel in Wake Forest for almost 32 years, along with her husband, Pastor Gary Vassar. Together, the two of them founded the church in 1984. A woman of strong Christian faith, Frances witnessed regularly and led many souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. She believed in exercising a consistent and bold outreach for the Lord. But first she demonstrated the love of God and sought always to be of effective help to people in their hour of need. Counseling with young people and helping them back onto the right path gave her real joy, especially during her career at Kittrell Job Corps Center in 1979-1980, where she was employed by the federal contractor, Southeastern Training Corporation of Atlanta, Georgia.
She was known for her love of trees, flowers, birds, and butterflies, and she spent much of her time outdoors enjoying the fruits of her labors in her garden. She was skilled in creating flower arrangements, and often blessed the church and her friends with her floral talents.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Lancaster Memorial Park, 2210 Hwy NC 561, Louisburg. Flowers will be received, or memorial contributions may be made be made to South Main Baptist Chapel, 601 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
She is survived by her husband, Gary D. Vassar; children: Ronald Joseph Dement (Patricia), Nancy Dement Dickerson (Ernest), Deana Frances Vassar (Gabriel Lauro). Deceased children: Johnny Stephen Dement, already rejoicing with her in Gloryland, as he preceded his Tiny Mama in 1985; Lorenz Stiles, adopted by Frances in 1973, he called her Mama until he went to be with Jesus in 2005; Frances had countless spiritual children who referred to her as their Mama, too. Grandchildren: Joey Dement, Vaughn Brubaker (grandson by marriage), Amanda Dickerson, Chastity Dawn Dement. Great-Grandchildren: Kristin Dement, Jathyn Dickerson, Braxton Dickerson, Desiree Perry, Romelo Perry, Josephine “Vi” Perry. Great-Great-Grandchild: Callie Jae Daniels.
Surviving siblings: John Finch (Rose), Nan Finch Hayward Eubanks (Bob), Gerald Finch (Barbara), Joe Finch (Lois).Deceased are George Finch, Jr.(Miriam), Dorsett Finch (Margaret), James Finch (Lucy).
Friends may visit with the family from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919-556-5811)
