Frank Griggs Sullivan
Frank G. Sullivan, 83, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. A long-time resident of Wake Forest, Frank was born and raised in Hickory.
The son of a Southern Baptist minister, Frank graduated from Wake Forest College, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Frank served as a journalist in the U.S. Army during the early 1950s, after which time he earned his masters degree in education from Peabody Teachers College at Vanderbilt University.
Frank began a career in public education in Henderson, where he met Pansy Riddle, whom he later married. He was also the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, through which he spent a year teaching in Holland with Pansy and their young daughter, Donna, at his side.
In 1962 Frank and Pansy moved back to Wake Forest, where Frank taught many high school students who are still members of the Wake Forest community today. Frank subsequently served as an assistant principal and principal in Wake Forest, followed by his appointment as Director of Guidance for Wake County Schools. He was a strong believer in, and advocate for, the public school system and the dedicated professionals who work within it.
A faithful congregant of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Frank served as a member of both the vestry and the choir. He was active in numerous volunteer efforts at the church, including social action projects involving migrant farm workers, and the development of the columbarium and gardens. Frank also served on the local Board of Directors of the State Employees Credit Union. A lifelong supporter of diversity, Frank instilled in his children the values of tolerance and respect for human rights. He loved music, poetry, literature, history, travel, good food (especially Pansy’s chicken and dumplings), gardening, wildflowers and all things beautiful.
Frank was predeceased by his wife, Pansy Riddle Sullivan, whom he deeply loved, and by two brothers and a sister. He is survived by his children Donna (John), of Courtenay, BC, Canada; Suzanne (Bart), of Pittsburgh, Penn.; and Mark (Darlene), of Winston-Salem. “GrandFrank,” as he was also known to many, is additionally survived by his beloved grandchildren Aliyah, Emma and Nicholas.
Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 830 Durham Road, Wake Forest, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Following the services, friends and family are invited to an informal pot-luck picnic on the grounds of the Wake Forest College Birthplace, at 450 N. Main Street in Wake Forest, in celebration of Frank’s life.
The Sullivan family is deeply grateful to the many members of the Wake Forest community who extended great kindness to Frank during his prolonged illness, as well as to the welcoming staff and residents at the Carolina House in Wake Forest. Lasting gratitude also goes to the nursing staff and physicians at Duke Oncology/Duke Hospital – Raleigh for the compassionate care and wise counsel they provided.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wake Forest or to the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation.
Marguerite Senter Thweatt
Marguerite Senter Thweatt, 86, of Franklinton passed away Sunday, April 27, 2014, at Rex Hospital. She was born in Franklin County, the daughter of the late Hubert Henry Senter and Mary Pergerson Senter, and was administrative assistant for the EPA and IRS for many years.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, May 3, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery.
Mrs. Thweatt is survived by her son, Donald Bland Thweatt of Tampa, Fla.; daughters, Donna Thweatt Austin and husband, John, of Wake Forest and Sandra Faye Gilleland of Franklinton; grandchildren, Tiffany, Glenn, Jennifer, Brad and Bobbi; two great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie Walls “Pete” Thweatt; grandson, Von Thweatt; sister, Hazel Joyner; and brothers, Hubert Senter, Edgar Senter and Bruce Senter.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
Joseph Gundy
Joseph Gundy, 96, of Wake Forest died Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Wake Medical Center. He was born in Bryan, Texas, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in WWII. Mr. Gundy was preceded in death by his mother, Josephine Rile; a sister, Ruby Cunningham; and by his wife, Martha Morton Gundy.
A memorial service will be held 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon May 4, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in the George Washington Memorial Cemetery in Paramus, N.J. at a later date.
Mr. Gundy is survived by his daughter, Gail Murphy and husband, Kevin, of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Kimberly Murphy and Kevin Murphy, both of Wake Forest; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law and loving caregivers, Bernadino and Richard Zanoni.
Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
Mary Etta Craft
Mary Etta Craft 62, of Zebulon passed away Friday, April 25, 2014, at WakeMed after suffering a massive stroke. She was born in Quinwood, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Clarence Beavers and Adeline Lilly Beavers. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Cynthia Lynn, and by her brothers, Joe, Melvin and Bobby.
Mary was grateful for every day God gave her and always spoke of how blessed she was. She loved taking care of her family and friends and she especially loved her grandchildren.
A memorial gathering was held on Monday evening, April 28, 2014, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Mary is survived by her husband of 42 years, David (Tim) Craft of Zebulon; her son, Doug and his wife, Kristy and their two sons, Kris and Brock; her son, David Jr. and his fiancé Bronwyn; her daughter, Aryanna; and David’s children, Jamie, David III and Kaitlyn, her daughter, Lesley, and her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Leah Adeline Strickland; her sister, Delores Graham and her husband, John; her sister, Karen Harding and her husband, Craig; her sister, Sharon Kessler and her husband, Jimmy; her sister, Barbara Lilly and her husband, Richard; and by her brother, David Beavers and his wife, Wanda.
Memorial contributions may be made to Safe Haven Cat Shelter and Clinic at 8431 Garvey Drive, # 137, Raleigh, NC 27616 or go to the website at www.safehavenforcats.org.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
James S. ‘Jim’ Boyer
James Stewart “Jim” Boyer, 85, of Wake Forest, formerly of Norfolk, Va., passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at Rex Hospital. He was born in Jackson, Michigan, the son of the late Birdell Boyer and Helen Aiken Boyer. Mr. Boyer was retired from the United States Navy and was a long-time member of Temple Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia.
Funeral services were held at 11:30 Friday morning, April 25, 2014, at Wake Union Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Harrison officiating. Burial was in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Boyer is survived by his son, Sonny Boyer and wife, Glenda, of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Carl Boyer and wife, Brooke, of Greenville, S.C., and Kevin Boyer and fiancé, Shannon Mormando of Richmond, Va.; great-grandson, Jacob Boyer of Greenville, S.C.; sisters, Marion Collins of Jackson, Mich., Lily Shirley and Margaret Childs of Burr Hill, Va.; brother, Carl Boyer and wife, Laurie, of Jackson, Mich., and Darwin Boyer and wife, Dorothy, of Jackson, Mich.; sister-in-law, Ulalee Boyer of Norvell, Mich.; and his Wake Union Baptist Church family that held a special place in his heart.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia “Ginny” Boyer; sisters, Ruby Thompson and Harriett Larson; brothers, Birdell Boyer Jr., Walter Boyer and John Boyer.
Honorary pallbearers were Carl Boyer, Kevin Boyer, Joe Pertz, Mark Roberts, Clete Cronrath, and Glen Cronrath.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wake Union Baptist Church, 13345 Wake Union Church Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
Andrew ‘Andy’ Lifsey
Andrew Carol “Andy” Lifsey, 58, of Wake Forest died Sunday, April 27, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Raleigh, on February 12, 1956, the son of the late Joyce Lewis Lifsey and Leon Carol Lifsey.
Andy was a member of the Heritage Golf Club and considered Kerr Lake his second home. He was in regional sales for PYA Monarch (now US Foods) for 35 years.
A celebration of life service will be held at 7 o’clock Thursday evening, May 1, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
Andy is survived by his wife of 26 years, Karen H. Lifsey; and his daughter, Charlotte Joy “C.J.” Lifsey, a student at ECU.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Inter Faith Food Shuttle, 1001 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603 or to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, 3808 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday prior to the service at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main St., Wake Forest.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
Mary “Tootsie” Bailey Smith
August 23, 1937 – April 28, 2014
Mary Bailey “Tootsie” Smith, 76, of Wendell passed away on Monday, April 28, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Wake Forest, the daughter of the late Rueben and Elva Bailey. Tootsie worked as a bookkeeper for Howard Perry & Walston Realty for many years and for Twin Specialties in her later years.
A memorial service will be held at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon, May 3, 2014, at Stony Hill Baptist Church, 7521 Stony Hill Road, Wake Forest. Visitation will be immediately following the service. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Tootsie is survived by her daughter, Terry LaClaire Blackburn and husband, David, of Wendell; grandson, Kamal Ali Mansour II and wife, Jenny; brothers, Newman “Bill” Bailey and wife, Suzanne, R. T. “Buck” Bailey and wife, Erlene, and Joel Bailey and wife, Lisa; her sister, Ruth Martin and husband, Jerry; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Daphene Page.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Stony Hill Helping Hands, 7521 Stony Hill Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587 or to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Online condolences may be made at www.brightfunerals.com.
