Horia ‘Tony’ Costescu
Wake Forest
Horia “Tony” Costescu, 86, died Tuesday, January 31, 2017. A native of Romania, he was born March 7, 1930 to the late George and Sofia Costescu. Mr. Costecu worked as an agricultural engineer for the government of Romania. He and his wife moved to Wake Forest in 2001 to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday morning, February 3, 2017, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Father Daniel Florean officiated and burial was in Wake Forest Cemetery.
Horia leaves to cherish his memory his daughter, Lidia Popescu and husband, Florian, of Wake Forest; their children, Jessica Harris and husband, Daniel, Gerard Popescu and wife, Christina, and Christopher Popescu; his daughter, Ruxandra Davis of Wake Forest; her children, Anna Davis and Peter Davis; a brother, Dorin Michael Costescu and wife, Nenita, of New York; their children, Kevin Costescu and wife, Amanda, and Michael Costescu; a sister, Mariana Carmaciu of Sweden; and her children, Catalin Carmaciu and wife, Valentina, Bogdan Carmaciu and wife Mihaela.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Horia’s memory may be made to www.piedmontrefuge.org/donate.
A service of Bright Funeral Home, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-5811)
Ruby Page Dickerson
Wake Forest
Ruby Page Dickerson, 86, of Wake Forest passed away Sunday evening, February 5, 2017, at Falls River Court. Mrs. Dickerson was born in Yadkin County to the late Walter Lee Page and Addie Clementine Brewer Page. She was a devoted mother to two daughters and her grandchildren, and she will be greatly missed.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Dickerson is survived by her husband of 59 years, Carl Dickerson; daughters, Robin Dickerson Morris and husband, Gregory, of Raleigh and Lori Dickerson Goodrum and husband, James, of Rolesville; sister, Jean Fulp of Kernersville; grandchildren, Matthew Morris, Hannah Goodrum and Lauren Molter and husband, Josh.
A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-7400).
Aretta O’Neal Kearney
Wake Forest
Aretta O’Neal Kearney, 81, of Wake Forest died Monday, January 30, 2017, at Brookdale Assisted Living. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of the late Estelle Lowery O’Neal Blackley and James Hester O’Neal, and was married to Clarence Haywood Kearney, who preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held at Thursday morning, February 2, 2017, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with Pastor Rodney Harp officiating. Burial was in the Wake Forest Cemetery.
Mrs. Kearney is survived by her daughter, Susan Kearney Melillo and husband, Domenic, of Wake Forest; grandson, Nicholas O’Neal Lowery of Wake Forest; half-brother, Tommy Blackley and wife, Sheila, of Stem; bonus grandchildren, Alexandra Melillo, Olivia Brush and husband, Garret, and Joe Melillo; and first cousin, Otis Christenbury Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Fellowship Church of God, 8005 Harps Lane, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Pallbearers were Richard Kearney, Marshall Kearney, Craig Pleasants, Nolan Lowery, Jerry Pleasants, and Austin Lowery.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center. (919-556-5811)
Nan S. Mason
Raleigh
Nan S. Mason, 59, of Raleigh and Water Mill, New York, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, January 31, 2017, with her beloved children and husband by her side. She was born March 19, 1957 in Winter Haven, Florida, to Harvey and Mary Ann Schock Snively.
Nan, always known for her infectious smile and good humor, was a graduate of Clemson University where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She worked as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines and United Airlines. Nan was a longtime member of the Junior League in New York and Washington, DC. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother for many years before teaching pre-school at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, where she also was a member.
A memorial service celebrating Nan’s life was held Saturday, February 4, 2017, at North Raleigh United Methodist Church.
She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband of 24 years, James K. Mason; a daughter, Caroline E. Mason; a son, James C. Mason; her mother and father; two sisters, Patti Herndon of Winter Haven, Florida, and Meg Strang and husband, John of Winter Haven, Florida; a brother, Pete Snively and wife, Missie of Winter Haven; an aunt, Sue Botkin of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; her dearest Lucy; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends that she has touched over the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Nan’s memory may be made to Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 2020 Garden Valley, Texas 75771.
A service of Bright Funeral Home, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (919-556-5811)
William Ted Shawn Smith
Wake Forest
William Ted Shawn Smith of Wake Forest, born on January 28, 1939 in Durham, died peacefully surrounded by his family on February 1, 2017 at the age of 78.
“Billy” as his family referred to him, is survived by his brother, Kenneth M. Smith Sr. (Betty Ann) of Greensboro: sister-in-law, Jean Everette (Lisk) of Rocky Mount; nieces, Susan S. Lewis (John) of Wake Forest, Ann Karen Smith Hanson, of Carolina Beach, Carolyn S. Goodwin of Julian, Beverly Batton (Henry) of Hampstead; and nephews, Ken Smith Jr. (Katie), Greg Smith (Marti) of Greensboro, Edwin Everette (Marlene) of Whitakers, and Bryan Everette of Rocky Mount. He is preceded in death by his parents, O.B. “Gus” Smith and Zula Wilson Smith of Durham; wife, Harriet Ransone Smith; brothers, Tolbert Lee Smith and Owen Bernice Smith; niece, Becky Smith; and nephew, Owen B. Smith Jr. (Berrie Bunn).
“Shawn” as his friends knew him, obtained theater degrees from Western Carolina University (BA) where he established and was the first president of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, UNC-Chapel Hill (MA) and UNC-Greensboro (MFA). He was a professor of English and theater at NC Central University, University of Arizona, and Elizabeth City State University. Shawn spent many years in New York City acting on and off Broadway and with touring ensembles. Upon retiring in 2005, he returned home to the Triangle where he acted and directed in local area theatre. In addition to the arts, Billy/Shawn had a keen interest in researching his family genealogy and has documented history dating back to the 18th Century.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Raleigh Little Theatre Development, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, NC 27607.
His life was celebrated with visitation on Wednesday, February 8, and a memorial service that will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Bright Funeral Home, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919) 556-5811
Thelma Pinkerton Brown
Youngsville
Thelma Pinkerton Brown, 100, passed away Friday morning, February 3, 2017, at her home. She was born in Huntington, Indiana, on June 10, 1916, the daughter of the late Cora Ellen Housman Pinkerton and John Grafton Pinkerton. She was preceded in death by a son, John Frederick Brown, and her husband, Buren W. Brown.
A memorial service honoring her life will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Brown is survived by a son; Jeffrey Brown and wife, Melissa, of Youngsville; grand-daughters, Abi Merkle and husband, Phil, and Ashley Church and husband, David; seven great-grandchildren; and two nieces.
Flowers are to be omitted and the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a hospice of one’s choice.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Wake Forest, NC (919-556-5811)
Charles Oliver Smith
Wake Forest
Charles O. Smith, 79, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017. He was born in Wake County, the son of the late Venie O’Neal Smith and Felton Smith, and was preceded in death by a baby brother.
A funeral service will be held at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, February 9, 2017, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Bailey Family Cemetery.
Charles is survived by many cousins and great-cousins.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home from 2:30 to 3 p.m. prior to the service. (919-556-5811)
